Limits RegistryPUBLIC RECORD
Limits RegistryNASA's Dawn spacecraft used its xenon ion engines to change its velocity by about 11.5 km/s (25,700 mph) between 2007 and 2018 — more than any other spacecraft achieved with its own propulsion, and enough to reach and orbit both Vesta and Ceres.
The question, scope, and sources behind this Registry record.
NASA's Dawn spacecraft used its xenon ion engines to change its velocity by about 11.5 km/s (25,700 mph) between 2007 and 2018 — more than any other spacecraft achieved with its own propulsion, and enough to reach and orbit both Vesta and Ceres.
The largest cumulative change in velocity delivered by any spacecraft's own propulsion system after separation from its launch vehicle.
Change a parameter to stress-test whether a proposed result is still inside the published specification. This is an audit aid, not a proof checker.
This record has no editable parameters. Read the formal question and assumptions before challenging it.
Current frontiers derived from accepted Claims.
An observed or demonstrated result; no opposing bound is implied.
The frontier is not sacred
Most progress starts with a disagreement that survives contact with evidence. If you can push the known lower bound up or pull the upper bound down, show us the work.
≥ when you have shown that at least this value is achievable.≤ when you have shown that anything above this value is impossible.No vibes. State the value, define the scope, and link the paper, proof, code, or reproduction that lets another person check it. Editors review every challenge before the public record changes.
Challenge this recordAssertions tied to evidence, attribution, and review.
The frontier as it changed over time.
Only accepted Claims matching the current specification contribute to the displayed bounds. Strict inequalities remain open; contradictory Claims require editorial review.
Permanent ID limitsregistry.com/limits/LR-LARGEST-ION-PROPULSION-DELTA-V
No active verified bounties are linked to this Limit.
View verified bounty tracker ↗No accepted machine-checked reproductions are recorded for this Limit.
Limits Registry. LR-LARGEST-ION-PROPULSION-DELTA-V. Largest velocity change by a spacecraft's own propulsion. 2026.