Information about ion propulsion on http://science.nasa.gov/
Deep Space 1
NASA Deep Space 1 hompage - http://nmp.nasa.gov/ds1/
Advanced Technologies: Solar Electric Propulsion - http://nmp.nasa.gov/ds1/tech/sep.html
smart navigation system
ability to repair itself
mark rayman - ds1 mission director
ed riedel - ds1 navigation team chief
1 billion miles
ion drive
ion propulsion - spock's brain
werner von braun
electric rockets
john brophy - ds1 ion engine specialist
autonav
remote agent
nicola muscettola - ds1 remote agent designer
launched on a delta rocket
drifted for 2 weeks in space before igniting
ion engine
deep space one - 1 ion engine, 81.5 kg of xenon propellant
dawn - 3 ion propulsion engines - 450 kg of xenon propellant
project prometheus - pluto - ion drive - nuclear electric propulsion -
john cassani- nasa jet propulsion laboratory 100k-200k watts of energy
Dawn
Dawn Mission Home Page - http://dawn.jpl.nasa.gov/
The ion engines that will power Dawn have a specific impulse of 3100 s and a thrust of 90mN.
The ion thruster is powered by large solar panels, which ionize the xenon fuel.
Prometheus
Prometheus is NASA's attempt to develop space nuclear reactors for electric power production in potential future NASA missions.
NASA Exploration Systems - Exploration Technology Development Program - http://exploration.nasa.gov/programs/systems.html
Prometheus Nuclear Systems and Technology - Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement - http://www.exploration.nasa.gov/programs/prometheus/peis/
wiki - Duoplasmatron
wiki - Manfred von Ardenne
wiki - Manfred von Ardenne
wiki - Spacecraft Propulsion