NASA - Dawn Begins Its Journey

So, apparently, we now have ion drive capability!

If the rocket does well, what are the future potentials for the future of space exploration?

ION is the first step in 'futuristic' advancement of space-travel..

I truly hope that this rocket succeeds in it's endeavors.. That it might make the general public more interested in space travel. Hell, on the 4th of OCT. sputnik will be 50 years old! It's about time something reminded us of our capabilities in traveling to our near neighbors in space.. And then, who knows where we can reach to!

have you got any sources on the ion stuff?

i don't. and NASA's not divulging much.
one of the articles on that site sayd that it was electrically charging xenon gas for the push.. Thats about as much as i found on thier site.. Plus the fact they won't say how much the rocket itself cost!

Update of the thread..

NASA - Dawn

OH, and heres what they say about the engines..

NASA - Spacecraft

They just need to figure out a way to get more push out of the engines. Very economical, yes, feesable as mainstream space transportation, not so much, its promising, but needs work

I thought the Probe to/past Saturn had an ion drive, the one launched like 8-10 years ago. (no idea on date random guess) I recall hearing about this before, and the plus to the ion drive is its over all speed is far higher even though it starts out ridiculously slow, but the total out put over 5+ years is what makes it so appealing. Plus instead of firing it off and hoping for the best or it just being lost after the mission you can redirect it later on.

Cassini, nah it didn't it was tradition propulsion/sling-shot pellet, and as I said, as I said, its not feesable right now for mainstream travel, I.E. rocketing people around the stars, it would just take far too long that way, long term probe missions are another matter entirely, I mean there is no harm in them having a propulsion system that accelerates at about the same rate as some continents move(and for proof on that the himilayas grow at a rate of approxmately 2-3 inches per year, a result of the india sub continent slamming into asia) For a people ferry we needs something that has a conciderably high rate of acceleration

Oh my bad, Yeah I thought you were referring to not feasible for unmanned long range exploration. Yeah any travel save faster than light isnt feasible for human travel anywhere out of our solar system, space is just to vast Alpha Centauri is 4.3 light
years away. So hears hoping Einstein was wrong about speed of light being a limit.

I don't think its wether or not Einstien was wrong, its wether or not we can figure a way around it, and then there is there is the fact that time is also relative, and that one year for you is many many years for everyone else when you travel faster than light

..and more on the technology in general ...

NASA - DS1: How the Ion Engine Works

Deep Space 1: Advanced Technologies: Solar Electric Propulsion

Deep Space 1: Advanced Technologies: Solar Electric Propulsion FAQ

I wonder what technology they have ACTUALLY developed, but won't use for fear of it getting into 'enemy' hands or that its too top secret and amazing and for military use only so no public person can know about it.