Ion Engine Propels Probe to Moon

lenin writes "The BBC is reporting that Europe's first moon mission, SMART-1, appears to be a success thus far. It also talks about the low-cost technology being used and the charged xenon (ion) propulsion system. Can TIE-fighters be far off?"

Comments

Slowwww

[ewithrow]

Since it's taking 15 months to get there, that means that the thing is traveling at an average speed of 22 MPH.

They should have just launched my Buick Century to the moon and it would have gone faster...

Europe To The Moon?

[E-Rock-23]

The United States was quoted yesterday as saying "Been there, done that."

You all know what will happen when SMART-1 gets there: Brittain will claim it as a Commonwealth, the Germans will take it by force, France and Belgium will surrender.

Screw unmanned probes. We have the technology, and have for the last 30+ years. Let's send people back on a more permanent basis already. Just not Europeans. There's a reason why the word lunatic exists, and guess where it was coined...