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New Ion Engine Being Tested

Posted by Zonk on from the warp-factor-one-engage dept.

Dr Cool writes "A new design of spacecraft ion engine has been tested by the European Space Agency which dramatically improves performance over present thrusters and marks a major step forward in space propulsion capability. Ion engines are a form of electric propulsion and work by accelerating a beam of positively charged particles (or ions) away from the spacecraft using an electric field. ESA is currently using electric propulsion on its Moon mission, SMART-1. The new engine is over ten times more fuel efficient than the one used on SMART-1."

6 of 217 comments (clear)

  1. Don't go getting any ideas by drrngrvy · · Score: 4, Funny

    Look, we still can't go faster than light, ok guys?

  2. Anyone else? by wmajik · · Score: 5, Funny

    You Know You Are A Geek when a /. story with the name "New Ion Engine Being Tested" makes you nearly drop the beer and wonder how a defunct game company is producing new engines.

    Nonetheless, I blame John Romero for my own confusion and/or angst, because it makes me feel better. :p

  3. Re:cool but by abes · · Score: 4, Funny

    The space elevator seems okay, but I'm putting my money on the space catapult. The one downside is the giant net you need to catch the 'passangers'.

  4. Finally... by RobTheJedi · · Score: 5, Funny

    One step closer to my TIE Fighter.

    --
    I am so creative, look at my cry for attention in my sig.
  5. That's hewey! by imstanny · · Score: 4, Funny

    The real question is; do the Europeans have a 'Flux Capacitor'?

  6. Re:cool but by zephc · · Score: 5, Funny

    The one downside is the giant net you need to catch the 'passangers'

    I think you misspelled 'chunks of frozen, red slush'.

    --
    "I would say that 99 per cent of what my father has written about his own life is false." - L. Ron Hubbard Jr.