electricity engines

[RikTelner]

Yes, I know this topic has been burned up billions of times. But yet.

I am planning to make a probe send it around Kerbin, and then launch communicutron(?) with OKTO2 and manage eventually by disabling and enabling energy.

But well, I had to try it on smaller scale, and it didn't worked.

I placed OKTO2 on top, underneath it PB-X150, underneath it Z-500 battery, underneath PB-ION.

And I didn't thought about fast speeds, but I expected ANY move (even tiniest would fulfill my needs). I clicked on Resources (up there) and I saw that energy and the Xenon gas being drawn, but it was enough to still give some powah. Something wrong I have done? Please don't tell me its bad idea, bad idea is my second name, just tell me what to do to make it move.

Thanks already for answering or either reading, Rik.

Edited October 19, 2013 by RikTelner

[numerobis]

Do you have a power source? A battery isn't going to last you long enough to get anywhere.

[RikTelner]

Power source? I have solar panels, I think that it is a quite good enough source of power, at day, on 60m on Kerbin.

[Johnno]

What exactly is your question? Why you can't take off from Kerbin with a single ion engine? They don't have enough thrust to lift themselves on Kerbin.

[RikTelner]

What exactly is your question?

They don't have enough thrust to lift themselves on Kerbin.

Johnno, thank you, you answered a question without knowing what question is. Will ION engine be enough strong to take off from Mun?

[Nibb31]

No. Ion engines have very low thrust.

[Oddible]

Ion engines aren't really meant for planetary missions (just around Kerbin). They're ideal and VERY efficient when you are already in motion and need to stay in motion over a long haul.

[RikTelner]

Ion engines aren't really meant for planetary missions (just around Kerbin). They're ideal and VERY efficient when you are already in motion and need to stay in motion over a long haul.

Thank you.

Edited October 19, 2013 by RikTelner