3 ms·
If I’m doing my math right, the 25kg AEPS engine would need to produce 245N to even hover without any payload. So it’s theoretical max is about 0.9% of what’s n
by ashtonkem 6y ago
If I’m doing my math right, the 25kg AEPS engine would need to produce 245N to even hover without any payload. So it’s theoretical max is about 0.9% of what’s needed to even lift itself.
- CydeWeys 6y agoAnd of course these figures get much worse when you consider the other components that are a necessary part of the engine working, namely, the xenon fuel tank and massive solar panel array. For a relevant comparison, the thrust-to-weight ratio of the Merlin 1D engine by itself is something like 180:1, but the overall thrust-to-weight ratio of the entire rocket at launch is only 1.4:1. So just in order to get a rocket that can lift off at all and deliver useful payload to orbit you need at least a 3-digit thrust-to-weight ratio on the engine itself. Ion thrusters don't remotely come close.