Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!samsung!munnari.oz.au!uhccux!waikato!hamish
From: hamish@waikato.ac.nz
Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle
Subject: ion engines.
Message-ID: <1952.2715c044@waikato.ac.nz>
Date: 12 Oct 90 00:08:19 GMT
Organization: University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand
Lines: 28


Just a quick question. What ever happened to the ion rocket research programs?
I have a book that details 2 flights of ion powered engines, abord satellites,
one of which couldn't be started, and the other that provided 5 MONTHS of
continuous thrust at about an ounce. (several grammes). It was said that an
electrical fault was to blame. Anybody got any data on the amount of velocity
picked up by this little thing?

After that it is said that the ion rocket research was dropped. Why? It's a
cheap way (especially in payload) to get a fast engine into space. They may not
have much thrust but after a year you could really get a bit of speed into a
deep space probe.

I have faith that if the research was continued that the amount of thrust
generated would be much higher as well as the reliability. After all it was
about 25 years ago.

-- 
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