[extropy-chat] Fly Me to the Moon

[Adrian Tymes]

--- Olga Bourlin <fauxever at sprynet.com> wrote:
> Dubbed "Herakles," the system would use an ion beam produced from
> xenon gas 
> to propel the craft to speeds of 200,000 mph, 10 times faster than
> the top 
> speed of the space shuttle. :
> 
>
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2002299705_ion04.html

> The new system would make the moon, which is about 239,000 miles away
> from Earth, a short trip.

Only if it could get anywhere near max speed within that distance.  Ion
thrusters are not known for high thrust.  (Perhaps this could be
changed, but probably not at NASA anytime soon.)