Engine : Plasma

[Phenix]

As this engine could use any kind of propellant, could we imagine that this kind of engine could be used to take off payloads from Earth to NEO ?

[Rhyshaelkan]

The thing about plasma engines. The higher the atomic weight of the fuel the higher the heat input has to be to make it go plasma. Which is why hydrogen is till the gas most often used.

The other half of the equation is not any better. Due to the need for more energy input to reach plasma you reach a point of diminishing returns. To generate more energy to turn your fuel into plasma you have to have correspondingly heaver generators to reach that energy level.

Even using a compact(like they use on submarines) nuclear reactor is not much better. As you need steam turbines and generators to develop the electricity or heat to turn the gas to a plasma.

One solution though is large solar panels that will give you the electricity necessary to reach plasma. Ultra high Isp but low thrust. If you try for more thrust by increasing the flow of hydrogen, you then do not have enough power to turn the gas to plasma. Thus decreasing your Isp.

I am trying to theorize, using a powerful magnetron which will use microwaves to turn lithium to plasma. But I am not a physicist.

Yes plasma drives exist but they do not have high enough thrust ratios for Terran escape velocity. Not anywhere near. But they are efficient low thrust in vacuum.

[Phenix]

Thanks for your input :), now I do understand that Plasma trusters are biffy energy consuming engines for low Isp conterpart. Bad news :(.

[Rhyshaelkan]

I am sure plasma engines will work better once humans find a better energy source. Or a way for direct energy transference from heat to electricity. If you could do direct heat-electricity transference. Then nuclear plants are more attractive. Mankind need to get away from the heat-steam-electricity process.