4 ms·
it ionizes the incoming gas and then accelerates it to very high speed with an electric field. My guess is that wouldn’t work well in normal atmospheric conditi
by etrautmann 9y ago
it ionizes the incoming gas and then accelerates it to very high speed with an electric field. My guess is that wouldn’t work well in normal atmospheric conditions but no idea really.
- KMag 9y agoThe gas collecting portion of this design wouldn't work well, but it's certainly possible to generate thrust by ionizing air at atmospheric pressure and zero relative velocity. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ionocraft#Mechanism https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ionocraft#Mechanism and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzZy1Aqleno https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzZy1Aqleno
- Cthulhu_ 9y agoThe main challenge is whether the ionization creates enough thrust to overcome drag; this seems to be true in the upper atmosphere, but not sure if that works in the lower. Then again, you could probably do it, but it'd require more energy.