Scientists develop water-powered thruster for small satellites
Image Credit: NewsBytes
A team of engineers working with the European Space Agency (ESA) has created a new water-powered thruster, without using toxic chemicals. Called Iridium Catalysed Electrolysis CubeSat Thruster (ICE-Cube Thruster), it measures smaller than a fingertip. ICE-Cube Thruster recorded 1.25 millinewtons of thrust in tests, making it suitable for small CubeSats that usually launch as secondary payloads on space missions. This small thruster was built at Imperial College in the UK.