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From: neal@lynx.uucp (Neal Woodall)
Newsgroups: sci.space
Subject: Re: Where the hell are electric-ion thrusters????
Summary: Lets start a thread on "exotic" thrusters.....
Message-ID: <6097@lynx.UUCP>
Date: 29 Aug 89 18:26:24 GMT
References: <8908241857.AA02943@fermat.Mayo.edu> <1989Aug25.183710.3054@utzoo.uucp> <4256@utastro.UUCP> <6091@lynx.UUCP> <4271@utastro.UUCP> <1989Aug29.124837.23692@cs.rochester.edu>
Reply-To: neal@lynx.UUCP (Neal Woodall)
Distribution: usa
Organization: Lynx Real-Time Systems Inc, Campbell CA
Lines: 23

In article <1989Aug29.124837.23692@cs.rochester.edu> dietz@cs.rochester.edu.UUCP (Paul Dietz) writes:

>A reason to use mercury is its higher atomic mass.

This answers one of the questions I posted just minutes ago. Thanx.

>>50 lbs thrust is TOTAL B.S.  for an (electrostatic) ion drive,
>>certainly any one tested.

>Perhaps he was thinking of a magnetoplasmadynamic (MPD) engine.

Please, some details!! Perhaps we can start a thread on "exotic" thrusters
which would be good for the next generation of planetary probes. I am
interested in any engine that allows continuous thrust for long periods of
time, and will probably be of very high specific impulse. I have no info
on the MPD engine you speak of......






Neal