http://www.iflscience.com/ion-engine-breakthrough-could-take-us-mars-fraction-fuel

I'm guess that's how it all started...

The Empire would be proud of us

This is actually very exciting! I WANT!!!! more space based exploration. . .

This is actually very exciting! I WANT!!!! more space based exploration. . .

next stop...Warp...Hyper drive....first contact?

Ion engines have been in use since 1998: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deep_Space_1

For those interested in space travel, the Canae drive (if it isn't a lie) and M2P2 drive systems look a lot more promising

Ion engines have been in use since 1998: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deep_Space_1

This is true. However as noted in the article, Ion engines degraded the engine wall itself and thus killed the life expectancy of the engine.

With engines that use several orders of magnitude less in fuel we are on the steps to the first stage of exploration outside our planet. This will lead to potential colonies on the Moon and on Mars. This also is great news for aircraft because they can look at moving to a much more powerful engine that uses less fuel.

Yeah, but now imagine using TWO Ion engines!

A pair of ion engines.

Twins, if you will.

Yeah, but now imagine using TWO Ion engines!

A pair of ion engines.

Twins, if you will.

You're coming dangerously close to explaining the joke.

Yeah, but now imagine using TWO Ion engines!

A pair of ion engines.

Twins, if you will.

You're coming dangerously close to explaining the joke.

Twins Basil!!!

Ion engines have been in use since 1998: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deep_Space_1

This is true. However as noted in the article, Ion engines degraded the engine wall itself and thus killed the life expectancy of the engine.

With engines that use several orders of magnitude less in fuel we are on the steps to the first stage of exploration outside our planet. This will lead to potential colonies on the Moon and on Mars. This also is great news for aircraft because they can look at moving to a much more powerful engine that uses less fuel.

True that now it deteriorates the engine walls fast but I won't be surprised if scientists and engineers manage to solve that problem and truly implement this as an alternative and/or viable propulsion mode. Next step is to develop hyperdrives to manually colonise and explore the known parts of galaxy.

The Empire would be proud of us

Soon WE'LL be that "A long time ago, in a galaxy far far away...."

Ion engines have been in use since 1998: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deep_Space_1

This is true. However as noted in the article, Ion engines degraded the engine wall itself and thus killed the life expectancy of the engine.

With engines that use several orders of magnitude less in fuel we are on the steps to the first stage of exploration outside our planet. This will lead to potential colonies on the Moon and on Mars. This also is great news for aircraft because they can look at moving to a much more powerful engine that uses less fuel.

True that now it deteriorates the engine walls fast but I won't be surprised if scientists and engineers manage to solve that problem and truly implement this as an alternative and/or viable propulsion mode. Next step is to develop hyperdrives to manually colonise and explore the known parts of galaxy.

Saddly ion engine take along time to get up to full speed and a long time to slow back down.

Saddly ion engine take along time to get up to full speed and a long time to slow back down.

Give time to theengineers. Soon it'll be a viable mode of propulsion.

Just don't Force choke the engineers and scientists

Give time to theengineers. Soon it'll be a viable mode of propulsion.

Just don't Force choke the engineers and scientists

We shall double our efforts?

Give time to theengineers. Soon it'll be a viable mode of propulsion.

Just don't Force choke the engineers and scientists

We shall double our efforts?

I hope so, for your sake.

The free market is not as *forgiving* as I am.