That looks like it, I take it the "solid state" aspect of using a metal rod as the source of material to ionize is the main claim to fame here. It does mean 're

That looks like it, I take it the "solid state" aspect of using a metal rod as the source of material to ionize is the main claim to fame here. It does mean 'refueling' is easy, just pop another rod in (easy if you happen to in orbit nearby, that is). The suggestion that you could make new rods from asteroids etc. is cool, but there's quite a gap between theory and practice still...