NASA'S Ion Engine Records No Tuneups, No Problems

spacedaily.com ^ | 08/01/03

[KevinDavis]

The future is here for spacecraft propulsion and the trouble-free engine performance that every vehicle operator would like to see, achieved by an ion engine running for a record 30,352 hours at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.

[KevinDavis]

Even though it sounds interesting, wake me up when we have hyperspace.....

[KevinDavis]

Space Ping! This is the space ping list! Let me know if you want on or off this list!

[TomServo]

Posted here.

[Ford Fairlane]

I always wondered why they didn't spend more time on this

In high school i ruined my dad's old model train set (I think it was a Mars worth about $1,500 now, yes, I am a dumbass) and I built an ion engine that took juice off the rails & would run a car around by itself

It didn't go very fast, but it did work

[KevinDavis]

DOH!

[taxcontrol]

Almost 3.5 years non stop - that's quite an accomplishment.

[DB]

The "Space Elevators Maybe Closer To Reality Than Imagined" article on the same page as you linked was also VERY interesting.

It basically looks doable in likely less than 20 years.

[greasepaint]

Typical Nasa bs.
Where does the electicity for the engine come from?

[DB]

It does say "engine".

An engine doesn't include its fuel source.

I would assume electricity could come from solar panels or nuclear energy cell.

[KevinDavis]

Nuclear is the key... Had they said nuclear the enviro nazis would have it shut it down immediately........