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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."

2 of 217 comments (clear)

  1. Hmmm... I wonder... by wjsteele · · Score: 0, Redundant

    if this ion engine is any more efficient than the one posted on Slashdot last month. Let me check... nope!

    It's simply amazing how many posts get duplicated on this site... it must be part of a plan to drive that advertising revenue stream up a little more.

    Bill

    --
    It's my Sig and you can't have it. Mine! All Mine!
  2. Re:cool but... oranges and apples by StarKruzr · · Score: 0, Redundant

    No, he raises an important point.

    How do you return the rotational energy to the earth? Losing it would be a REALLY BAD THING for the planet. Has anyone done the math on this?

    --

    +++ATH0