From: foo@bar.baz.invalid.retro.com   
      
   Damon Hill  wrote:   
   > Rick Jones  wrote in news:_Vs_b.954$1h5.93   
   > @news.cpqcorp.net:   
   >> Just how well might an ion drive work to bore a hole in the ice on   
   >> say Europa?   
      
   > An ion drive can only work in a vacuum.   
      
   Is there an atmosphere on Europa?  I figured that any ice   
   melted/vaporized by the drive exhaust would simply vent into space. I   
   see now with a bit of web searching that there is indeed atmosphere on   
   Europa.  So much for that... :)   
      
   > Europan ice might contain materials other than water, and may not be   
   > free of solid debris; otherwise a resistive heater from a very ample   
   > power supply (nuclear) might work.  Perhaps even an RTG, which has   
   > ample waste heat.   
      
   I'd not considered non-meltable debris in the ice.  That is a good   
   point. That would indeed do a number on just melt and drop.  I wonder   
   what the chances are of there being such stuff in the ice?   
      
   rick jones   
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