NASA's Ion Thruster Sets Continuous Operation Record 165
cylonlover writes "NASA's Evolutionary Xenon Thruster (NEXT) ion engine has set a new world record by clocking 43,000 hours of continuous operation at NASA's Glenn Research Center's Electric Propulsion Laboratory. The seven-kilowatt thruster is intended to propel future NASA deep space probes on missions where chemical rockets aren't a practical option. The NEXT is one of NASA's latest generation of engines. With a power output of seven kilowatts, it's over twice as powerful as the ones used aboard the unmanned Dawn space probe, yet it is simpler in design, lighter and more efficient, and is also designed for very high endurance. Its current record of 43,000 hours is the equivalent of nearly five years of continuous operation while consuming only 770 kg (1697.5 lbs) of xenon propellant. The NEXT engine (PDF) would provide 30 million newton-seconds of total impulse to a spacecraft. What this means in simple terms is that the NEXT engine can make a spacecraft go (eventually) very far and very fast."
Re:Given that we aren't actually simpletons... (Score:5, Insightful)
Likely they shut it down periodically to look for any problems, signs of breakdown or other signs that this cannot be scaled up for any reason.
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Not. It was 43,000 hours of continuous operation.
Re:Cool... (Score:4, Insightful)
To get to Alpha Centauri in just 70 years requires acceleration to near 0.1c.
And then to actually stop there to land on a planet requires deceleration by nearly 0.1c.
Re:Cool... (Score:4, Insightful)
The christian church (in various forms) has been around for millenia awaiting the return of their messiah. That is quite a bit of longevity. Perhaps we should convert NASA to a religion, then there will be no problem having someone wait a few hundred years for the return of their white metallic savior.