View source for Ion drive

{{Top|canon=Ion engine}}
[[File:DevastatorTantiveIV.png|thumb|right|250px|The ion drives of an [[Imperial I-class Star Destroyer/Legends|''Imperial''-class Star Destroyer]]]]
The '''ion drive''' was a type of engine used to propel most [[Starship/Legends|starships]] at [[Sublight drive|sublight]] velocities. Ion engines were fueled by power cells, liquid chemical reactants, onboard generators, or virtually any other device capable of providing sufficient power. The engine utilized internal [[Nuclear fusion|fusion reactions]] to produce a stream of highly charged particles that were forced through the engine's exhaust port at nearly the speed of light. '''Ion engines''' were sometimes called '''ion rockets'''.

Ion engines emitted mildly [[Radiation/Legends|radioactive]] byproducts, requiring onboard technicians to wear protective gear. Because of this radioactivity, and the disabling effects that ions had on electronics and electrical systems, it was common protocol for most ships to utilize [[Repulsorlift/Legends|repulsorlifts]] for propulsion during atmospheric flight and reserve use of the more powerful ion drives for orbital navigation.

The most noted craft using ion drives were [[TIE/LN starfighter|TIE Fighters]], which received their name from the number of ion engines they used: '''T'''win '''I'''on '''E'''ngine.

==Models==
*[[E-16/x ion engine/Legends|E-16/x ion engine]]
*[[Ion Jet engine]]
*[[P-s4 twin ion engine]]

===Replacement Drives===
*[[Arakyd Industries/Legends|Arakyd Industries]] [[H-L Block ion drive]]
*[[Boshaa-C'hi Ion Drive]]
*[[Evader-GT Ion Drive|Corellian Evader-GT Ion Drive]]
*[[Incom Corporation/Legends|Incom]] [[Starslinger Ion Drive]]
*[[SoroSuub Corporation/Legends|SoroSuub]] [[Boav Ion Drive]]
*[[Starscream-9 Ion Drive]]

==Behind the scenes==
Ion drives are becoming real devices as the first successful test of the [[Wikipedia:Dawn (spacecraft)|''Dawn'' spacecraft's]] ion engines used [[Wikipedia:Xenon|Xenon]] propellant. It burned for 27 hours and only expended 10 ounces of fuel.<ref name="JPL">{{Cite_web|url=https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.cfm?release=2007-115|title=Dawn Mission Status: Spacecraft Tests Ion Engine|date=2007-10-09|work=NASA|archivedate=20071011073340}}</ref> Real ion thrusters look very similar to the engines on Star Destroyers. However, they have a very low thrust-to-weight ratio; this problem is fixed with the introduction of very similar ''plasma engines'', which have a variable and scalable thrust-to-weight ratio.

==Appearances==
{{Incomplete list}}
{{Scroll_box|content=
*{{SWArchive|url=games/videgames/tor_smugglersvanguard/index.html|text=''The Old Republic: Smuggler's Vanguard''|int=The Old Republic: Smuggler's Vanguard|archivedate=20110630160854}}
*''[[The Old Republic: Deceived]]'' {{C|as Ion engine}}
*[[The Old Republic: Deceived (audiobook)|''The Old Republic: Deceived'' audiobook]] {{C|as Ion engine}}
*''[[The Old Republic: Fatal Alliance]]''
*[[The Old Republic: Fatal Alliance (audiobook)|''The Old Republic: Fatal Alliance'' audiobook]]
*''[[Star Wars: The Old Republic]]''
*''[[The Old Republic: Annihilation]]'' {{C|as Ion engine}}
*[[The Old Republic: Annihilation (audiobook)|''The Old Republic: Annihilation'' audiobook]] {{C|as Ion engine}}
*''[[Boba Fett: Crossfire]]'' {{C|as Ion engine}}
*''[[At Your Service]]''
*''[[Cloak and Vibroblade]]'' {{C|as Ion engine}}
*''[[Labyrinth of Evil]]''
*''[[Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader]]''
*''[[Coruscant Nights I: Jedi Twilight]]'' {{C|as Ion engine}}
*{{Journal|4|The Final Exit}} {{C|As "ion engine"}}
*{{WEGCite|book=The Best of the Star Wars Adventure Journal, Issues 1-4|story=The Final Exit}}
*{{Journal|2|Out of the Cradle}}
*{{Journal|3|When the Domino Falls}}
*''[[Han Solo at Stars' End]]''
*[[The Force Unleashed II (novel)|''The Force Unleashed II'' novel]]
*''[[Domain of Evil]]''
*{{WEGCite|book=Classic Adventures: Volume Two|story=Domain of Evil}}
*{{Journal|1|Breaking Free: The Adventures of Dannen Lifehold}}
*[[Star Wars (1977) 5|''Star Wars'' (1977) 5]] {{1stID|ion rocket}}
*''[[Planet of the Mists]]''
*''[[Graveyard of Alderaan]]''
*{{WEGCite|book=Classic Adventures: Volume Two|story=Graveyard of Alderaan}}
*{{Journal|1|Stranded}}
*{{Journal|2|The Prophecy}}
*{{Journal|3|The Void Terror}}
*{{WEGCite|book=The Best of the Star Wars Adventure Journal, Issues 1-4|story=The Void Terror}}
*{{Journal|4|Enemies for Life}}
*{{Journal|5|Galaxywide NewsNets}}
*{{Journal|9|Galaxywide NewsNets}}
*{{WEGCite|book=Instant Adventures|story=Meltdown (adventure)|stext=Meltdown}}
*{{WEGCite|book=Instant Adventures|story=New Recruits and Rebel Guns}}
*[[Operation: Elrood (book)|''Operation: Elrood'']]
*''[[Operation: Shadowpoint]]''
*''[[Imperial Double-Cross]]''
*{{WEGCite|book=The Far Orbit Project|story=The Trap (adventure scenario)|stext=The Trap}}
*{{FFG|book=Star Wars: Age of Rebellion Game Master's Kit|text=''Star Wars: Age of Rebellion'' Game Master's Kit|story=Dead in the Water|stext=Dead in the Water}}
*{{GamerCite|1|Fair Prey}}
*{{GalaxyCite|10|Sandbound on Tatooine}}
*{{Journal|9|Combat Moon (short story)|Combat Moon}}
*{{Journal|9|Death-Hunter}}
*{{Journal|15|Laughter After Dark (short story)|Laughter After Dark}}
*{{Journal|15|The Draw}} {{Mo}}
*''[[Star Wars: TIE Fighter]]''
*{{WEGCite|book=Shadows of the Empire Sourcebook|story=Better Than Nothing|stext=''Better Than Nothing''}} {{Mo}}
*{{WEGCite|book=Shadows of the Empire Sourcebook|story=All the Extras|stext=''All the Extras''}} {{Mo}}
*''[[The Mandalorian Armor]]''
*''[[The Truce at Bakura]]'' {{1st}}
*{{Journal|8|Black Curs Blues}}
*{{Journal|7|Missed Chance}}
*{{Journal|5|Vengeance Strike}}
*''[[X-Wing: Wraith Squadron]]''
*''[[X-Wing: Iron Fist]]''
*''[[Tatooine Ghost]]'' {{C|as Ion engine}}
*{{Journal|9|Droids Defiant}}
*''[[X-Wing: Isard's Revenge]]''
*''[[The New Jedi Order: Vector Prime]]''
*''[[The New Jedi Order: Edge of Victory II: Rebirth]]''
*''[[Crosscurrent]]''
*[[Riptide (novel)|''Riptide'']]
*''[[Fate of the Jedi: Abyss]]''
*[[Fate of the Jedi: Abyss (audiobook)|''Fate of the Jedi: Abyss'' audiobook]]
*''[[Fate of the Jedi: Vortex]]''
*[[Fate of the Jedi: Vortex (audiobook)|''Fate of the Jedi: Vortex'' audiobook]]
*''[[Fate of the Jedi: Conviction]]''
*[[Fate of the Jedi: Conviction (audiobook)|''Fate of the Jedi: Conviction'' audiobook]]
*''[[Fate of the Jedi: Apocalypse]]''
*[[Fate of the Jedi: Apocalypse (audiobook)|''Fate of the Jedi: Apocalypse'' audiobook]]
}}

==Sources==
{{Scroll_box|content=
*''[[A Guide to the Star Wars Universe]]''
*[[Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game (first edition)|''Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game'']]
*''[[The Star Wars Sourcebook]]'' {{ID|ion engine}}
*''[[Star Wars Campaign Pack]]''
*''[[Galaxy Guide 6: Tramp Freighters]]''
<!-- Jan 1990 -->
*''[[Death Star Technical Companion]]'' {{ID|ion sublight drive}}
*[[Cracken's Rebel Field Guide (sourcebook)|''Cracken's Rebel Field Guide'']] {{ID|ion engine}}
*[[Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game, Second Edition|''Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game'', Second Edition]]
*''[[Dark Force Rising Sourcebook]]'' {{ID|ion engine}}
*''[[Galaxy Guide 7: Mos Eisley]]''
*''[[Star Wars Gamemaster Handbook]]'' {{ID|ion engine}}
*''[[Star Wars Technical Journal of the Planet Tatooine]]''
*[[Death Star Technical Companion (Second Edition)|''Death Star Technical Companion'', Second Edition]]
*[[Galaxy Guide 6: Tramp Freighters (Second Edition)|''Galaxy Guide 6: Tramp Freighters'', Second Edition]]
*''[[Cracken's Rebel Operatives]]''
*{{Journal|2|The Free-Trader's Guide to Sevarcos}}
*[[Star Wars Sourcebook (Second Edition)|''Star Wars Sourcebook'', Second Edition]]
*''[[TIE Fighter: The Official Strategy Guide]]''
*{{Journal|3|Smuggler's Log}}
*{{Journal|3|Wanted by Cracken (Star Wars Adventure Journal)|Wanted by Cracken}}
*{{Journal|4|Smuggler's Log}}
*{{Journal|5|A Buyer's Guide to Alternative Starships}}
*''[[Platt's Starport Guide]]''
*''[[Goroth: Slave of the Empire]]''
*''[[TIE Fighter: Defender of the Empire: Official Secrets & Solutions]]''
*{{Journal|7|Into the Core Worlds}} {{C|As "ion engine"}}
*''[[Galaxy Guide 12: Aliens — Enemies and Allies]]''
*''[[The DarkStryder Campaign]]''
*''[[Heroes & Rogues]]''
*{{WEGCite|book=The Best of the Star Wars Adventure Journal, Issues 1-4|story=The Free-Trader's Guide to Sevarcos}}
*''[[TIE Fighter Collector's CD-ROM: The Official Strategy Guide]]''
*{{Journal|10|Alliance Intelligence Report: TIE Fighters}}
*''[[Shadows of the Empire Sourcebook]]''
*{{SOTE|cardname=''Outrider''|link=https://www.rebelscum.com/photo.asp?image=/sote/soteTC084.jpg|archiveurl=https://archive.is/0HWx}}
*''[[The Thrawn Trilogy Sourcebook]]''
*''[[Tales of the Jedi Companion]]''
*''[[Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game, Second Edition, Revised and Expanded]]''
*''[[Star Wars Gamemaster Screen, Revised]]''
*''[[Star Wars Technical Journal]]''
<!-- Dec 1996 -->
*''[[Introductory Adventure Game]]''
*''[[Pirates & Privateers]]''
*''[[The Black Sands of Socorro]]''
*''[[Cracken's Threat Dossier]]''
*''[[Lords of the Expanse]]''
*''[[Star Wars Trilogy Sourcebook, Special Edition]]''
*''[[Platt's Smugglers Guide]]''
*''[[Stock Ships]]''
*''[[The Far Orbit Project]]''
*''[[Star Wars Encyclopedia]]''
*''[[Star Wars: Rogue Squadron: The Official Nintendo Player's Guide]]''
*''[[The New Essential Guide to Vehicles and Vessels]]''
*''[[The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia]]''
*{{DB|technology|sublightdrive|sublight drive|archivedate=20100310230512}}
*[[Star Wars: Edge of the Empire Core Rulebook|''Star Wars: Edge of the Empire'' Core Rulebook]]
*{{SWE|technology|tie|TIE fighter}} {{C|as "ion engine"}}
*''[[Enter the Unknown]]''
*''[[Suns of Fortune]]''
*[[Star Wars: Age of Rebellion Core Rulebook|''Star Wars: Age of Rebellion'' Core Rulebook]]
*''[[Lords of Nal Hutta]]''
*''[[Fly Casual]]''
*''[[Strongholds of Resistance]]''
*{{FFGXW2|Galactic Empire Conversion Kit|link=https://xwing-miniatures-second-edition.fandom.com/wiki/Cutlass_Squadron_Pilot|cardname=Cutlass Squadron Pilot}}
}}

==Notes and references==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{WP|Ion thruster}}

{{Interlang
|de=Ionenantrieb
|hr=Ionski motori
|pl=Silnik jonowy
|ru=Ионный двигатель
|es=Motor de iones
}}

[[Category:Engine types]]
[[Category:General starship components]]
[[Category:Ion engines| ]]