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Re: Why can't we just keep accelerating in space?
by
BitBlitz
on 24/04/2014, 15:34:17 UTC
So where do ion drives (as recentlyish tested fit in) - Slow acceleration, but velocity can carry on increasing until fuel spent?
They're already being used on deep space probes. An ounce or so of thrust, but they run for years.  Specific impulse is somewhere around 10X the efficiency of chemical rockets, but they also require electrical power.