[amsat-bb] Re: Path to HEO

[Franklin Antonio]

At 11:14 AM 4/28/2013, Nick Pugh wrote:
>I have just returned from a satellite conference and I think new technology
>will now give us a path to HEO.

I've thought for a long time that ion engines (small thrust pushing 
for a long time, powered by electricity) could be of great value to us.

Has anyone done the calculation to see how long it would take to go 
from LEO to HEO with an achievable ion engine?  This seems like the 
first thing to calculate.  If it takes less than 1 year, it seems 
worth serious investigation.

There are many other hurdles, of course, such as attitude control 
(keeping solar panels pointed at the sun while at the same time 
keeping engine pointed in the direction we want thrust, over a long 
period of time).  The schemes and compromises for these issues can be 
worked if the basic thrust math works out.

N6NKF