"However, as everyone knows, Ion Engines have very low thrust. They can only be used in a vacuum to decelerate, change orbit, or alter direction. For sustained acceleration in space, most spacecraft still use Chemical Rocket Propulsion. Of course, there is also an Electromagnetic Drive Engine currently under evaluation, but its chances of success are even lower than those of the Fusion Ion Engine."
"Then if we fitted it with a small Ion Engine, it should be able to fly in space, right?" Jiang Yan Hai asked after thinking it over.
"If it is not meant for long-duration flight, that would not be difficult. For example, much like built-in fuel, we could store solid matter internally, convert it into gas, compress it, and eject it."
"But in that case, its flight time would definitely be limited. And its systems would become much more complicated," Professor Hu said.
"Little Jiang, what do you mean by asking that? It still cannot fly into space," Professor Liu asked somewhat puzzled.
"Well, Professors, you should both understand that with our current technology—not even counting what is still under research, but only what has already been successfully developed—it should not be a problem to build a Space Shuttle capable of entering space with a much larger payload, right?" Jiang Yan Hai said.
"Yes." Both professors nodded.
The Russians and Americans had been flying Space Shuttles for decades. Naturally, they could now launch much larger Space Shuttles or rockets. That was not a problem.
"Then I have a question. What if we put an aircraft carrier in space? Instead of being as small as current Space Stations, it could be the size of an aircraft carrier, or even larger. If pilots and the new-generation Phantom were permanently stationed in space, then theoretically, it could naturally reach