Ion drive
From Memory Alpha, the free Star Trek reference
- You may also be looking for advanced ion propulsion.
An ion drive is a type of propulsion that uses an electric field to accelerate charged particles and eject them at high velocities (in some designs, the particles approach the speed of light). This type of propulsion is used by many pre-warp civilizations to propel probes and lightweight spacecraft once they are in open space. The thrust produced is quite gentle, often requiring from hours to weeks to reach full velocity.
The Ares IV was powered by a third generation ion drive. (VOY: "One Small Step")
[edit] External links
- FAQ about ion propulsion at NASA
- Ion propulsion at NASA's Glenn Research Center
- Ion-propelled moon probe at ESA - reached the moon in November 2004
