Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Ion Thruster for Future Mars Mission Breaks Records
Real Clear Science ^ | 14 Oct, 2017 | Tereza Pultarova

Posted on 10/14/2017 12:24:08 PM PDT by MtnClimber

A thruster that's being developed for a future NASA mission to Mars broke several records during recent tests, suggesting that the technology is on track to take humans to the Red Planet within the next 20 years, project team members said.

The X3 thruster, which was designed by researchers at the University of Michigan in cooperation with NASA and the U.S. Air Force, is a Hall thruster — a system that propels spacecraft by accelerating a stream of electrically charged atoms, known as ions. In the recent demonstration conducted at NASA's Glenn Research Center in Ohio, the X3 broke records for the maximum power output, thrust and operating current achieved by a Hall thruster to date, according to the research team at the University of Michigan and representatives from NASA.

"We have shown that X3 can operate at over 100 kW of power," said Alec Gallimore, who is leading the project, in an interview with Space.com. "It operated at a huge range of power from 5 kW to 102 kW, with electrical current of up to 260 amperes. It generated 5.4 Newtons of thrust, which is the highest level of thrust achieved by any plasma thruster to date," added Gallimore, who is dean of engineering at the University of Michigan. The previous record was 3.3 Newtons, according to the school.

(Excerpt) Read more at realclearscience.com ...


TOPICS: Science
KEYWORDS: mars
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061 next last

1 posted on 10/14/2017 12:24:08 PM PDT by MtnClimber
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: MtnClimber

I wonder if you have to start slowing down when you are half way there?


2 posted on 10/14/2017 12:25:01 PM PDT by MtnClimber (For photos of Colorado scenery and wildlife, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MtnClimber

I wonder if you have to start slowing down when you are half way there?


If you have been accelerating continuously, yes.


3 posted on 10/14/2017 12:28:09 PM PDT by marktwain (President Trump and his supporters are the Resistance. His opponents are the Reactionaries.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: MtnClimber

>>>The previous record was 3.3 Newtons<<<

Regular Newtons or Fig Newtons?


4 posted on 10/14/2017 12:32:30 PM PDT by Kickass Conservative ( Democracy, two Wolves and one Sheep deciding what's for Dinner.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MtnClimber

Weighs 500lbs and only generates 5 Newton’s of thrust.

They’re a long ways off...


5 posted on 10/14/2017 12:34:35 PM PDT by Snickering Hound
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MtnClimber

Going from 5 kilometers a second to 40 is pretty impressive, all we need now are some dilithium crystals and Scottie.


6 posted on 10/14/2017 12:36:02 PM PDT by saturn
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Snickering Hound
Weighs 500lbs and only generates 5 Newton’s of thrust. They’re a long ways off...

It may not sound like much thrust, but when it is a continuous thrust, it adds up fairly quickly. Also, the advantage ov an ion drive is that you can use solar panels as your fuel source. You don't need to drag tons of chemical propellent with you.

7 posted on 10/14/2017 12:38:27 PM PDT by Yo-Yo (Is the /sarc tag really necessary?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Snickering Hound

It generated 5.4 Newtons of thrust,

I have no idea how much a Newton is, do you know how much that would be in terms of horse power? I am old school.


8 posted on 10/14/2017 12:38:35 PM PDT by usurper
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: MtnClimber

Steve Wright asked an interesting question years ago. If you’re in a car traveling at the speed of light and you turn the headlights on, what happens?


9 posted on 10/14/2017 12:40:50 PM PDT by econjack
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: usurper

5.4 newtons is 1.2 pounds of thrust. This is not much, short term, but if it can run for a month, you have build up significant velocity.


10 posted on 10/14/2017 12:43:13 PM PDT by PapaBear3625 (Big governent is attractive to those who think that THEY will be in control of it.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: econjack

You’re blinded by the light.


11 posted on 10/14/2017 12:43:45 PM PDT by Lurkina.n.Learnin (Wisdom and education are different things. Don't confuse them.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: MtnClimber

I’m nothing but an uneducated oaf in regard to ion thrusters, etc. But if space is a vacuum, where does the ion thruster get the ions it will thrust to propel the space vehicle toward Mars; and back? And from whence cometh the energy to operate the thuster at 100+ KW of power; for extended periods of time?


12 posted on 10/14/2017 12:48:22 PM PDT by Tucker39 (Read: Psalm 145. The whole psalm.....aloud; as praise to our God.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Snickering Hound

“Weighs 500lbs and only generates 5 Newton’s of thrust.”

Calculate the speed if you apply 5 Newton’s to 1000 kg for 7 days continuously.

One Newton = 1 kg * meter / second squared


13 posted on 10/14/2017 12:48:40 PM PDT by TexasGator (Z)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: PapaBear3625
5.4 newtons is 1.2 pounds of thrust. This is not much, short term, but if it can run for a month, you have build up significant velocity.

But first you have to overcome mass. The thing will accelerate like a Citroen 2CV loaded with six fat hippies.

14 posted on 10/14/2017 12:49:30 PM PDT by 60Gunner (The price of apathy towards public affairs is to be ruled by evil men. - Plato)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: Tucker39

I don’t have the numbers but the article says solar panels.


15 posted on 10/14/2017 12:49:49 PM PDT by TexasGator (Z)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: Yo-Yo

But how will it be taxed ?


16 posted on 10/14/2017 12:50:20 PM PDT by al baby (May the Forceps be with you Hi Mom Its a Joke friends)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: 60Gunner

“But first you have to overcome mass. The thing will accelerate like a Citroen 2CV loaded with six fat hippies. “

Imagine that Citroen accelerating at the same rate for two weeks 24/7!


17 posted on 10/14/2017 12:51:00 PM PDT by TexasGator (Z)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: PapaBear3625

When I first began reading, my beady little mind said, “I bet this thing will actually propel a 12” wingspan balsa wood glider 20 ft. Turns out.......


18 posted on 10/14/2017 12:53:10 PM PDT by Tucker39 (Read: Psalm 145. The whole psalm.....aloud; as praise to our God.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: usurper
The definition of newton is "In plain English, 1 newton of force is the force required to accelerate an object with a mass of 1 kilogram 1 meter per second per second".

If you have a space probe weighing 1000kg, being pushed at a thrust of 5.4 newtons, after 1 second it will have accelerated 5.4/1000 m/s, which is not much. But after a day, then it will have accelerated to a velocity of (5.4*3600*24)/1000 = 467 m/s

19 posted on 10/14/2017 12:53:19 PM PDT by PapaBear3625 (Big governent is attractive to those who think that THEY will be in control of it.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: 60Gunner

“But first you have to overcome mass. The thing will accelerate like a Citroen 2CV loaded with six fat hippies”

You forgot the flat tire ...


20 posted on 10/14/2017 12:54:32 PM PDT by PIF (They came for me and mine ... now it is your turn ...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson