[callisto]

ping

[medved]

Sounds like a better idea...

[PatrickHenry]

... the technique converts sunlight into electricity via solar panels and uses it to electrically charge heavy gas atoms, which accelerate from the spacecraft at high velocity.

This has always been the hangup. I don't think solar panels are anywhere near the level of efficiency they need to be yet. But they may have made some breakthroughs while I wasn't looking.