Electrostatic Propulsion

[apollo13]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrostatic_ion_thruster

The electrostatic ion thruster is a kind of design for ion thrusters (a kind of highly-efficient low-thrust spacecraft propulsion running on electrical power). These designs use high voltage electrodes in order to accelerate ions with electrostatic forcesThe electrostatic ion thruster is a kind of design for ion thrusters (a kind of highly-efficient low-thrust spacecraft propulsion running on electrical power). These designs use high voltage electrodes in order to accelerate ions with electrostatic forces

Is this impossible to use in the future with astronauts on far out missions?

 

[Bj]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrostatic_ion_thruster


Is this impossible to use in the future with astronauts on far out missions?

Well, only if you wanted to strap about 100 of these thrusters to the guy's back. From the very nature of the thruster it has about the force equal to that of a pencil in your hand. So it will take many years to actually get anywhere, not to mention that you will have to pack fuel, o2 food, water, (basic necessity's for life) which adds weight, which means longer burning .

So it may be out of nasa's possibility books, that doesn't mean that they will not use them in the long future, (2200)

I personally think their first achievement should be to get man to Mars, then worry about even longer runs.

 

[apollo13]

No wonder...it's going to take Dawn ONE year and a half to get Mars!
It seems slow...lol

 

[Bj]

No wonder...it's going to take Dawn ONE year and a half to get Mars!
It seems slow...lol

actually, 1 year 4 months

 

[apollo13]

No, I meant the gravity assist

 

[Bj]

No, I meant the gravity assist

oh, ya I know, for some reason I forgot all about its gravity assist from Mars,

Thanks for reminding me

 

[apollo13]

Haha.
We'll be in for a surprise when we see those pictures from Vesta and Ceres, here is the best one we've got. (astronomer's)
Vesta

Ceres

 

[Bj]

Haha.
We'll be in for a surprise when we see those pictures from Vesta and Ceres, here is the best one we've got. (astronomer's)

isn't amazing how clear then come from even being so far away...