1. Images of the Maxar SPT-140 Hall-effect thruster (HET) https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/images/pia24030-psyches-hall-thruster/ 2. Diagram showing components of an HET https://htx.pppl.gov/thrusters.html 3. Still from video showing animation of the operation of an HET. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAfjmGMp43w

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   AkaSci 🛰️ (akasci@fosstodon.org)'s status on Friday, 02-May-2025 03:32:15 JST AkaSci 🛰️

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   Hall-effect thrusters work by ionizing atoms of a gas like Xenon, accelerating them to high speeds and expelling them to generate a gentle steady thrust.

   Electrons emitted by the cathode circulate around an annular ceramic channel guided by a magnetic field. Xenon atoms, injected along the anode, get ionized by the high energy electrons.The ionized Xenon plasma is accelerated axially by an electric field, to exit velocities of up to 100,000 km/h to produce thrust.

   https://psyche.asu.edu/2018/01/19/electric-thrusters-psyche-spacecraft-work/
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