An associate professor of aeronautics and astronautics at MIT has designed a penny-sized rocket thruster that could be used to power the smallest satellites in space. Paulo Lozano ‘s device aims to replace current bulky satellite engines, which are heavy and require more fuel to power. Lozano’s system is a flat, compact alternative that is covered with 500 microscopic tips that, when stimulated with voltage, emit tiny beams of ions propelling the satellite forward. Read the rest of MIT Develops Cheap, Lightweight Penny-Sized Microthruster For Satellites Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg Post tags: astronautics , biomimicry , cubesats , darpa , ion propulsion , lightweight , microthrusters , MIT , nanosatellites , paulo lozano , satellites
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MIT Develops Cheap, Lightweight Penny-Sized Microthruster For Satellites
