From: Spudboy100@aol.com
Date: Fri Jul 11 2003 - 17:45:28 MDT
http://www.e4engineering.com/item.asp?id=49260&type=news
<<Australian researchers claim to have developed a super-efficient ion drive
which could make space exploration cheaper and reduce the cost of running the
International Space Station as well as maintaining satellites in position.
According to its Canberra-based developers, the Helicon Double Layer Thruster
(HDLT) system will make spacecraft travel faster and be five times more
efficient than conventional chemical rockets used by space agencies such as NASA.
It could also be configured to burn hydrogen created from the reclamation of
fluids such as human waste produced while in space, making fuel cheaper and
missions more viable.
The researchers say HDLT systems could be installed on the International
Space Station to use waste hydrogen as a propellant when periodically correcting
the station's orbit. Plasma thrusters could also be used to transfer satellites
from their drop-off altitudes to operational orbit, and to maintain proper
station position...>
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