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The new ion engine builds upon the electric propulsion systems used by both DS1 and Dawn, says Patterson. It uses the same method to achieve thrust: xenon gas flows into a reaction chamber inside the engine and is ionized by electrons; electromagnets positioned around this chamber enhance the efficiency of ionization. Electrodes positioned near the engine's thrusters (known as ion optics) are then used to accelerate the ions electrostatically and shoot them out of the exhaust to push the spacecraft forward.
The Glenn Research Center engineers optimized the mechanical design of the engine's magnets and ion optics, and made other modifications, including reducing the number of thrusters, to make the system more powerful and more efficient. "The engine has a higher power level and a larger throttling dynamic range--it can go from very high power to very low power--so it can operate for longer periods of time and better execute its mission," says Patterson.
Michael Huggins, the space and missile propulsion directorate in the Air Force Research Laboratory at Edwards Air Force Base in California, says it is important to find ways to make propulsion systems more efficient, smaller, and more economical. The fact that NASA is looking at more-efficient devices for interplanetary missions "is definitely the right answer," he says.
However, there are potential drawbacks to ionic propulsion. For example, solar energy cannot be used too far from the sun. "Solar just won't work out to distances like Neptune," says White, who presented a paper at the same conference on using nuclear energy as a power source for deep-space missions. While this would provide plenty of power in deep space, safety concerns would make it politically challenging to launch a nuclear-powered spacecraft.
"The only competitor we really have is advanced chemical technology," says Patterson. "The advantage that we have is that we are very fuel efficient." Thus, for complex planetary missions that require lots of energy, says Patterson, the US and its international partners, including Japan and European nations, are transitioning to ion propulsion engines.
The Dream Chaser will go into orbit on the nose of a rocket, then land gently on airport runways.
Nanotubes promise better ion-propulsion efficiency.
Former astronaut Franklin Chang Diaz says the private sector can help NASA, and reckons he has the rocket to prove it.
That's nothing. I invented a warp drive but got bought out by the oil companies and now I'm sitting pretty on the beach in Hawaii... ;-)
give you a 5 on the thread, trekkies? Anyway, all that investing in getting to fly big'n heavy things seems very odd to me, considering the fact that anything close is lightyears away...who would want to go through a whole evolutionary process in a confined space like a "spaceship". Na...things will turn out small and many in the end..with none of us aboard. Just information and base material for constructing life, to be built by machines in nano scale, which on one lucky day might encouter the right environment, and thus will start building..with the whole blueprint on a virus sized nanorobot..and here is your nuclear rocket again...sending them with big bang high above in all possible directions...a nobodys going to pay your royalties..shame. Cheer up anyway
It's a shame considering the US has had this type of technology since the late 70's, it's good to know that some aspects of it is beginning to show in for various aspects of space related projects.
Another note regarding star trek, Gene Rodenberry worked along side nasa to develope what we know are the standard theories about star treks technology and theories..
Is this a less politically risky way of saying that Project Prometheus is quietly continuing? I really hope so.
Being European is very easy to get frustrated by the usual forgetting of Europe technology. I have to remember you that SMART-1, an ESA project, was the second space vessel with an ion engine. Remember that not only USA do space technology. Thanks.
Actually, SMART-1 used an ion thruster licensed from Russia, which has using them extensively since the seventies.
I invented a new type of space craft that utilizes "White Gravity". The G-Engine derives its thrust from the D-Vacuum gravitational potential energy that populates Strings between D-Branes.
General Relativity theory when applied to Quantum Mechanics explain the particle duality of gravity. With "White Gravity", Time And Relative Dimension(s) In Space can be traversed at instanton speed. My team and I have accomplished this with a reworking of the Schrödinger equation. The state vector drive is no larger than an archaic phone booth.
We are currently seeking further R&D funding for a production facility.
'Q' is my uncle. This thread bores me, zap me to Bora Bora please.
In all seriousness, I've been following the work of Dr. Chang-Diaz for many years now. I wish him continued success.
"...the first spacecraft to use the technology was Deep Space 1 (DS1) in 1998. Since then, one other spacecraft has used ion propulsion: the Dawn mission ..."
Wrong and wrong; please check your facts before publishing this stuff!
Russian spacecraft have flown hundreds of ion thrusters since the 1970s. Hughes Space&Comm (now part of Boeing) has flown many ion thrusters starting in 1997 (before Deep Space 1), using an architecture almost identical to the NASA NEXT engine. Space Systems/Loral has routinely flown ion thrusters since 2004. European missions fly ion thrusters. In fact the Artemis mission was saved in 2002 by ion propulsion when its launch vehicle placed the satellite in a lower orbit than planned; the ion thrusters were used to gradually raise the orbit to the desired altitude.
Ion thrusters in space are routine. The NEXT thruster has some pretty good performance numbers but it is by no means a breakthrough in space propulsion.
If a 1 gigawatt slow wave nuclear reactor with a 20 year fuel supply was built in orbit, with a large number of ion thrusters of total mass equal to the reactor, and a reaction tank also of the same mass, how fast would the spacecraft be going after 20 years? And how far would it have traveled after 100 years?
Assume that the mass of the 1 gig generator and cooling fins is equal to 1/4 of the mass of the U235 nuclear fuel.
Feel free to optimize fuel ratios and other details.
Seriously nasa guys. I really want to know what a state of the art kick ass, realistic spaceship is capable of. How long to alpha centauri?
Some years back I was surprised to find out from a gentleman formally a member of a certain developement team brought to my attention that the US via Nasa had designed, build, and tested four unique engines that are designed to be used in the void of space, that they would enable interstaller space travel, this project was completed back in the late 70's.
It was further mentioned that due to the problems that the USA encountered during the ole Apollo Missions related to extreme cost over runs, that these engines have sat gathering dust in storage never to be used the way they were intended.
As I understand these engines would enable a specially designed Space Craft built in the void of space; with which the engine in question is lauched as payload to be attached to the Space Craft afterward would be activated and sent out for manned deep space missions, with the potential to even leave our solar system.
I was both amazed and stunned by the factors he mentioned that has kepted this example of one of the most unique examples of our nations successfully completed projects to achieve an advancement toward continued space travel that has been put on the back buner.
Another little know fact is that there is a Space Craft that can take off from a conventional airstrip run way and achieve high orbit in space as well again built by the good ole USA.
Where has our drive for space travel gone ???
Oh one final note, these engines are non chemical propulsive systems, three are high electrical propulsion, and one is Nuclear propulsion which at the time the nuclear based engine info was on a need to know basis.
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protn7
72 Comments
solar-fusion rocket
I invented a fusion powered rocket several years ago. It's possible that it can use solar power to start up a nuclear fusion reactor until it gets to break even.
My e-mail is protn7@att.net if you are interested.
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OnceUponATime
1 Comment
Re: solar-fusion rocket
Protn7,
Very impressive! Any patents to cite, or papers
published? Forgive my ignorance, but would enjoy
learning more!
-OnceUponATime
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N O M
23 Comments
Re: solar-fusion rocket
Get real.
For years, the President, Chairman, and coincidentally the only employee of Vulvox, Neil Farbstein, has been claiming breakthroughs in nanotechnology, genetics, even cold-fusion.
He has developed nothing. Vulvox is merely a front to con potential investors.
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