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Ion Propulsion

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Ion Propulsion - Transport System to the PlanetsThe efficiency of a rocket engine can be described by its specific impulse, which is the change of momentum gained from a 1 kilogram weight of propellent.The Space Shuttle main engines have a specific impulse of 453 seconds which is typical of a liquid fuelled rocket engine.An Ion thruster has a specific impulse of more than 3000 seconds and so requires less than a sixth of the fuel of a liquid fuelled engine.Gridded electrostatic ion thrusters commonly utilize Xenon gas. The gas is first ionized by bombarding it with electrons. The positively charged ions then diffuse through the positive grid and enter a potential difference between the positive and negative grids. The potential difference accelerates the ions to high velocities, which then leave the engine to create thrust. An electron emitter, on the exterior of the engine, neutralizes the ion beam to prevent charge build-up.The typical thrust of an ion engine is equivalent to a weight of 10 grams - about the weight of a sheet of paper.This means ion thrusters need to provide continuous thrust for a very long time in order to achieve a reasonable change in velocity. Electrostatic ion engines have been tested for 3.5 years of continuous thrust at full power. Collision of ions with the charged grids causes their erosion and will lead to eventual failure.Ion engines consume more than 2 kilowatts of electrical power, which may be generated by solar arrays or nuclear generator.NASA has developed a Xenon ion thruster called NSTAR for use in their inter-planetary missions. This thruster was tested in the space probe Deep Space 1, launched in 1998.The Dawn mission was launched in September 2007 to explore the dwarf planet Ceres and the asteroid Vesta. To cruise from Earth to its targets it will use three Deep Space 1, heritage, NSTAR thrusters, firing only one at a time, to take it in a long outward spiral. The three thrusters are required to meet the lifespan requirement of the engine.

Channel: Science & Technology
Uploaded: November 26, 2007 at 12:03 am
Author: BrunoTheQuestionable

Length: 04:04
Rating: 4.73
Views: 25632

Tags: Ion  Propulsion  

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Video Comments

BrunoTheQuestionable (September 28, 2008 at 2:46 pm)
An ion engine isn't capable of lifting its own weight off the ground :(
HazardAlertEvacuate (September 28, 2008 at 12:37 pm)
How much electricity would I need to lift 2 tonnes 1 metre off the ground? What size and weight would the engine be?
qpwnsall (September 5, 2008 at 4:01 pm)
i just think a ship with about 40 of these ion engines behind it would look awesome.
patankar11 (September 5, 2008 at 2:57 pm)
weight and power needed!!
qpwnsall (August 28, 2008 at 2:44 am)
whats keeping us from building a gigantic one?
supersetan2008 (August 4, 2008 at 8:04 pm)
And with a very low acceleration ... (years-scale)
jamanticus (July 30, 2008 at 6:05 pm)
The thrust of an ion thruster is very little- it's like standing on a skateboard and shooting a fire extinguisher- wouldn't be practical anywhere except in space, where momentum can grow without gravitational and frictional interference
SchizoFilms (July 29, 2008 at 4:11 am)
Um, no. Iron Man uses Repulsor Beam (Fictional) technology in his thrusters, as well as his hand cannons. They work in a way that repulses whatever is in front of it. In the same way you are pushed backward when you push on a kitchen counter while wearing socks, instead of the whole thing buckling forward, Iron Man moves, and the planet doesn't. It is uncertain how Repulsor Beams work, but it may be similar to Star Wars' Repulsorlift technology, used in speeders and starships for lift. TIEs Cont
oricitrap (July 22, 2008 at 7:52 pm)
ablen español endejos
malibu2001 (July 2, 2008 at 2:33 am)
guy brilliant idea why not use this engine in cars, build a small engine that will move a car, and i know what your thinking how to conver this engine into mechanical power or torque power, that what make a car go up a hill.


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