Resistojet rocket
|
A resistojet is a way of propulsion that provides thrust by heating a (typically non-reactive) fluid. Heating is usually achieved by sending electricity through a resistor.
A good analogy to resistojet would be "space heater attached to a water hose".
Resistojets have been flown in space, and do well in situations where energy is much more plentiful than mass, and where propulsion efficiency needs to be reasonably high but low-thrust is acceptable.
see also: Spacecraft propulsion