The latest ion drive for future spacecraft has set a new world record for the longest single space engine test.

That there, is pretty awesome.

1824653 Only one problem. With the low level of thrust, it would not be usable for something which must first lift off from a planet. Granted, if getting there quickly or having to lift off from a planet is part of the equation, then they are ideal. But, for a lot of things, I suspect that another form of propulsion will have to be devised.

Now, if they were able to take the principal behind the Tokamok fusion design, which encases a hydrogen plasma within a torus, and adapt it to be able to bleed and channel some of the exhaust plasma into a thrust chamber of some sort... maybe that would produce much more thrust for the amount of fuel used. Possibly, enough that it could even lift off from the surface of a planet without having to rely on conventional chemical rockets.

1825144 Already working on it. NASA has a 90 year trip to proxima centauri in the works. One of the things they're working on is a plasma drive that, at full speed, could propel the craft at an incredible 12% the speed of light!

It's absolutely FABULOUS darling!

1824653 It's only a matter of time before I can take my TIE-Fighter to work!