Variable Specific Impulse Magnetoplasma Rocket

[MrAmsterdam]

http://www.adastrarocket.com/aarc/VASIMR

The Variable Specific Impulse Magnetoplasma Rocket (VASIMR®) represents the future of translunar and interplanetary transportation as well as propulsion within Earth orbit. Its superb efficiency compared to that of a conventional chemical rocket allows double the payload mass for lunar delivery and half the transit time to Mars. Its robust design allows much greater power levels than existing electric propulsion systems and promises longer lifetimes.

http://www.adastrarocket.com/AdAstraPre ... 030811.pdf
PRESS RELEASE 080311, March 8, 2011
AD ASTRA AND NASA SIGN SUPPORT
AGREEMENT ON VASIMR® TECHNOLOGY
[Houston, TX For immediate release] – Ad
Astra Rocket Company and NASA Johnson
Space Center (JSC) have signed a Support
Agreement to collaborate on research, analysis
and development tasks on space-based
cryogenic magnet operations and electric
propulsion systems currently under
development by Ad Astra. The agreement was
signed on March 2, 2011 by NASA-JSC
Director of Engineering, Mr. Stephen J.
Altemus and Ad Astra’s Chief Executive
Officer, Dr. Franklin R. Chang Díaz.
-

ABOUT THE TECHNOLOGY
Short for Variable Specific Impulse
Magnetoplasma Rocket, VASIMR® works with
plasma, an electrically charged gas that can be
heated to extreme temperatures by radio
waves and controlled and guided by strong
magnetic fields. The magnetic field also
insulates any nearby structure, so
temperatures well beyond the melting point of
materials can be achieved. The plasma can be
harnessed to produce propulsion. In rocket
propulsion, the higher the temperature of the
exhaust gases, the higher their velocity and
hence the higher their fuel efficiency. Plasma
rockets feature exhaust velocities far above
those achievable by their chemical cousins, so
their fuel consumption is extremely low.

In other words, in 39 days to the planet Mars...

[jjohnson]

Hi, Mr. A.,
A test of this plasma rocket is planned on the ISS, in which it will be used to re-boost the station in order to maintain its orbit. Otherwise the weak drag of the tenuous "atmosphere" at that altitude above Earth would eventually cause the orbit to decay and the ISS to come down. SHould be an interesting experiment.

Regarding transit times of crewed vehicles to Mars, there was a very interesting article in Scientific American some years ago that described the shielding problem (weight versus efficiency tradeoffs, versus achievable speeds and time of exposure to solar radiation, cosmic rays, etc.). It was a timely warning then. It becomes more timely the closer we get to actually trying this stunt and getting some boots on Mars where we could do some real exploration. They discovered massive shielding, elegant lightweight shielding, and electrodynamic shielding, and I think perhaps combinations of these.

Space is a much more hostile environment than most of us down here in the cool, protected gravity well realize. It takes a lot of energy, smarts and doggedness to travel through it.

Jim

[Sparky]

here is an idea for a nuclear pwr supply..

http://news.softpedia.com/news/Nanotube ... 1899.shtml

Scientists Liviu Popa-Simil, former Los Alamos National Laboratory, nuclear engineer, and Claudiu Muntele, from the Alabama A&M University, revealed that materials might be able to produce up to 20 times more electrical energy by converting radiation rather than converting heat.