--- title: "China’s New Space Station Is Powered by Ion Thrusters" description: "China’s first module of its upcoming Tiangong space station makes use of ion thrusters. Read more about the new international space station." date: "2021-06-02" modified: "2021-06-23" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/chinas-new-space-station-powered-ion-thrusters" categories: - "Off-World" - "Space" tags: - "china" - "ion thruster" - "ion thrusters" - "mars" - "nuclear propulsion" --- # China’s New Space Station Is Powered by Ion Thrusters ![China's first module of its upcoming space station makes use of ion drives, technology that could vastly cut down the time it takes to travel to Mars.]() *\Image: NASA\* China's first module of its upcoming Tiangong space station makes use of ion drives, technology that could vastly cut down the time it takes to travel to Mars — and greatly reduce the amount of fuel needed to make that trip, as the [*South China Morning Post* reports](). The module, called [Tianhe]() and [launched in late April](), is powered by four ion thrusters that use electricity to accelerate ions as a form of propulsion. In fact, the module could soon become the first spacecraft in history to transport humans using the technology, according to *SCMP*. Ion drives are orders of magnitude more efficient compared to chemical propulsion. To keep the International Space Station in orbit for a year, the thrusters consume four tons of rocket fuel. With ion thrusters, it'd need just 400 kilograms to stay in orbit for the same amount of time, according to the Chinese Academy of Sciences. A trip to Mars could be cut down from eight months to just 39 days. China is betting big on ion thrusters, hoping to use them not just for its space station but for upcoming satellite constellations and nuclear-powered spacecraft capable of carrying astronauts to Mars as well, according to *SCMP*. The technology has been around for decades, but mainstream adoption has been hampered by the fact that the thrust produced isn't very significant. Scaling up the thrusters could end up putting astronauts in danger and shorten the lifespan of satellites. But scientists at the Chinese Academy of Sciences may have cracked the code. One of its ion drives currently in development has been burning for more than 11 months straight, according to the newspaper. A magnetic field makes sure the particles don't create any damage or erode the engine, while a special ceramic material stops it from getting damaged by radiation. "Space projects are usually very big," an anonymous Beijing-based space scientist told *SCMP*. "A typical mission involves hundreds or even thousands of individuals. But the competition in space is essentially a competition over some very small but extremely important details." "The ion thruster is one of those areas where the devil is in the detail,” the scientist added. **READ MORE:** [How China’s space station could help power astronauts to Mars]() \[*South China Morning Sea*\] **More on ion thrusters:** *[This Mini Ion Thruster Is Adorably Tiny]()* ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()