Plasma engine passes initial test

BBC News ^ | 12/14/05

[KevinDavis]

The 'double layer thruster' is a new kind of ion drive which could give much more power than existing versions.

It works by accelerating charged particles between two layers of argon plasma, gas where the atoms have been stripped of electrons.

Esa says it has 'proven the principle', and will proceed with simulations and perhaps bigger prototypes.

Esa already uses an ion drive on its Smart 1 Moon probe, and the US space agency Nasa deployed one on Deep Space 1, which flew out to Comet Borrelly in 2001.

[KevinDavis]

[GeronL]

Just 2 layers?? Next time try 2,000, maybe we could call it the Impulse engine??

[Brett66]

I have the sense that we've just scratched the surface with ion propulsion technology. With continuing R&D efforts I hope the idea of ever sending humans to Mars with chemical rockets will be relegated to the past.

[MinorityRepublican]

Read for later bump!

[JasonC]

They are still very tiny thrust. But efficient, able to keep it up for long periods. The longer the trip the more that can contribute - but no one has scaled these up to serious thrusts yet.

[SunkenCiv]

Heh... that's probably already happened. But let's keep our fingers crossed.

[anymouse]

Well standard ion engines have major limitations on thrust because ions have little mass. High specific impulse, but low thrust. They are good for unmanned interplanetary travel, but are worthless for getting anywhere in a reasonable time or getting off of a high gravity planet.

The hybrid VASIMR microwave/ion engine helps for boosting thrust vs. specific impulse trade-off options, but it still can't get us up in orbit.

If we can harness the Russian's understanding of Magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) into larger VASIMR type engines, it brings hope of high enough thrust engines to use for Earth to orbit electric-based spaceflight. That would really be cool.