mrstickball on 10 December 2009
Correct. The advantage of this system is that you are using a lot more energy (which can be produced via solar, nuclear, or any other type of reaction) instead of chemicals. The advantage is that your propulsion system takes a lot less weight for what it outputs.
For example, this new ion engine can get to mars in 39 days whereas traditional chemical rockets (which can't accelerate after takeoff) take 90 days or so.
Back from the dead, I'm afraid.
