Free Republic 2nd Qtr 2025 Fundraising Target: $81,000 Receipts & Pledges to-date: $79,800
98%  
Woo hoo!! And we're now over 98%!! Thank you all very much!! God bless.

Keyword: solarelecpropulsion

Brevity: Headers | « Text »
  • ESA develops a smarter way to travel through space

    06/11/2002 6:07:17 AM PDT · by callisto · 8 replies · 351+ views
    European Space Agency ^ | 06.11.02 | ESA
    11-Jun-2002 As scientists demand more from space missions travelling to other worlds and beyond, traditional rocket technologies are beginning to show shortcomings. In response, ESA are helping to develop a new type of rocket engine, known as solar-electric propulsion, or more commonly, an ion engine, that can mark a whole new era of space exploration. Solar-electric propulsion is ESA's new spacecraft engine. It does not burn fuel as chemical rockets do; instead 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 drives...