A method of operating an ion drive

A method (20) for operating an ion drive (1) for a spacecraft (100), in particular a satellite, with a reservoir (11) comprising a fuel (10), an ionization chamber (2), a generator (6) for forming an electrostatic , magneto-static and / or electromagnetic field (14) inside the ionization chamber (2); and a charge carrier accelerator system (8) for generating an electric field (15), wherein the fuel (10) containing a diamondoid and the method comprising the steps of: - transferring (22) of the diamondoid in the reservoir (11) from a solid state to a gaseous state; - directing (23) of the gaseous diamondoid from the reservoir (11) into the ionization chamber (2); - ionizing (24) of the gaseous diamondoid means of electrostatic, magnetostatic and / or electromagnetic field (14); and - accelerating (25) of ionized gaseous diamondoid by means of the electric field (15).