An ion thruster independently developed by Chinese researchers has been applied¹ to China's newly launched high-throughput communications satellite, the country's first.

 

中国近日发射的一颗高通量通信卫星首次用到了中国科学家独立研发的离子推进器。

 

The satellite, named Shijian-13, was launched from Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province at 7:04 p.m. Wednesday.

 

Shijian-13 is the first Chinese satellite to be propelled by electricity, potentially improving efficiency by as much as 10 times compared with those that use chemicals as propellant, extending the satellite's life and reducing the launch weight.

 

The Lanzhou Institute of Physics started to develop the ion thruster for Shijian-13 in March 2011 and finished the development in April 2016.

 

The ion thruster can change solar energy, which is inexhaustible for space craft, to jet energy to create thrust so the satellite can complete a series of maneuvers², according to Zhang Weiwen, director of the institute.

 

Applied with electric propulsion technology, the satellite does not need to carry as much chemical fuel, and the ion thruster is capable of precise localization in outer space, Zhang said.

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