Message posted by habu-e6 on September 24, 2009 at 9:40:35 PST:
Here are 8 hints- 1. It is one of the only three metals that are liquid at room temperature and cost over $30 per gram. 2. Used at Area 51 during Operation OXCART to hydrogenate the organic compound of JP-7 "kerosene" thus transferring hydrogen atoms to the kerosene molecules resulting in lower temperature exhaust emissions. 3. Hughes investigated the use of ion propulsion since the early 1960s. Early research focused on this element, which was later discarded due to its corrosive nature. Mercury was then used, but was later rejected because of its environmental impacts. 4. 1965 (April 3) A SNAP 10 A nuclear power system was launched into a 1300-km orbit with a ion engine as a secondary payload powered by this element. 5. 1968 (August 10) This element was also used to power two ion engines that were launched aboard the ATS-4 spacecraft. This was the first successful orbital test of an ion engine. 7. NASA's Glen Research Center used this element as propellants during their research on early ion engines. After exiting the ion engine the elements atoms would condense onto the ground test hardware, causing numerous cleanup difficulties. In the 1970's, NASA managers decided that if ion propulsion research was to continue, it would have to be environmentally clean and less hazardous. 8. Though not as powerful an energy source as this element, Xenon is now used to power ion engines powering Deep space 1 which blasted into space in Oct 1998. With a particle thrust of 62,900 mph.
What element paved the way in the development of ion propulsion systems?
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