Ion propulsion

The latest from Space.com on ion propulsion and the 200 successful days logged so far by Deep Space 1. The biggest problem with ion propulsion is the slow start up do to the light force generated when a xenon atom is stripped of an electron and the resultant ion zapped by energy from solar panels. The greatest benefit is it can generate larger acceleration pure fuel load, primarily due to the small size of the propellant The article shows a photo of the "eerie blue discharge".