Ion engine

The ion engine or ion drive was a type of engine used to propel most starships at sublight velocities. Ion engines were fueled by power cells, liquid chemical reactants, onboard generators, or virtually any other device capable of providing sufficient power. The engine utilized internal fusion reactions to produce a stream of highly charged particles that were forced through the engine's exhaust port at nearly the speed of light. Ion engines were sometimes called ion rockets.

Ion engines emitted mildly radioactive byproducts, requiring onboard technicians to wear protective gear. Because of this radioactivity, and the disabling effects that ions had on electronics and electrical systems, it was common protocol for most ships to utilize repulsorlifts for propulsion during atmospheric flight and reserve use of the more powerful ion drives for orbital navigation.

The most noted craft using ion drives were TIE fighters, which received their name from the number of ion engines they used: Twin Ion Engine.

Text and facts from the “Ion engine/Legends” article on Wookieepedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. Modified for this site.