Ion drives: Science fiction or science fact?

Science fiction movie fans know that, if you want to travel short distances from your home planet, you would use a sublight ‘ion drive’. However, is such an ion drive science fiction, or science fact?

More at:
http://www.esa.int/export/esaCP/SEM3JQXO4HD_index_0.html

ESA’s SMART-1 mission, due for launch in late August 2003, will go to the Moon using ion propulsion. Follow the launch at:

http://www.esa.int/smart1