Patent ID: 7270300
Filing Date: 2007-09-18
Classification: B64G,F03H

Abstract:
1. An ambient atmosphere ion thruster system for propelling a craft, said system comprising at least one ambient atmosphere ion thruster, the at least one ambient atmosphere ion thruster comprising at least one pair of permeable electrical members, the at least one pair of permeable electrical members comprising a forward permeable electrical member for receiving ambient atmosphere reaction mass and an aft permeable electrical member, the forward permeable electrical member and the aft permeable electrical member, each having an opposing polarity in relation to one another, for accelerating a plurality of ambient atmosphere reaction mass ions, the at least one ambient atmosphere ion thruster being mounted to the craft for imparting reaction force thereto, said craft having no on-board supply of reaction mass and no lift force applied thereto, and at least one reaction force being imparted to the craft by accelerating the plurality of ambient atmosphere ions.