Throttling Up With Ion Engines

[SgìobairOg]

Still getting the hang of things around KSP and I got a bit tired of my heavy-lift missions not getting me where I want to go. I decided to just build a probe and send it out into space.

I fitted an ion engine, had a detachable rocket stage and went to it. The rocket got me in a wide orbit around the solar system. I dropped the rocket and throttled up the Ion engine figuring eventually it will continue to push the orbit out (probably wrong).

The problem I have now is, I can't do anything else. I can't warp time with the Ion engine throttled up to see if it works. I also can't return to the space center with the engine throttled up. Ion engines don't do their thing without being throttled up.

What am I missing?

Edited September 1, 2013 by SgìobairOg

[goldenpeach]

nothing,everything is normal.

you can only do physics warp(alt+warp key) when the ship is throttled(you can go up to x4).

This is why I never use the ion engine:not engough thrust.

[Captain Sierra]

Ion engines are the weakest things there are. I strongly advise you use a rocket stage to break kerbin SoI and establish your encounter (and possibly a backup rocket for circularizing).

[Dispatcher]

Just for completeness, you do have sufficient electrical source(s), right?

[SgìobairOg]

Everything looked to be running fine at full throttle so I'm assuming so. Also had three Xenon tanks stacked up.

[Captain Sierra]

Your engine would be darker and flickering if it was out of juice. 2 gigantor panels is typically enough for an ion engine.

[WhiteWeasel]

Your engine would be darker and flickering if it was out of juice. 2 gigantor panels is typically enough for an ion engine.

Power production of a gigantor XL solar array: 18 E/s

ION engine power consumption: 14.548 E/s

Unless he is going to jool, only one is necessary.

[Captain Sierra]

But you might as well do 2 for balance, and to look cool

[Rarity]

If he's in a wide orbit around Kerbol itself, an ion engine is going to take a very, very, very long time to do anything. You'll run out of Xenon before you make a dent in your orbit. Ions are certainly efficient, but the thrust is next to zero. Literally. I really think they'd be more useful if the thrust was maybe 2, or 4, instead of what it is now (0.50?). If it was 4, they'd actually be useful. Especially so when we have career mode, and we have to actually pay for them! I'd expect some pretty nice performance at those prices.

[Skorpychan]

nothing,everything is normal.

you can only do physics warp(alt+warp key) when the ship is throttled(you can go up to x4).

This is why I never use the ion engine:not engough thrust.

So THAT'S how physics warp works?

I've literally lost hours because of not knowing that. Hours. Christ.

[SargeRho]

You should try optimizing your burns in such a way that you need the least delta v. For instance, if you go to duna, don't go there directly, but use the mun to slingshot you. Perhaps even pingpong between minmus, mun and kerbin for maximum effect. You could also use duna or eve to slingshot you towards Jool, and make use of aerobrakes. Ion Engines aren't so bad...they just aren't useful on heavy craft, and require a bit of preflight planning.