Tom McKendree is now working at Raytheon and has an updated analysis of solar electric ion engines using different levels of molecular nanotechnology (none, simple, complex and advanced)
Technology Levels
No MNT
— Current Technology
Simple MNT
— Any Stable Simple Pattern of Atoms
Complex MNT
— Any Molecular Machinery, Except Molecular Manufacturing in the Field
Most Advanced MNT
— Any Molecular Machinery
– Molecular Manufacturing in the Field Enables Bootstrapping,Self-Repair, and Very Low Manufacturing Costs
Solar – Electric Ion Engines Using Molecular Nanotechnology (20 pages)
Just using the materials possible with molecular nanotechnology it is possible to get up to 0.08% of lightspeed with 15% of one gravity acceleration using only solar powered ion drives.
Specific Power Feasible with MNT-Based Solar Panels
The key to high – performance from ion – engines is to have very high specific power. GaInP/GaAs tandem solar cells can achieve ~25% efficiency in vacuum at one solar constant of light, with an active thickness of ~5 μm. GaAs has a density of 5317.6 kg/m3, yielding a specific power of ~13 kWe /kg at 1 AU, if only the active thickness of the solar cell is provided. With a safety factor for overhead, ~10 kWe/kg should be achievable with Simple MNT, given the ability to build simple structures to atomic precision, and thus provide a thin sheet composed almost entire of the active layer.
Brian Wang is a Futurist Thought Leader and a popular Science blogger with 1 million readers per month. His blog Nextbigfuture.com is ranked #1 Science News Blog. It covers many disruptive technology and trends including Space, Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, Medicine, Anti-aging Biotechnology, and Nanotechnology.
Known for identifying cutting edge technologies, he is currently a Co-Founder of a startup and fundraiser for high potential early-stage companies. He is the Head of Research for Allocations for deep technology investments and an Angel Investor at Space Angels.
A frequent speaker at corporations, he has been a TEDx speaker, a Singularity University speaker and guest at numerous interviews for radio and podcasts. He is open to public speaking and advising engagements.