Maybe slow but it got there...

[Dubh Aingeal]

"It ain't warp speed, but it's exciting new technology at work! The European Space Agency put an ion-propelled rocket into lunar orbit today. While not much horsepower is generated, this method of propulsion could be ideal for travel in near-weightless space as it does not require any combustion to occur."

[nodrew]

Wow, I can;'t believe I didn't read about this already. That is absolutely amazing that such a concept was brought to reality. This means that we're only a decade or so from real ION-drives that will propel a space craft faster than they do now. I doubt that we'll get near light speed for quite some time, but still.

They idea of ION drives mean true fuel efficiency as the combustion method has always been flawed as much of its energy is lost through heat dispersal.

This is very exciting. :grin:

[The_Dark]

Very cool indeed. I do beleive that I read that a Solar Sail has been launched or will be launched shortly. That too is very cool.

[LuthienTheFallen]

hmmm tie fighters had twin ion engines. is the darth soon to follow?

joking aside thats amazing the quicker they can perfect stuff like this will maybe(hopefully before im wayyyyyyy to old) civilians will be able to take a trip to space and go for a joy ride

[SomeDanGuy]

Wow, that's awesome - thanks for posting it. Where do you get your science-y news?

I had no idea a working solar powered engine had been created.

And the long-fabled solar sails might actually be launched soon too?

I'm glad people are around to keep me up on this

[nodrew]

Here's some news on the solar sail, I believe I first saw this on Slash-Dot.

http://www.isas.jaxa.jp/e/snews/2004/0809.shtml

In terms of trips to space, there are companies already taking pre-orders, though I wouldn't trust that. Current estimates put such a trip as close to 2010, though I'm betting on about 2015. It won't be affordable any time soon. If Ion-drives become more powerful though, it will make such trip[s much cheaper. Unfortunately, based on current trustm it won't be for quite a while. I'm guessing in 20-30 years we'll have developed much better engine. What was just used are basically first time prototypes.

Now that it appears possible more money will get put into research and such dreams will become reality much sooner. :grin: