Public domain
Research Technology
From the collection of NASA Image and Video Library. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.
About this work
Researchers at the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) have designed, fabricated, and tested the first solar thermal engine, a non-chemical rocket engine that produces lower thrust but has better thrust efficiency than a chemical combustion engine. MSFC turned to solar thermal propulsion in the early 1990s due to its simplicity, safety, low cost, and commonality with other propulsion systems. Solar thermal propulsion works by acquiring and redirecting solar energy to heat a propellant.
NASA Image and Video Library’s own descriptionSubjects
Credit lineResearch Technology. NASA/MSFC, 1999-11-01. Public domain. ID: 9906910.
