article_snippet: This has the benefit of making the much lighter, as they don’t need to carry fuel with they.
article_snippet: Without the fuel the fuel would normally need - hydrazine - the satellites each weighed less than 5,000lbs (2,270kg), whereas normally the fuel would have weighed more than 8,000lbs (3,630kg) without an ion propulsion system.
article_snippet: had they been laden with fuel, only one could have been taken to orbit on launch.
article_snippet: In space, the two satellites were released one by one in opposite directions, so as to avoid a collision.
article_snippet: Without chemical fuel the weight of The satellites was drastically reduced, allowing both to be launched on the same rocket rather than costly separate launches. 
article_snippet: In space, the two satellites were released one by one in opposite directions, so as to avoid a collision .
article_snippet: The latter was slightly heavier to support the weight of the former .
highlights_snippet: Without chemical fuel their weight was drastically reduced, allowing both to be launched on A SpaceX rocket rather than costly separate launches .