Darren Hitt's work really is rocket science. But forget about blinding flames and thundering engines generating millions of pounds of thrust.

The Baltimore native is working on propulsion systems built on silicon chips that would generate thrust in tiny puffs of steam. They're the kind of thrusters NASA will need to maneuver a new fleet of 10- or 20-pound "nanosatellites" — spacecraft no bigger than beach balls.

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