Ion engine enters space race.

[Notebook]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7346789.stm

Qinetiq used to be the Royal Aircraft Establisment, I think. Lots of R&D, at least my taxes are going somewhere useful.

N.

 

[ijuin]

Ion engines are great, but we need to develop lighter-mass solar panels to power them in the inner solar system, and we need to get over our fear of (and design safer versions of) nuclear reactors for anything going to Jupiter and beyond--see JIMO.

 

[Notebook]

Good looking vehicle Goce, hope it goes well for it:-

http://esamultimedia.esa.int/docs/GOCE_factsheet_13_03_08_LR2.pdf

Make a good add-on...

N.