Mini-Helicon Plasma Thruster
Oleg Batishchev, a research scientist at MIT’s department of aeronautics and astronautics, has developed the Mini-Helicon Plasma Thruster, a compact, economical rocket for use on spacecraft.
The rocket comprises a glass tube, an antenna and magnets. Gas pumped into the tube is transformed into plasma by radio waves from the antenna.
The magnets create a magnetic field to confine and guide the plasma, which is exhausted out the other end of the tube, creating thrust.
The rocket creates 1 million-degree hot, dense plasma, which necessitates the magnetic fields.
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