
	Where results make sense

Topic: Ion drive

Related Topics

Hall effect thruster

Spacecraft propulsion

Specific impulse

Magnetoplasmadynamic thruster

Pulsed plasma thruster

Weapons of Star Wars

Cloaking device

Warp drive

Hyperdrive

Star Destroyer

Interplanetary Superhighway

TIE Advanced

Prince Cuza

NASA

Death Star

In the News (Mon 4 Jun 12)

EXECUTIVE POWER

Iran

ANALYSIS

Pakistan

Family compact

	Ion thruster - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
		Ion thrusters are therefore able to achieve high specific impulse, reducing the amount of reaction mass required but increasing the amount of power required compared to chemical rockets.
		Ion thrusters can deliver one order of magnitude greater fuel efficiency than traditional liquid fuel rocket engines, but are generally constrained to very low thrusts by the available power.
		Ion thrusters have to be kept running a large part of the time to allow the milligee acceleration to build up into something meaningful.
	en.wikipedia.org /wiki/Ion_drive (1257 words)

	The NEXUS: Technology Timeline - Ion Drives
		The first use of ion drive as the primary means of interorbital propulsion was launched in July 1998, in a low budget NASA asteroid and comet flyby mission, the Deep Space 1 (DS1) mission.
		Ion drive thrusters use an electric field to accelerate charged atoms or molecules (e.g., oxygen) to a high velocity as they are expelled out the thrust chamber, thus accelerating the spacecraft.
		Ion drive was developed in laboratories in the 1960's, and there were the SERT1 and SERT2 experiments in space which proved that the drive would work in space for long periods of time and deliver significant propulsion to a spacecraft.
	www.fortunecity.com /tatooine/acegarp/898/ion.htm (942 words)

	PERMANENT - Transportation - Electric Propulsion
		Ion drive can just as easily be used as the primary means of interorbital propulsion for delivering cargoes, and has been projected in future scenarios for space industrialization as a competitive kind of reusable interorbital vehicle.
		Ion drive is much safer and a simpler technology, and has no relation to chemical rocketry at all.
		Ion drive engines are also easier to work on, consisting of simple electrical components, in contrast to the high performance mechanical pumps bolted into chemical rocketry.
	www.permanent.com /t-el-iov.htm (3233 words)

	Deep Space 1: Advanced Technologies: Solar Electric Propulsion FAQ
		Ion propulsion is a technology that involves ionizing a gas to propel a craft.
		Ion propulsion is not of value for missions that require high acceleration, and it often will not be worthwhile for missions that can be done quickly using conventional propulsion systems (such as missions to the moon).
		Because the ion propulsion system, although highly efficient, is very gentle in its thrust, it cannot be used for any application in which a rapid acceleration is required.
	nmp.jpl.nasa.gov /ds1/tech/ionpropfaq.html (814 words)

	SMART-1's Ion Drive Not Science Fiction: Science Fiction in the News
		An ion drive is a method of propulsion that uses electricity to create charged ions and then accelerate them with a magnetic field, pushing them out the rear of a spacecraft.
		The ion drive was first described in science fiction in 1947 by Jack Williamson in a short story published in Astounding Science Fiction called "The Equalizer." In the story, the spacecraft achieves a significant fraction of the speed of light, returning decades later due to time dilation.
		Ion drives have been used in satellites as a way of gently nudging them into higer orbits; the Irridium satellite network made use of ion drive propulsion for positioning and to prevent orbit decay.
	www.technovelgy.com /ct/Science-Fiction-News.asp?NewsNum=266 (788 words)

	Magnetohydrodynamic Ion Drive
		Ion drives are a subfield of the larger electric propulsion device group.
		Ion drives are a good idea because they can provide high specific impulse and very low thrust.
		The ions are extracted out of the ionization chamber by means of a strong electric field established between the accelerating grids at one end of the chamber.
	www.madmadscientist.com /iondrive.html (3254 words)

	Universe Today - Ion Drive Powered Spacecraft
		Two ion engines were even tested in 1964 on the American SERT 1 satellite - one was successful, the other was not.
		Ion drives can get up to high speeds in space, but they need a very long distance to build up to such speeds over time.
		A solar-powered ion engine could therefore not compete with the large thrust of a chemical rocket.
	www.universetoday.com /am/publish/printer_ion_drive_powered_spacecraft.html (569 words)

	Ion thruster
		The first is that they take a lot of energy, partly to ionize the materials, but most especially to accelerate the ions to the extremely high speeds.
		The ions often hit the grids on their way through the engine, which leads to the decay of the grids, and their eventual failure.
		Ion engines are best used for missions requiring very high ΔV (the overall change in velocity, taken as a single value), interplanetary missions, for example.
	www.sciencedaily.com /encyclopedia/ion_thruster (644 words)

	Electric Propulsion System - The Ion Drive (Ion Engine) - Future Space Propulsion Systems (Future of Space Exploration) (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-10)
		As they pass through the ions reach a velocity of 31.5 km/sec and are focused into an ion beam before finally being exhausted out of the back of the spacecraft.
		The ion beam is again formed by the ions being focused and accelerated by electrostatic forces.
		Ion propulsion is very useful for propulsion systems on planetary missions, as it is able to build up to very high velocities, far greater than chemical propulsion systems.
	www.thespacesite.com /space/future/electric.php (1179 words)

	Encyclopedia: Ion drive (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-10)
		The acceleration received from the thruster is a very efficient form of propulsion, using very little reaction mass (i.e., the specific impulse, or Isp, is very high).
		Ion engines are seen as the best solution for these missions as interplanetary trajectories require very high ΔV (the overall change in velocity, taken as a single value) that can be built up over long periods of time (years).
		Most other electric spacecraft engine designs are based on the same principles, but attempt to avoid the grid degradation problem with a combination of other electric or magnetic fields.
	www.nationmaster.com /encyclopedia/Ion-drive (814 words)

	Ion Drive; The Force of Electrons
		Ion propulsion would use the force exerted by the ionisation of atoms, to put it into motion.
		Ion propulsion seems to be modern, up to date and beneficial all at the same time.
		However, as I have mentioned in the last point, ion propulsion requires a fantastic amount of electricity, which would be unavailable on deep space voyages where solar energy is scarce.
	members.tripod.com /sciences/ion.html (819 words)

	Deep Space 1: Advanced Technologies: Solar Electric Propulsion
		An ion engine uses this same principle, but the great innovation is in how efficiently this happens.
		As the ions race away from the engine, they push back on the spacecraft, propelling it in the opposite direction.
		Ion propulsion is one of the ways to get around this problem.
	nmp.jpl.nasa.gov /ds1/tech/sep.html (646 words)

	Discussion: Ion Drive Powered Spacecraft - Bad Astronomy and Universe Today Forum
		The DS1 ion drive was the first one to head into space, I believe, but it was just a prototype platform to test all kinds of different space technologies.
		With the success of DS1, ion drive is now an accepted technology, such that some new craft will use it as their primary propulsion.
		In the case of the ion drive, it uses an electromagnetic field to fire single ions at tremendous velocities; and it creates the energy to do this from solar power, so it doesn't need to carry any fuel other than the ions that are going to be accelerated.
	www.bautforum.com /showthread.php?t=20986 (1793 words)

	DEEP SPACE 1 HAS ION DRIVE (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-10)
		Similar ion engines may be used on future space missions, particularly missions to comets and asteroids where the ion engine's high fuel economy is important for precise navigation to the small bodies.
		The ion engine is tested for about 75 percent of the time over the two and a half years of the test, Anderson said, with other time spent on running diagnostic tests, and defrosting the xenon propellant that had become frozen in the vacuum system.
		And sensors that monitor the ion propulsion were reprogrammed to listen for magnetic fields and plasma waves in and around the comet.
	www.mikekemble.com /space/deepspace1.html (2223 words)

	Super-efficient ion drive developed - the HDLT
		Australian researchers claim to have developed a super-efficient ion drive which could make space exploration cheaper and reduce the cost of running the International Space Station as well as maintaining satellites in position.
		Because the double layer is the result of the relationship between plasma density and the magnetic field, the accelerating grids used in conventional ion drives are not necessary.
		Due to the equal flow of ions and electrons from the plasma the system's exhaust is neutral, so there is no risk of charging up the spacecraft, causing an electrical systems failure, or coating solar panels and impairing their function, unlikealternative designs.
	www.mail-archive.com /europa@klx.com/msg02945.html (637 words)

	MacNN \| Reviews: IOGEAR Combo 1.8" ION Drive
		The ION is about the same size as an iPod drive but weighs a bit less.
		A 4 to 6-pin Firewire cable and a type mini-B to A USB 2.0 cable are included with the drive, along with the power adapter.
		There are bigger and faster external drives that are marginally larger in size that cost about the same as the ION.
	reviews.macnn.com /review.php?id=70 (442 words)

	BBC NEWS \| Science/Nature \| Europe's lunar adventure begins
		Ion drives do not produce the sudden burst of forward momentum you get from a chemical rocket.
		The 1998 US probe Deep Space 1 flew with an ion drive, and there is a European satellite, Artemis, that maintains its orbit with one.
		The Bepi-Colombo mission to Mercury, for example, which should launch at the end of this decade, is set to use an ion drive.
	news.bbc.co.uk /2/hi/science/nature/3136004.stm (1034 words)

	Articles - Electric vehicle (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-10)
		The motion may be provided either by wheels or propellors driven by rotary motors, or in the case of tracked vehicles, by linear motors.
		The reasons electric motors are used to drive vehicles are their fine control, high efficiency and simple mechanical construction.
		The nuclear reactor usually provides heat, which drives a steam turbine, which drives a generator, which is then fed to the propulsion.
	www.centralairconditioners.net /articles/Electric_vehicle (1333 words)

	Ion propulsion - over 50 years in the making
		April 6, 1999: The ion propulsion system on Deep Space 1 is the culmination of over 50 years of development on electric engine systems in space.
		Taken together, these data suggest that the ion drive engine used to propel the spacecraft can indeed be used to power future scientific missions without interfering with the scientific payload.
		For ions, the lowest detectable density is about 1 ion per 100 cubic centimeters, and for electrons it is ten times less.
	science.nasa.gov /newhome/headlines/prop06apr99_2.htm (2509 words)

	SPACE.com -- Deep Space 1 sets record with ion propulsion system
		Rocket designers have been studying ion propulsion since the 1950s, and mention of the technology often turns up in works of science fiction.
		Instead of the fiery thrust produced by typical rockets, an ion engine emits only an eerie blue glow as electrically charged atoms of xenon are pushed out of the engine.
		Those ions are then jolted by electricity that is produced by the probe's solar panels and accelerated at high speeds as they shoot out from the engine.
	www.space.com /scienceastronomy/solarsystem/deepspace_propulsion_000816.html (1283 words)

	ESA Portal - SMART-1 ion engine fired successfully
		Several months ago, the ion engine, or Solar Electric Primary Propulsion (SEPP) system, had been placed in a vacuum chamber on the ground and its functions and operation were measured.
		This is the first time that Europe flies an electric primary propulsion in space, and also the first European use of this particular type of ion engine, called a 'Hall-effect' thruster.
		The ion engine will accelerate SMART-1 very gradually to cause the spacecraft to travel in a series of spiralling orbits - each revolution slightly further away from the Earth - towards the Moon.
	www.esa.int /esaCP/SEM2OU0P4HD_index_0.html (295 words)

	Star Wars: Databank \| sublight drive
		Unlike hyperdrives, sublight drives cannot move a vessel faster than the speed of light.
		A common model of sublight drive is an ion engine, which propels a craft by hurling ionic particles at extreme speeds in the opposite direction of travel.
		TIE fighters employ twin ion engines to achieve their remarkable sublight speeds.
	www.starwars.com /databank/technology/sublightdrive (111 words)

	BBC NEWS \| Science/Nature \| Probe pushes on to lunar target
		Mission controllers sent instructions to the lunar probe to start its ion drive as they checked out the health of all Smart's onboard systems.
		The ion drive was switched on at 1225 GMT on Tuesday.
		Its ion drive will progressively work the probe closer to the lunar surface and give it a more circular orbit.
	news.bbc.co.uk /1/hi/sci/tech/3150718.stm (738 words)

	PROVANTAGE: buy iogear - storage
		IOGEARs 1.8 USB 2.0 ION Drive is the most stylish and practical solution for storing and protecting your documents, as well as audio, video and other media files.
		IOGEARs 3.5 Combo ION Drive is the most stylish and practical solution for storing and protecting your documents, as well as audio, video and other media files.
		IOGEAR's 3.5 Tri-Select Combo ION Drive is the most stylish and practical solution for storing and protecting your documents, as well as audio, video and other media files at a push of a button.
	www.provantage.com /buy-110IOGS-iogear-storage-shopping.htm (971 words)

	IOL: Ion-driven space probe set for lunar mission
		SMART-1, which weighs 370kg but is driven by an engine with a thrust of just7g, is packed with tiny instruments that will scan and photograph every inch of the moon's surface seeking a base for future deep space expeditions.
		One of the features of future deep space missions is the need for off-Earth launch bases from which rockets could be launched with a minimum of propulsion as the moon's gravity is only one-sixth that of Earth.
		In the engine, electrons collide with atoms from the propellant gas creating charged atoms or ions which are ejected through a magnetic field and appear as a tongue of blue flame.
	www.int.iol.co.za /index.php?set_id=1&click_id=118&art_id=qw1100186101413B212 (652 words)

	[No title] (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-10)
		Possession of such a drive is a class one infraction in Imperial space.
		Because of the cutting edge technology in this drive, double all difficulties for modifying this drive and double all modifiers when rolling for mishaps.
		Double all difficulties for modifying this drive and double all modifiers when rolling for mishaps beyond a +1 modification.
	members.aol.com /VStarblaze/equipment/starship/ion.html (292 words)

	Detailed information on solar powered ion drive
		The spacecraft will use its ion drive over a period of 17 months to reach the Moon and enter a 1000 x 10,000 km polar orbit.
		Now that Deep Space 1'st mission is extended, it will fly by Comet Borrelly, where it will attempt to take close-up pictures, determine the size and shape of the nuclei, and study the coma (the cloud of water and gases that surround a comet's nucleus).
		NASA extended the mission, taking advantage of the ion propulsion and other systems to target a chancy but exciting encounter with Borrelly.
	freespace.virgin.net /d.finn/solar-powered-ion-drive.html (1056 words)

	Universe Today - Ion Drive Powered Spacecraft
		An ion engine works by accelerating ionized particles of gas in a constant stream for months or even years.
		Although the thrust is very low, it's very efficient and requires a fraction of fuel that traditional rockets use.
		Science fiction movie fans know that, if you want to travel short distances from your home planet, you would use a sublight 'ion drive'.
	www.universetoday.com /am/publish/ion_drive_powered_spacecraft.html (715 words)

	Ion propulsion system wins award (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-10)
		The futuristic ion propulsion system on NASA's Deep Space 1 spacecraft is the winner of Discover Magazine's Award for Technological Innovation in the exploration category.
		The ion drive combines a gas found in photo flash units with some of the technologies that make television picture tubes work to deliver a thrust only as powerful as the pressure of a sheet of paper resting on the palm of a hand.
		Development of the ion propulsion system was supported by NASA's Office of Space Science and the Office of Aeronautics and Space Transportation Technology, Washington, DC.
	www.jpl.nasa.gov /releases/99/discoverawards.html (426 words)

	PowerMax: Iogear COMBO 1.8" ION Drive (40GB) - GHD118C40 (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-10)
		IOGEARs 1.8" Combo ION Drive is the most stylish and practical solution for storing and protecting your documents, as well as audio, video and other media files.
		The ION Drive supports extremely high data transfer rates of up to 400 Mbps (FireWire) and 480Mbps (USB 2.0) for blazing fast transfer of large multimedia files.
		The 1.8" ION Drive is backed by IOGEARs 3-year Limited Warranty.
	www.powermax.com /cgi-global/generate.cgi?p=f25289 (583 words)

Try your search on: Qwika (all wikis)