 | Ion Propulsion Ion Propulsion - Transport System to the Planets The 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. |
 | ion thruster III Ions flow between HV electrodes (working as a stator) can create pretty strong drag to run a light rotor. |
 | Hexagon Lifter - Electrogravitic Propulsion yet another example of electrogravitic Lifter technology, a double hexagon configuration of my own design. video shot with desktop web cam |
 | High voltage electric Arc discharge - ignition coil Here is an automotive ignition coil powered from a low freq generator thru solidstate switch. You can see it producing multiple sparks which turn into constantly burning arc after I increase the output voltage of the generator. This one was built to power a lifter -- a hovercraft without any moving parts, you can see it in my other videos. Extremely dangerous, don't try it at home!!! |
 | ion thruster II Very simple demo of hi-speed rotation based on HV application to sharpended rotor. Ion-reactive propulsion. |
 | Ion Engine Mr. Ben Biddle's Class (haha) watches an ion engine in motion. |
 | Ion propulsion A pretty nice tesla-powered ion motor I made a few minutes ago because of being bored.. |
 | Ion propulsion This is a piece of tin foil shaped to direct high voltage arcs in the same rotational direction. |
 | Plasma Rocket Plasma test shots from the VX-100 prototype plasma rocket housed at NASA's Johnson Space Center. The video is slowed down to 1/2 speed. In general, these types of thrusters (ion thrusters, Hall thrusters, and VASIMR) take advantage of extremely high exhaust velocities and generally have the ability to operate continuously for months. Although the thrust is much lower than a chemical rocket, the ultimate speed and/or payload fraction delivered is generally much higher. A new higher power rocket (VX-200) is being constructed and will be tested in a new vacuum chamber that is large enough to drive a full size school bus into (with room to spare). The Variable Specific Impulse Magnetoplasma Rocket (VASIMR) is now operated by the Ad Astra Rocket Company, created by former astronaut Dr. Franklin Chang-Diaz (7 Space Shuttle flights). Caption: 1st picture: front view of VX-100 2nd picture: back of vacuum chamber, which houses a translation stage for plasma diagnostics 3rd picture: VASIMR command center 1st video: pneumatic Langmuir probe 2nd video: 10-collector flux probe 3rd video: swinging flux probe (windshield wiper probe) 4th video: large plasma reaction paddle 5th video: small plasma reaction paddle The small plasma reaction paddle has the same diameter and weight as a US half dollar and is made out of titanium. Ad Astra Rocket Company www.adastrarocket.com More pictures of the last shot at: www.plasmaben.com/VASIMR |
 | WASA Ion Engine Watch how to play the Whyville WASA Ion Engine game. |
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