New Dawn for electric rockets

Author: Choureiri, Edgar Y.
Source: Scientific American; February 2009

I wonder if I'll ever fly an electric propelled plane? right now electric plasma engines are only fueling space probes but, I predict, this technology will soon fuel all aircraft.

Burning chemical fuel is how rockets generate thrust. electric rockets generate thrust by applying electric our electromagnetic fields to charge particles, also called plasmas, to move them. This next point is why rockets, not airplanes are using electricity... electric rockets offer much lower thrust power than fueled rockets. Slowly they reach greater speeds, their officiant use of propellant makes them best for deep space missions.

Whether you use chemical or electric propulsion systems depends on the type of mission. Chemical rockets make lots of thrust so they get to high speeds fast but they burn a lot of fuel. Chemical rockets are good for short range trips. Electric rockets use plasma that doesn't generate much thrust, but its so efficient it can operate for a long time. As space is frictionless a small force is all that is needed. plasma rockets are best for deep space missions.

Electric rockets have been in the works since 1903 since Konstantin Tsiolkovsky when he invented the "rocket equation" which said how much fuel is needed for deep space missions. In 1999 NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab showed the first use of a ION or electric engine. I hope i get far enough down the path of being a pilot to see this technology being used.