Space propulsion breakthrough new spacecraft ion engine tested

This totally rocks. I wonder if this is the same thing as the other engine ESA was experimenting with. The article is in my collumn if anyone is interested

nick, if you're referring to this one, which i think was published recently, I don't think so. Of the two, this one is much more plausible. Using ions as exhaust is really just a better way of what we're doing now with the space shuttle.

The Scotman's article one, the so-called "Z machine", is all about slipping into other dimensions and is

... based on a highly controversial theory that would require a significant change in the current understanding of the laws of physics.

nope, check this out http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEM6HSVLWFE_index_0.html

How do you do the cool "this one" link in a post, by the way?

Oh snap, you're right nick, that one's different from both of them. Wow, three new propulsion systems in the span of a month. We'll be jammin' in hyperspace faster than you can say "ludicrous speed".

So yeah, to do the link thing, this is what you have to type: < a href="http://www.yourlinkhere.com">Whatever text you want underlined< /a> except that between the first < and the 'a' there shouldn't be a space and between the last < and the '/a' there shouldn't be one either.

Hope that helps. Sorry if my explanation's confusing.

Fantastic reporting there, and there's definately something there for future space exploration. However, unfortunately a prototype is a significant way apart from a working rocket.

I'll keep my eyes posted,

Yours Quantum,

I'm going to send these articles to some friends who work at the Jet Propulsion Lab and ask for their take. I'll let you guys know what I hear back.

Warp drive here we come!!

Rimuladas: don't you mean, "Engage"? ;^)