Breaking News | Developing a smarter way to trave|Attachments :
Spaceflight Now | Breaking News | Developing a smarter way to travel through space
Developing a smarter way to travel through space
EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY SCIENCE RELEASE
Posted: June 18, 2002

Solar-electric propulsion can open the door to a whole new era of space exploration. Credit: ESA/Medialab

As scientists demand more from space missions travelling to other worlds and beyond, traditional rocket technologies are beginning to show shortcomings. In response, ESA are helping to develop a new type of rocket engine, known as solar-electric propulsion, or more commonly, an ion engine, that can mark a whole new era of space exploration.
Solar-electric propulsion is ESA's new spacecraft engine. It does not burn fuel as chemical rockets do; instead the technique converts sunlight into electricity via solar panels and uses it to electrically charge heavy gas atoms, which accelerate from the spacecraft at high velocity. This drives the spacecraft forwards. In a chemical rocket, burning the fuel creates gas that is expelled relatively slowly compared to electric thrusters. However, in an ion engine, the gas is ejected at large velocities, which makes it generally much more efficient, so less fuel is required.
Such engines have long been the subject of science fiction; now ESA has helped turn them into science fact. A small ion engine is currently lifting ESA's telecommunications satellite, Artemis, to its planned orbit around Earth and, early in 2003, SMART-1 will blast off from Kourou, French Guiana. Once in space, this small craft will use an ion engine to reach the Moon.
Ion engines are truly important because their high efficiency makes previously impossible missions achievable. In fact, SMART-1 will test a manoeuvring technique, using its ion engine and the gravitational pull of the Moon, which will be essential for ESA's BepiColombo mission to Mercury, lifting off in 2012. Giuseppe Racca, project manager for SMART-1, explains, "With chemical propulsion you can only do a fly-by or go into a very elongated orbit around the planet. If you want to achieve a low Mercury orbit and really observe the planet, then you can only do that with electric propulsion."
As well as BepiColombo, solar-electric propulsion will be used for ESA's Solar Orbiter mission, to be launched at the same time. This probe will use an ion engine to rise out of the plane of the Solar System and study the Sun at high latitudes.
Since they do not need to carry so much fuel, ion engines release room for more scientific instruments. As technology continues to get smaller, the size of instruments decreases and the overall size and mass of the spacecraft decreases, further increasing efficiency. Racca says, "Solar-electric propulsion opens up the way to explore the inner part of the Solar System because you have the Sun to power you."
Further away, however, where the Sun's light is weaker, a new electricity source, such as a nuclear generator, would be needed. This is the next logical step for the technology, according to Racca. He says, "They could take us to the Kuiper belt and even farther away." The Kuiper belt extends beyond the planet Pluto and is a dream destination for many scientists because it contains comets that have been undisturbed since the formation of the Solar System. Beyond these comets is a mysterious realm of magnetic fields and rarefied gases known as interstellar space that astronomers would love to explore. Solar-electric propulsion would make such a mission possible because an ion engine can run almost constantly, so that eventually it outperforms any chemical rocket on such long flights.
"Electric propulsion as a whole, including solar and nuclear types, will really allow us to open a new era of Solar System exploration," concludes Racca. The ultimate Apollo 11 DVD
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The Apollo 14 Complete Downlink DVD set (5 discs) contains all the available television downlink footage from the Apollo 14 mission. A two-disc edited version is also available.

Perhaps you have left some information out. This docking, and reentry has already been done. Jay Huebner

Hi,
thank you to Vince Tourangeau for the link to
SpaceFlightNow.com.Two very exciting developments
at that website.Bigelow Aerospace is making Inflatable
Space Modules or Nautilus Modules that could be made
into the first orbiting Hotel that might be launched
from Russia.The article said the modules could also
be used on the Moon or Mars.Hmmm,am wondering if a
person could buy common shares in Bigelow Aerospace ?
The other story was about America's Space Prize,
$50 Million Dollars US,wowsers,that's incentive,the
contestents must be able to achieve over 100 miles
altitude,be able to dock with another vehicle/ship,
and survive a 17,500 MPH reentry,wow !
Am looking forward to seeing the winner !
Cordially,John Hadden.

Breaking News | Obama vows NASA support during|Every politician has to reconsider their positions in light of the preferences of their supporters. I support Obama because he's capable of spelling antidisestablishmentarianism. Enough said,,,

GAry 7

> Every politician has to reconsider their positions in light of the
> preferences of their supporters. I support Obama because he's
> capable of spelling antidisestablishmentarianism.
>

I suspect he knows the roles of the three branches of the government,
too, and has a familiarity with the geography of important parts of
the world -- qualities I look for in a supreme commander.

"The legislature's job is to write law. It's the executive branch's
job to interpret law." - George W. Bush, Nov. 2000

"Its a very hard struggle, particularly given the situation on the
Iraq-Pakistan border." - John McCain, July 2008

Best,
- Joe

Breaking News | Obama vows NASA support during|Not to mention the current problems in Czechoslovakia.

> Every politician has to reconsider their positions in light of the
> preferences of their supporters. I support Obama because he's
> capable of spelling antidisestablishmentarianism.
>

I suspect he knows the roles of the three branches of the government,
too, and has a familiarity with the geography of important parts of
the world -- qualities I look for in a supreme commander.

"The legislature's job is to write law. It's the executive branch's
job to interpret law." - George W. Bush, Nov. 2000

"Its a very hard struggle, particularly given the situation on the
Iraq-Pakistan border." - John McCain, July 2008

Best,
- Joe

Breaking News | Obama vows NASA support during|--- In ssi_list@... GARY ANSORGE
>
> Every politician has to reconsider their positions in light of the
preferences of their supporters. I support Obama because he's capable
of spelling antidisestablishmentarianism. Enough said,,,
>
> GAry 7

There's Politicians and State's Men.
The Politician consider the preferences of their supporters.
The State's Man consider the needs of their nation.

Less politicians and more state's men.

(Perdon for put the spoon in a plate that isn't mine)

>
> Every politician has to reconsider their positions in light of the
preferences of their supporters. I support Obama because he's capable
of spelling antidisestablishmentarianism. Enough said,,,
>
> GAry 7

There's Politicians and State's Men.
The Politician consider the preferences of their supporters.
The State's Man consider the needs of their nation.

Less politicians and more state's men.

(Perdon for put the spoon in a plate that isn't mine)
Mark Wallach
Attorney at Law
216.622.8344
mwallach@...
"> This electronic mail transmission may contain confidential and legally privileged information from the law firm of Calfee, Halter & Griswold LLP intended only for the use of the individual(s) identified as addressee(s). If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or the taking of any action in reliance on the contents of this electronic mail transmission is strictly prohibited. If you have received this transmission in error, please notify me by telephone immediately. Nothing contained herein or in any attachment hereto is intended to be used, or can be used, to avoid penalties imposed under the Internal Revenue Code. |

Breaking News | Obama vows NASA support during|Thisdiscussion has veered way off-topic for this list.

Received: Monday, August 4, 2008, 2:21 PM

>
> Every politician has to reconsider their positions in light of the
preferences of their supporters. I support Obama because he's capable
of spelling antidisestablishmen tarianism. Enough said,,,
>
> GAry 7

There's Politicians and State's Men.
The Politician consider the preferences of their supporters.
The State's Man consider the needs of their nation.

Less politicians and more state's men.

(Perdon for put the spoon in a plate that isn't mine) This electronic mail transmission may contain confidential and legally privileged information from the law firm of Calfee, Halter & Griswold LLP intended only for the use of the individual(s) identified as addressee(s) . If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or the taking of any action in reliance on the contents of this electronic mail transmission is strictly prohibited. If you have received this transmission in error, please notify me by telephone immediately. Nothing contained herein or in any attachment hereto is intended to be used, or can be used, to avoid penalties imposed under the Internal Revenue Code.

Breaking News | Obama vows NASA support during|Agreed. However it is good news that Obama has modified his
opinion. I imagine that if he was to gut NASA like every President
threatens to, I would have a hard time finding a job upon graduation.

http://potentiatenebrasrepellendi.blogspot.com/

>
> Thisdiscussion has veered way off-topic for this list.
>
vows NASA support during visit to Florida
> Received: Monday, August 4, 2008, 2:21 PM
>
> As Thomas Reed said many years ago, "A statesman is a successful
politician who is dead."
>
On Behalf Of juan_polaino
vows NASA support during visit to Florida
>
> --- In ssi_list@... s.com, GARY ANSORGE

> >
> > Every politician has to reconsider their positions in light of
the
> preferences of their supporters. I support Obama because he's
capable
> of spelling antidisestablishmen tarianism. Enough said,,,
> >
> > GAry 7
>
> There's Politicians and State's Men.
> The Politician consider the preferences of their supporters.
> The State's Man consider the needs of their nation.
>
> Less politicians and more state's men.
>
> (Perdon for put the spoon in a plate that isn't mine)
>
> This electronic mail transmission may contain confidential and
legally privileged information from the law firm of Calfee, Halter &
Griswold LLP intended only for the use of the individual(s)
identified as addressee(s) . If you are not the intended recipient,
you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or
the taking of any action in reliance on the contents of this
electronic mail transmission is strictly prohibited. If you have
received this transmission in error, please notify me by telephone
immediately. Nothing contained herein or in any attachment hereto is
intended to be used, or can be used, to avoid penalties imposed under
the Internal Revenue Code.
>
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