Ion Engines ready to take us "where no man has gone before"!

[werries2]

Hopefully these ion engines will have some initial boosters to set them on their way. Accelerating from 0km/h with that low thrust will see them move 1-2 meter in the first week (depending on the mass of the module ofc)

 

[Dastrix]

What will happen if they fire up the device while they are traveling, or while they are accelerating?

 

[LazyLion]

Hopefully these ion engines will have some initial boosters to set them on their way. Accelerating from 0km/h with that low thrust will see them move 1-2 meter in the first week (depending on the mass of the module ofc)

Yes, I imagine they would reserve some fuel for the initial thrust, and then turn on the ion drives. Reminds me of Star Trek "Impulse Power"

What will happen if they fire up the device while they are traveling, or while they are accelerating?

nothing, it will supplement their forward motion by whatever amount of ion power they give it. Or it will decelerate them by the equivalent if fired in reverse. It could theoretically be used for braking or accelerating.