Ion Engines: A reality

[Garyn Fett™]

TIE Fighter: Twin Ion Engine Fighter.

Relegated to fiction, right? Not anymore...Earth has even gone one better. Meet Dawn, the newest generation of American spacecraft; powered by not one, not two, but three ion engines. Ion engines are reality here and now.


Read more about Dawn and the mission here.

[The Chancellor]

wow

i thought i would never see anything leave colorfulll trails like in star wars

but it looks like it will become a reality

[Outer Rim Armory]

I was wondering when someone would post this up!

The properties of Ion engine technology are very interesting, and the possibility of future endeavors with Ion propulsion systems can only increase due to rapid development of available technology.

A few Links to read up on the possible uses of Ion propulsion. As you can see, it is already in place with NASA. Perhaps one day we will be cruising in orbit using a form similar to T.I.E. craft!

www.thespacesite.com/space_electric_propulsion.html

www.bbc.co.uk/science/space/exploration/futurespaceflight/ionengines.shtml

nmp.nasa.gov/ds1/tech/ionpropfaq.html

www.nasa.gov/centers/glenn/about/history/ipsworks.html

These are just a few of the THOUSANDS of links you can find with a google search on the subject matter. Welcome to the 21st century! ;D

[jm3407]

cool