Patent ID: 7306189

Claim:
An ambient atmosphere ion thruster method for propelling a craft, said method comprising providing at least one ambient atmosphere ion thruster, the at least one ambient atmosphere ion thruster providing step comprising providing at least one pair of permeable electrical members, the at least one pair of permeable electrical members providing step comprising providing a forward permeable electrical member for receiving ambient atmosphere reaction mass and providing an aft permeable electrical member, the forward permeable electrical member providing step and the aft permeable electrical member providing step together comprising providing each member, 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.