The Prius of Space

[madler]

Click this puppy: The Prius of Space

At first glance, Dawn's full throttle, pedal-to-the-metal, performance is a not-so-inspiring 0-to-60 mph in 4 days. But consider this - because of its incredible efficiency, it expends only 40 ounces of xenon propellant during that time. And then take into consideration that after those four days of full-throttle thrusting, it will do another four days - and then another four. By the end of 12 days the spacecraft will have increased its velocity by over 180 miles per hour, with more days and weeks and months of continuous thrusting to come. After a year Dawn's ion propulsion system will have increased the spacecraft's speed by 5,500 mph while consuming the equivalent of only 15 gallons of fuel. By the end of its mission Dawn will have accumulated more than 5 years of total thrust time, giving it an effective change in speed of about 23,000 mph.[/b]

[qbee42]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(madler @ Sep 14 2007, 12:40 AM) [snapback]512335[/snapback]</div>

Click this puppy: The Prius of Space
[/b]

Yes, but does it have regen braking? :P

Tom

[hobbit]

See, hypermiling *is* rocket science.
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_H*