Deep Space 1 ion engine. Close-up of the experimental solar-powered ion propulsion engine on NASA's Deep Space 1 (DS1) spacecraft. The ion propulsion engine was the first non-chemical propulsion system to be used as the primary means of propelling a spacecraft. The thrust produced is very small but it provides more thrust for weight of fuel than chemical rockets. The Deep Space 1 mission, launched in 1998, was designed to validate 12 new technologies for scientific space missions of the next century. This mission included successful testing of this technology in what was named the Ion Propulsion System (IPS).