Solar Powered Engines?

[nlosee18]

I was curious on how to use these types of engines/ how best to build such a craft.

[angeldust]

If you have the electricity Mod installed, just slam some solar panels and a battery on a satellite and stick an Ion engine on the bottom, violá, you have a solar powered spacecraft.

Just note that those engines are normally used for small end-stage-ships to correct orbit trajectories. I don't think it advisable to try and launch with just ion engines on board, as they are not what you need to get something into space!

[Aphox]

If you have the electricity Mod installed, just slam some solar panels and a battery on a satellite and stick an Ion engine on the bottom, violá, you have a solar powered spacecraft.

Just note that those engines are normally used for small end-stage-ships to correct orbit trajectories. I don't think it advisable to try and launch with just ion engines on board, as they are not what you need to get something into space!

They're also nowhere near being powerful enough to even lift a command pod off the ground.

[Person012345]

Right, Ion engines are primarily used for orbital adjustments, IRL. To quote:

"Given the practical weight of suitable power sources, the accelerations given by ion thrusters are frequently less than one thousandth of standard gravity."

They do have very good specific impulse though, and recharge, so they'll power a satellite or other small vessel for a long time.

[Aphox]

Right, Ion engines are primarily used for orbital adjustments, IRL. To quote:

"Given the practical weight of suitable power sources, the accelerations given by ion thrusters are frequently less than one thousandth of standard gravity."

They do have very good specific impulse though, and recharge, so they'll power a satellite or other small vessel for a long time.

They also have infinite "fuel" thanks to the solar panel(s). I heard someone say they accelerate from 0-60 in four days (IRL, not sure about Kerbal).

[phoenix_ca]

That's pretty accurate. Very, very slow, but efficient. The DSM mod has an upsized ion engine, and one or two of them on an interstellar craft can provide respectable thrust for adjustments on an interplanetary trip. However, it'd be good practice to keep a much more powerful liquid engine for injection burns.

It's worthy of note that on satellites, the ion engine from MMI.S is quite respectable. It pushes around a satellite well enough, but most importantly allows one to make as many changes to an orbit one wants, without wasting valuable RCS or liquid fuel.

Edited September 26, 2012 by phoenix_ca

[bradley101]

They're also nowhere near being powerful enough to even lift a command pod off the ground.

Deep space missions ion engine can be used for Lunner landings i use it all the time.