Newsgroups: sci.space
Path: utzoo!henry
From: henry@utzoo.uucp (Henry Spencer)
Subject: Re: Where the hell are electric-ion thrusters????
Message-ID: <1989Aug29.153247.4598@utzoo.uucp>
Organization: U of Toronto Zoology
References: <8908241857.AA02943@fermat.Mayo.edu> <1989Aug25.183710.3054@utzoo.uucp> <4256@utastro.UUCP> <6091@lynx.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 29 Aug 89 15:32:47 GMT

In article <6091@lynx.UUCP> neal@lynx.UUCP (Neal Woodall) writes:
>... Why the hell cannot our country do with two fewer
>B2 bombers, and give that money to JPL for probes, including a full
>program of electric-ion engine probes to various parts of the solar system?

Because Congress isn't willing to move funds around like that.  If you feel
this is unfair... have you talked to *YOUR* Congressthing about it lately?
If not, why not?

>... Hell, a manned Mars mission would be fast with an ion thruster!

Well, let's not get carried away; the thrust of the things is pretty low.
But yes, it would help.  Which is why the Soviets are working on nuclear-
electric propulsion for their Mars mission.
-- 
V7 /bin/mail source: 554 lines.|     Henry Spencer at U of Toronto Zoology
1989 X.400 specs: 2200+ pages. | uunet!attcan!utzoo!henry henry@zoo.toronto.edu