Deep Space Two
In 1998 NASA launched a ship called DEEP SPACE ONE. This ship used a lot of new technology. The most important being the ION engine. I know, sounds like something from Star Trek. This engine has been around since the 1950's but was put on the shelf many times over the years, it has only recently been perfected. The engine uses xenon gas (similar to helium) and sends it through an electrical charge. The result is an engine that has a very fast output push, but with very low power. This engine could not lift a rocket off earth, it doesn't have the power. In fact even out in space the engine can take months to get to top speed. The best way to think of an Ion engine is to think of a car with no first or second gear, but one gear that would be like 193rd gear. it would take off very slow but eventually would could do super speeds.
Deep Space one was designed to test a whole range of new technologys by chasing down a comet (comet Borrelly) and taking pictures. If you want to check out the other technologys (12 in all) or see pictures of the comet go to -http://nmp.jpl.nasa.gov/ds1/
Although this mission had a lot of bugs (when they got Deep Space One up in orbit over earth, the engine would not start. It took almost two weeks to get the engine started) The Ion engine needs to be pushed to see what it is capable of. NASA needs to start the next ion mission. This engine would be ideal to return a man from Mars. It is exreemly fuel efficent. So c'mon NASA lets get to it.
Deep Space one was designed to test a whole range of new technologys by chasing down a comet (comet Borrelly) and taking pictures. If you want to check out the other technologys (12 in all) or see pictures of the comet go to -http://nmp.jpl.nasa.gov/ds1/
Although this mission had a lot of bugs (when they got Deep Space One up in orbit over earth, the engine would not start. It took almost two weeks to get the engine started) The Ion engine needs to be pushed to see what it is capable of. NASA needs to start the next ion mission. This engine would be ideal to return a man from Mars. It is exreemly fuel efficent. So c'mon NASA lets get to it.
posted by Jim Fisher at 12:11 PM
2 Comments:
I always wondered how that would work. Without initial thrust to overcome the sun gravity or the earth's, how can it get up to speed without it being sucked in. Do they put it in orbit first, till it gets up to speed?
Yes, they launch it on a traditional rocket and get it into orbit, so it basically starts with no force in any direction. Keep in mind once the rocket gets far enough from earth, the suns gravity (even though it keeps all planets in orbit) really doesn't have much effect at these distances. The Earth orbits only every 365 days. That is because the pull from this distance is not great. When you get close, such as Mercury, the pull is much greater (that is why Mercury orbits every 88 days). Deep Space One chasing down comet Borrelly headed away from the sun, although they had to figure in the suns gravity while programming the trajectory, it was not much of a issue.
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