Idea

[Christian.D walker]

Is it possible to install solar panels on rocket ships? so they can move through space without using gas but instead using the sun rays for charging.

[CaptainPanic]

Yes, this is possible.

A solar panel + ion thruster would be a feasible way to power a space ship.

 

I googled around a bit, and found at least one satellite, called TacSat-2, that has exactly that (launched in 2011)... so your idea is actually already being used. In the list of specs, you should search for the Hall Effect Thruster.

[Kowalski]

sun won't really give a big amount of energy that matches gas , .. that would help only in powering the electrical devices , and not lifting the rocket !

[Enthalpy]

sun won't really give a big amount of energy that matches gas , .. that would help only in powering the electrical devices , and not lifting the rocket !

It is being used in advanced space probes to achieve propulsion performance unattainable by chemical reactions. The limit is the instantaneous power, no the energy, so it's used at some phases of the trip only.

[krash661]

ISS.

[Enthalpy]

ISS.

Do you have a reference to support this?

The thread is about Solar panels related with propulsion, if I got it properly, and ISS uses only chemical propulsion at the ISS propulsion module, at Zvezda, and at the Interim Control Module.

[krash661]

yeah, but as i read it again, i misunderstood it.

 

http://science.howstuffworks.com/international-space-station3.htm

The ISS orbits the Earth at an altitude of 217 to 285 miles (362 to 475 km). At this altitude, the Earth's atmosphere is extremely thin, but still thick enough to drag on the ISS and slow it down. As the ISS slows down, it loses altitude. In addition to atmospheric drag, solar flares also slow the station down and cause it to lose altitude. So, the ISS must be boosted periodically to maintain its proper altitude. The command and service modules have rocket engines that can be used to boost the ISS. However, the Progress supply ships will do most of the reboosting. Each reboosting event requires two rocket engine burns. During the burns, work on the ISS is suspended. After the burns, station life returns to normal.

years ago i cam across this,

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn17918-rocket-company-tests-worlds-most-powerful-ion-engine.html

but it's about using raido waves to heat argon turning into hot plasma,

it's from 2009

Rocket company tests world's most powerful ion engine

 

 

edit-

 

her's some other links that are realated to this conversation.

Ion thruster

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ion_thruster

 

ISS Propulsion Module

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISS_Propulsion_Module

Edited May 18, 2013 by krash661

[elementcollector1]

Yes, this is possible.

A solar panel + ion thruster would be a feasible way to power a space ship.

 

I googled around a bit, and found at least one satellite, called TacSat-2, that has exactly that (launched in 2011)... so your idea is actually already being used. In the list of specs, you should search for the Hall Effect Thruster.

I thought the Hall Effect had to do with electromagnetism, can someone explain this to me?

[Enthalpy]

Yes, and this effect is used in thrusters. Search for "hall effect thruster". Wiki has also an article on electric propulsion.