What power class are next-generation ion designs targeting beyond the kilowatt levels used by Dawn?
Answer
The Megawatt class
The current performance limitation for significantly cutting down interplanetary transit times lies in the available power source, typically solar arrays. Modern systems like those on the Dawn mission operated in the kilowatt range. To achieve much faster transit times, particularly to the outer solar system, engineers are targeting next-generation designs in the megawatt class. Reaching this higher power level is crucial for increasing thrust while simultaneously maintaining the high specific impulse that defines ion engine efficiency.
#Videos
The Next Generation of Ionic Plasma Thrusters (BSI MARK 2)
Related Questions
What metric does ion propulsion prioritize over raw power for different mission profiles?What inert gas is often used as the propellant when generating positively charged ions?Why must ion thrusters operate in the near-perfect vacuum of space?What two celestial bodies did the NASA Dawn mission use ion engines to cruise between?What governing equation determines the maximum delta-v achievable by an electric spacecraft?What power class are next-generation ion designs targeting beyond the kilowatt levels used by Dawn?Compared to chemical rockets, what is the typical thrust level of an ion thruster?What primary engineering hurdle causes failure in long-duration ion drives?What process adapts ion drive principles to create silent, terrestrial propulsion systems?Why is Xenon the preferred working fluid due to its physical characteristics?