X3

A few years ago we heard talk about a better ion-thruster. Here's the latest presentation I could find - last August (pdf).

Ion-thrusters are subject to that jerk's Rocket Equation. That is: they need propellant, which after use we must refuel. However: for alternative if we were suggesting solar-panels and solid-state batteries, these degrade over use and time. So functionally equivalent.

I figured ion-drives for shuttling nonurgent material between orbital tiers. With this new thruster, we're getting to the point 90 kW will push 5 N. System alpha under 5: so the contraption is under 450 kg. Until we run out of propellant it levitates at 0.011 (earth 9.8). This will improve as the efficiency and alpha improve.

0.011 g kicks in somewhere penumbra, below SVL2. L2 has its own rules of course. Here it enjoys well under 262 Wm^-2 of direct solar-power. UPDATE 1/31/21: How about 5 MW for 50 N? Might get my statite down to full shade then. Either way we'll have to beam power down from L2 halo.

But we're already resigned to losing propellant. So nevermind solar. Why not use a nonrechargable battery - nuclear, say - to recharge, or not, manually. Also this thrust assuredly suffices to keep a metastable orbit, steady: like at the aforementioned L2, or L1 or L3. It's already good for stationkeeping over Earth.