4 ms·
If it takes no fuel (from being solar-electric powered), and can be accomplished in parallel while the spacecraft on Earth is prepared, why not? Sounds reasona
by sep_field 6y ago
If it takes no fuel (from being solar-electric powered), and can be accomplished in parallel while the spacecraft on Earth is prepared, why not? Sounds reasonable to me.
- ncmncm 6y agoPlane changes always require fuel. Solar-electric propulsion, in particular, requires fuel. Its high specific impulse means that it needs less fuel, but also would take many months for a small change of orbital plane.
- sep_field 6y agoRequires solar fuel, which is free... Many months is ok, because it can happen in parallel with the spacecraft being prepared on Earth.
- ncmncm 6y agoThere is no such thing as "solar fuel". Nothing in space flight is free except failure.
- galgalesh 6y agoIt uses energy from the sun to turn xenon gas into plasma and shoot it into space. This makes it use 10 times less propellant than conventional systems. The xenon gas is the propellant. This still comes from the earth so it's far from free. It's just more efficient.