Nuclear thermal propulsion (NTP) has stood as a promising potential alternative propulsion technology for decades. Chemical ...

Credit: NASA, public domain Before we dive into the world of ion thrusters, it’s important to understand the concept of specific impulse and fuel efficiency for rocket thrusters of all kinds.

The Sunbird boasts a high specific ... impulse while generating 2 megawatts of energy. What this really means is that missions can last longer and require much less fuel compared to traditional ...

This high thrust allows the rocket to accelerate faster. These systems also have a high specific impulse. Specific impulse measures how efficiently the propellant is used to generate thrust.