Exploring Ion Engines: The Pinnacle of Propulsion Efficiency

I know, chemical rockets may seem primitive. They work by taking tons of liquid or solid fuel, igniting it with an oxidizer, and then using the speed of the explosive gases to propel in the opposite direction — thanks to Newton’s Third Law. But, as rudimentary as they may seem, chemical rockets are effective. They provide the necessary thrust to escape Earth’s atmosphere because they carry their own oxidizer, functioning both within the atmosphere and the vacuum of space. The advantage of rockets lies in their ability to deliver vast amounts of energy in brief periods, crucial for launching significant payloads off Earth. However, they are incredibly inefficient.. For example, a 450 metric-ton Falcon Heavy carries almost 300 tons of fuel and oxidizer, with the first stage burning for just 162 seconds and the second stage for 397 seconds, totaling about 9.5 minutes of burn time. If you wish to perform more maneuvers or accelerate for days, weeks, or even months, you’re out of luck once the fuel runs out. <a href="https://medium.com/@juangjuang74/exploring-ion-engines-the-pinnacle-of-propulsion-efficiency-4d17fe623654">Read More</a>