Spacecraft Propulsion by a Plasma Thruster

High-speed video (87,600 frames per second) of current-emitting spots forming on the cathode of a magnetoplasmadynamic thruster. The rightward movement of the spots is called "retrograde motion" — motion in the direction opposite that of the force created by the interaction of the spot current and magnetic field.

Movie: Spacecraft propulsion by a plasma thruster.

The movie format is avi (Audio Video Interleave). The file is 608 KB and will open in a pop-up window. (Movie by L. Uribarri)