A tougher test than expected awaits two experimental ion thrusters aboard the
Artemis research satellite launched this month. Booster failure left Artemis too
close to Earth, so the thrusters will help lift the satellite 18,000 kilometres
into its correct geostationary orbit. The extra use of fuel will shorten the
expected life of the satellite. “If we get 6 to 7 years, we’re still happy,”
says Franco Bonacina of the European Space Agency.
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