Dish/Engine

Dish/Engine is a propulsion system that uses a parabolic dish to reflect and concentrate sunlight onto a heat exchanger, which then heats a propellant such as hydrogen. The heated propellant is then expelled out of a nozzle to generate thrust. This technology is also known as a solar thermal propulsion system. Dish/Engine has the potential to provide a high specific impulse, which means it can generate more thrust per unit of propellant compared to traditional chemical rockets. It also has the advantage of using a renewable energy source, which can reduce the cost and environmental impact of space missions. However, Dish/Engine is still in the experimental stage and faces challenges such as the need for a large and heavy dish to collect enough sunlight, and the difficulty of maintaining the focus of the dish in the harsh environment of space.
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