150:, stripping electrons off the propellant atoms and producing a plasma of ions and free electrons. By varying the amount of RF heating energy and plasma, VASIMR is claimed to be capable of generating either low-thrust, high–specific impulse exhaust or relatively high-thrust, low–specific impulse exhaust. The second phase of the engine is a strong solenoid-configuration electromagnet that channels the ionized plasma, acting as a convergent-divergent nozzle like the physical nozzle in conventional rocket engines.
278:. VASIMR experiment 10 (VX-10) in 1998 achieved a helicon RF plasma discharge of up to 10 kW and VX-25 in 2002 of up to 25 kW. By 2005 progress at ASPL included full and efficient plasma production and acceleration of the plasma ions with the 50 kW, 0.5 newtons (0.1 lbf) thrust VX-50. Published data on the 50 kW VX-50 showed the electrical efficiency to be 59% based on a 90% coupling efficiency and a 65% ion speed boosting efficiency.
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VASIMR does not use electrodes; instead, it magnetically shields plasma from most hardware parts, thus eliminating electrode erosion, a major source of wear in ion engines. Compared to traditional rocket engines with very complex plumbing, high performance valves, actuators and turbopumps, VASIMR has
293:
The VX-100 was expected to have an ion speed boosting efficiency of 80%, but could not achieve this efficiency due to losses from the conversion of DC electric current to radio frequency power and the auxiliary equipment for the superconducting magnet. In contrast, 2009 state-of-the-art, proven ion
161:
The path of ions and electrons through the engine approximates lines parallel to the engine walls; however, the particles actually orbit those lines while traveling linearly through the engine. The final, diverging, section of the engine contains an expanding magnetic field that ejects the ions and
153:
A second coupler, known as the Ion
Cyclotron Heating (ICH) section, emits electromagnetic waves in resonance with the orbits of ions and electrons as they travel through the engine. Resonance is achieved through a reduction of the magnetic field in this portion of the engine that slows the orbital
338:
appeared to be around 5,000 s using low cost argon propellant. One of the remaining untested issues was whether the hot plasma actually detached from the rocket. Another issue was waste heat management. About 60% of input energy became useful kinetic energy. Much of the remaining 40% is
391:
hr and 100 kW by mid-2018. In August 2017, the company reported completing its Year 2 milestones for the VASIMR electric plasma rocket engine. NASA gave approval for Ad Astra to proceed with Year 3 after reviewing completion of a 10-hour cumulative test of the VX-200SS engine at
905:
The VX-200 will provide the critical data set to build the VF-200-1, the first flight unit, to be tested in space aboard the
International Space Station (ISS). The electrical energy will come from ISS at low power level, be stored in batteries and used to fire the engine at 200
350:
superconducting magnets that are powered separately and not accounted for in any "efficiency" calculations. During
November 2010, long duration, full power firing tests were performed, reaching steady state operation for 25 seconds and validating basic design characteristics.
107:
114:
VASIMR is a type of electrothermal plasma thruster/electrothermal magnetoplasma thruster. In these engines, a neutral, inert propellant is ionized and heated using radio waves. The resulting plasma is then accelerated with magnetic fields to generate thrust. Other related
186:
wave is uniformly transferred to ionized plasma in a single-pass cyclotron absorption process. This allows for ions to leave the magnetic nozzle with a very narrow energy distribution, and for significantly simplified and compact magnet arrangement in the engine.
325:
plasma generation component of the 200 kW VX-200 engine had reached operational status. The key enabling technology, solid-state DC-RF power-processing, reached 98% efficiency. The helicon discharge used 30 kW of radio waves to turn
1160:
de Faoite, DaithĂ; Browne, David J; Chang-DĂaz, Franklin R; Stanton, Kenneth T (November 17, 2011). "A review of the processing, composition, and temperature-dependent mechanical and thermal properties of dielectric technical ceramics".
453:
In August 2008, Tim Glover, Ad Astra director of development, publicly stated that the first expected application of VASIMR engine is "hauling things from low-Earth orbit to low-lunar orbit" supporting NASA's return to Moon efforts.
333:
Based on data from VX-100 testing, it was expected that, if room temperature superconductors are ever discovered, the VX-200 engine would have a system efficiency of 60–65% and a potential thrust level of 5 N. Optimal
142:, is injected into a hollow cylinder surfaced with electromagnets. On entering the engine, the gas is first heated to a "cold plasma" by a helicon RF antenna/coupler that bombards the gas with electromagnetic energy, at a
242:
in 1983. Important refinements were introduced in the 1990s, including the use of the helicon plasma source, which replaced the plasma gun originally envisioned and its electrodes, adding to durability and long life.
491:
386:
In August 2016, Ad Astra announced completion of the milestones for the first year of its 3-year contract with NASA. This allowed for first high-power plasma firings of the engines, with a stated goal to reach
449:
said that VASIMR technology could be the breakthrough technology that would reduce the travel time on a Mars mission from 2.5 years to 5 months. However this claim has not been repeated in the last decade.
441:
Proposed applications for VASIMR such as the rapid transportation of people to Mars would require a very high power, low mass energy source, ten times more efficient than a nuclear reactor (see
207:
produces 0.327 N with only 7.7 kW, or 24 kW/N. Electrically speaking, NEXT is almost twice as efficient, and successfully completed a 48,000 hours (5.5 years) test in
December 2009.
383:
to meet the needs of deep space missions. The SS in the name stands for "steady state", as a goal of the long duration test is to demonstrate continuous operation at thermal steady state.
154:
motion of the plasma particles. This section further heats the plasma to greater than 1,000,000 K (1,000,000 °C; 1,800,000 °F)—about 173 times the temperature of the
210:
New problems also emerge with VASIMR, such as interaction with strong magnetic fields and thermal management. The inefficiency with which VASIMR operates generates substantial
1427:"Aethera's New RF Power Processing Unit for the VASIMR Engine Successfully Completes Full Power Vacuum and Magnetic Field Tests at Ad Astra Rocket Company's Texas Facility"
94:
and low thrust, high specific impulse electric propulsion, but has not yet demonstrated high thrust. The VASIMR concept originated in 1977 with former NASA astronaut
330:
gas into plasma. The remaining 170 kW of power was allocated for acceleration of plasma in the second part of the engine, via ion cyclotron resonance heating.
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404:
226:. To counter this latter effect, two thruster units can be packaged with magnetic fields oriented in opposite directions, making a net zero-torque magnetic
1522:
783:
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In order to conduct an imagined crewed trip to Mars in 39 days, the VASIMR would require an electrical power level far beyond anything currently possible.
411:
and >97% electrical-to-RF power efficiency, and that, at 52 kg, the new RF PPU is about 10x lighter than the PPUs of competing electric thrusters (
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1433:
1308:
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1395:"Ad Astra Rocket Company successfully completes all NASA NextStep Contract Milestones for year two, receives NASA approval to proceed with year three"
1369:
1363:"Ad Astra Rocket Company successfully completes all NASA NextStep Contract Milestones for year one, receives NASA approval to proceed with year two"
1401:
379:
In March 2015, Ad Astra announced a $ 10 million award from NASA to advance the technology readiness of the next version of the VASIMR engine, the
831:
286:
The 100 kilowatt VASIMR experiment was successfully running by 2007 and demonstrated efficient plasma production with an ionization cost below 100
2455:
1753:
1704:
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Results presented in
January 2011 confirmed that the design point for optimal efficiency on the VX-200 is 50 km/s exhaust velocity, or an
396:
kW. It appears as though the planned 200 kW design is being run at 100 kW for reasons that are not mentioned in the press release.
339:
secondary ionizations from plasma crossing magnetic field lines and exhaust divergence. A significant portion of that 40% was waste heat (see
2267:
745:
Jared P. Squire; Franklin R. Chang DĂaz; Verlin T. Jacobson; Tim W. Glover; F. Wally Baity; Richard H. Goulding; Roger
Bengtson; et al.
1214:
1015:
418:
In July 2021, Ad Astra announced the completion of a record-breaking test for the engine, running it for 28 hours at a power level of 82.5
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116:
73:
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856:
513:
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222:-range magnetic fields that can cause problems with other onboard devices and produce unwanted torque by interaction with the
1627:
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239:
1128:
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Ilin, Andrew V.; Gilman, Daniel A.; Carter, Mark D.; Chang DĂaz, Franklin R.; Squire, Jared P.; Farrias, Joseph E. (2013).
980:
637:
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1282:. 33rd International Electric Propulsion Conference. October 6–10, 2013. Washington, D.C. IEPC-2013-336. Archived from
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565:
2144:
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1459:"Ad Astra Rocket Company shatters power and endurance record in recent tests of the VASIMR VX-200SS plasma rocket"
371:
propellant at full power by 2013, demonstrating greater than 70% thruster efficiency relative to RF power input.
1426:
422:
kW. A second test, conducted from July 12 to 16, successfully ran the engine for 88 hours at a power level of 80
2441:
2170:
2035:
1739:
535:
295:
1628:"Rocket scientist Franklin Chang Diaz talks about finding the power and propulsion required to colonize space"
1611:"Agreement to Commercialize Advanced NASA Rocket Concept; Former Astronaut Franklin Chang-Diaz to Lead Effort"
809:
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In August 2019, Ad Astra announced the successful completion of tests of a new generation radio-frequency (
340:
1394:
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2774:
2710:
1683:
645:. Space Technology and Applications International Forum - Staif 2005. Vol. 746. pp. 976–982.
1610:
477:" would require extremely efficient radiators to avoid the need for "football-field sized radiators".
2757:
2717:
2229:
2088:
199:
According to Ad Astra as of 2015, the VX-200 engine requires 200 kW electrical power to produce
128:
174:
heating processes, VASIMR ions are immediately ejected from the magnetic nozzle before they achieve
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2576:
2571:
2479:
2262:
2021:
1995:
1937:
1921:
1911:
1053:"Recent Improvements In Ionization Costs And Ion Cyclotron Heating Efficiency In The VASIMR Engine"
69:
2194:
857:"VASIMR Performance Measurements at Powers Exceeding 50 kW and Lunar Robotic Mission Applications"
346:
Between April and
September 2009, 200 kW tests were performed on the VX-200 prototype with 2
191:
almost no moving parts (apart from minor ones, like gas valves), maximizing long term durability.
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1593:
VASIMR Debate/The VASIMR Hoax – Dr. Robert Zubrin – 14th
International Mars Society Convention
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On top of that, any power generation technology will produce waste heat. The necessary 200
302:
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that needs to be channeled away without creating thermal overload and thermal stress. The
8:
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2737:
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2516:
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2011:
1990:
1959:
918:
862:. International Interdisciplinary Symposium on Gaseous and Liquid Plasmas. Archived from
259:
251:
204:
171:
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electrons from the engine at velocities as great as 50,000 m/s (180,000 km/h).
1174:
650:
438:
VASIMR has a comparatively poor thrust-to-weight ratio, and requires an ambient vacuum.
178:. Based on novel theoretical work in 2004 by Alexey V. Arefiev and Boris N. Breizman of
2779:
2423:
2389:
2354:
1196:
530:
1709:
1523:"Franklin Chang Diaz discusses Hydrogen, VASIMR, Artemis, and Costa Rica Space Agency"
863:
688:
2418:
2384:
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1200:
1101:
754:
28th
International Electric Propulsion Conference, Toulouse, France, 17–21 March 2003
322:
53:
1309:"NASA Announces New Partnerships with U.S. Industry for Key Deep-Space Capabilities"
2747:
2663:
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2404:
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1803:
1705:
Technical Paper: Rapid Mars
Transits with Exhaust-Modulated Plasma Propulsion (PDF)
1186:
1178:
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654:
355:
335:
263:
88:
80:
61:
50:
21:
1635:
1491:"VASIMR VX-200SS plasma rocket completes record 88-hour high power endurance test"
317:
VX-200 plasma engine at full power, employing both stages with full magnetic field
2016:
1820:
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1721:
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143:
91:
987:
662:
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1220:(Press release). Ad Astra Rocket Company. September 30, 2011. Archived from
1059:
592:
367:
s. The 200 kW VX-200 had executed more than 10,000 engine firings with
2688:
2561:
2531:
2511:
2488:
2364:
2323:
2296:
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1851:
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1134:(Press release). Ad Astra Rocket Company. October 24, 2008. Archived from
832:"NEXT Provides Lasting Propulsion and High Speeds for Deep Space Missions"
258:
is Ad Astra's chairman and CEO, and the company had a testing facility in
2683:
2678:
2506:
2379:
2374:
2180:
2433:
1731:
1336:(Press release). Ad Astra Rocket Company. March 31, 2015. Archived from
1097:
87:
research. VASIMR is intended to bridge the gap between high thrust, low
2643:
2593:
2399:
1856:
807:
227:
211:
46:
42:
1579:
Mars in 39 Days?: the VASIMR Plasma Engine. Franklin Chang-Diaz, Ph.D.
1331:"Ad Astra Rocket Company wins major NASA advanced propulsion contract"
1191:
658:
321:
On 24 October 2008, the company announced in a press release that the
37:) is an electrothermal thruster under development for possible use in
2673:
183:
147:
1248:"Video of VASIMR VX-200 firing for 25 seconds at full power rating"
1239:
1086:"An Overview of the High Power Electric Propulsion (HiPEP) Project"
986:. International Electric Propulsion Conference 2007. Archived from
756:. 28th International Electric Propulsion Conference. Archived from
474:
466:
1276:
VASIMR Solar Powered Missions for NEA Retrieval and NEA Deflection
274:
In 1998, the first helicon plasma experiment was performed at the
2175:
1808:
250:(AARC) was responsible for VASIMR development, signing the first
1613:(Press release). Johnson Space Center. January 23, 2006. J06-009
1159:
290:
eV. VX-100 plasma output tripled the prior record of the VX-50.
106:
1798:
1776:
1016:"Ad Astra's VX-100 test bed achieves record plasma performance"
981:"High Power VASIMR Experiments using Deuterium, Neon and Argon"
65:
614:
Alessandra Negrotti (2008). "VASIMR Prefeasibility Analysis".
403:) Power Processing Unit (PPU) for the VASIMR engine, built by
1058:. AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting and Exhibit. Archived from
607:
368:
327:
139:
135:
1090:
AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference & Exhibit
1710:
Variable-Specific-Impulse Magnetoplasma Rocket (Tech Brief)
1432:(Press release). Ad Astra Rocket Company. August 20, 2019.
950:. Ad Astra Rocket Company. January 24, 2010. Archived from
810:"NASA Thruster Achieves World-Record 5+ Years of Operation"
616:
Advanced Propulsion Systems and Technologies, Today to 2020
470:
1400:(Press release). Ad Astra Rocket Company. August 9, 2017.
1368:(Press release). Ad Astra Rocket Company. August 3, 2016.
1272:
631:
629:
627:
625:
203:
of thrust, or 40 kW/N. In contrast, the conventional
1496:(Press release). Ad Astra Rocket Company. July 22, 2021.
1121:
919:"VASIMR (Variable Specific Impulse Magnetoplasma Rocket)"
747:"EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH PROGRESS TOWARD THE VASIMR ENGINE"
155:
25:
Artist's impression of a multi-megawatt VASIMR spacecraft
1464:(Press release). Ad Astra Rocket Company. July 9, 2021.
850:
848:
717:
622:
408:
400:
343:). Managing and rejecting that waste heat is critical.
1129:"VASIMR VX-200 first stage achieves full power rating"
979:
Squire, Jared P; et al. (September 17–20, 2007).
845:
98:, who has been developing the technology ever since.
855:
Jared P. Squire; et al. (September 5–6, 2008).
1215:"VASIMR VX-200 reaches 200 kW power milestone"
1084:Elliott, Frederick W; et al. (July 14, 2004).
1051:Bering, Edgar A; et al. (January 9–12, 2006).
713:
711:
709:
636:Tim W. Glover; et al. (February 13–17, 2005).
613:
590:
563:
1387:
808:Dwayne Brown; Katherine K. Martin; Glenn Mahone.
407:Ltd. of Canada. Ad Astra declared a power of 120
2817:
974:
972:
829:
706:
254:on 23 June 2005 to privatize VASIMR technology.
1010:
1008:
891:. Ad Astra Rocket Company. 2011. Archived from
854:
639:Principal VASIMR Results and Present Objectives
492:Rocket propulsion technologies (disambiguation)
469:reactor "with a power-to-mass density of 1,000
1557:"Plasma Rocket May Be Tested at Space Station"
1548:
31:Variable Specific Impulse Magnetoplasma Rocket
2449:
1747:
969:
680:
635:
584:
238:The first VASIMR experiment was conducted at
1715:Advanced Space Propulsion Laboratory: VASIMR
1005:
881:
557:
1554:
1536:Morring, Frank (2010). "Commercial Route".
1077:
781:
686:
233:
2798:
2456:
2442:
1754:
1740:
1044:
789:(Report). University of Colorado - Boulder
738:
117:electrically powered spacecraft propulsion
2463:
1761:
1190:
722:. Ad Astra Rocket Company. Archived from
568:. Ad Astra Rocket Company. Archived from
433:
218:necessary to contain hot plasma generate
182:, virtually all of the energy in the ion
2166:Atmosphere-breathing electric propulsion
1266:
312:
105:
60:to confine and accelerate the expanding
20:
1535:
1529:
1083:
937:
514:Nano-particle field extraction thruster
426:kW. Ad Astra anticipates conducting 100
298:(HiPEP) operated at 80% total thruster/
101:
2818:
2654:Differential technological development
1254:from the original on December 11, 2021
1050:
978:
134:The propellant, a neutral gas such as
16:Electrothermal thruster in development
2437:
1735:
1650:
1625:
1311:(Press release). NASA. March 30, 2015
1245:
889:"International Space Station Mission"
240:Massachusetts Institute of Technology
72:, one of several types of spacecraft
1538:Aviation Week & Space Technology
1503:from the original on October 9, 2022
1471:from the original on October 9, 2022
1439:from the original on October 9, 2022
1407:from the original on October 9, 2022
1375:from the original on October 9, 2022
487:Comparison of orbital rocket engines
2743:Future-oriented technology analysis
1626:Naone, Erica (September 25, 2007).
1023:PRESS RELEASE 061207, June 12, 2007
801:
541:Systems for Nuclear Auxiliary Power
13:
2831:Plasma technology and applications
2071:Field-emission electric propulsion
1602:
457:
14:
2852:
2145:Microwave electrothermal thruster
1677:
269:
2797:
2417:
1727:Propulsion Systems of the Future
718:Ad Astra Rocket Company (2009).
194:
83:was originally developed during
1584:
1571:
1515:
1483:
1451:
1419:
1355:
1323:
1301:
1207:
1153:
911:
823:
2275:Pulsed nuclear thermal rocket‎
2171:High Power Electric Propulsion
1555:Irene Klotz (August 7, 2008).
775:
536:Safe Affordable Fission Engine
445:). In 2010 NASA Administrator
430:kW power level tests in 2023.
296:High Power Electric Propulsion
294:engine designs such as NASA's
216:superconducting electromagnets
79:The VASIMR method for heating
1:
2770:Technology in science fiction
2130:Helicon double-layer thruster
2099:Electrodeless plasma thruster
2094:Magnetoplasmadynamic thruster
551:
509:Magnetoplasmadynamic thruster
504:Helicon Double Layer Thruster
180:University of Texas at Austin
165:
121:electrodeless plasma thruster
2615:Laser communication in space
1653:"Rockets For The Red Planet"
1163:Journal of Materials Science
693:Air & Space, Smithsonian
341:energy conversion efficiency
7:
2826:Magnetic propulsion devices
1651:Upson, Sandra (June 2009).
1250:. Ad Astra Rocket Company.
1246:Benwl (December 15, 2010).
480:
374:
170:In contrast to the typical
56:, forming a plasma, then a
10:
2857:
2775:Technology readiness level
2711:Technological unemployment
1025:. Ad Astra. Archived from
687:Beth Dickey (March 2004).
2793:
2758:Technological singularity
2718:Technological convergence
2636:
2602:
2547:
2487:
2478:
2471:
2415:
2332:
2311:
2255:
2202:
2193:
2158:
2112:
2089:Pulsed inductive thruster
2081:
2043:
2034:
2004:
1973:
1930:
1904:
1897:
1834:
1769:
1720:February 2, 2015, at the
1183:10.1007/s10853-011-6140-1
595:. Ad Astra Rocket Company
591:Ad Astra Rocket Company.
564:Ad Astra Rocket Company.
308:
281:
129:pulsed inductive thruster
2620:Orbital propellant depot
2577:Plasma propulsion engine
2572:Nuclear pulse propulsion
2263:Nuclear pulse propulsion
2022:Electric-pump-fed engine
1922:Hybrid-propellant rocket
1912:Liquid-propellant rocket
782:Kipp Larson (May 2016).
234:Research and development
176:thermalized distribution
70:plasma propulsion engine
2723:Technological evolution
2696:Exploratory engineering
2557:Beam-powered propulsion
2539:Reusable launch vehicle
2319:Beam-powered propulsion
2292:Fission-fragment rocket
2247:Nuclear photonic rocket
2215:Nuclear electric rocket
1981:Staged combustion cycle
1917:Solid-propellant rocket
443:nuclear electric rocket
248:Ad Astra Rocket Company
2733:Technology forecasting
2728:Technological paradigm
2701:Proactionary principle
2502:Non-rocket spacelaunch
2370:Non-rocket spacelaunch
2220:Nuclear thermal rocket
2120:Pulsed plasma thruster
830:Nancy Smith Kilkenny.
525:Space fission reactors
519:Pulsed plasma thruster
434:Potential applications
318:
111:
26:
2659:Disruptive innovation
2465:Emerging technologies
2036:Electrical propulsion
1763:Spacecraft propulsion
546:TOPAZ nuclear reactor
413:power-to-weight ratio
316:
109:
39:spacecraft propulsion
24:
2706:Technological change
2649:Collingridge dilemma
2268:Antimatter-catalyzed
2066:Hall-effect thruster
1879:Solar thermal rocket
1694:. December 18, 2008.
1525:. February 10, 2023.
993:on February 26, 2015
869:on February 26, 2015
405:Aethera Technologies
102:Design and operation
2763:Technology scouting
2738:Accelerating change
2610:Interstellar travel
2210:Direct Fusion Drive
2125:Vacuum arc thruster
2012:Pressure-fed engine
1991:Gas-generator cycle
1898:Chemical propulsion
1835:Physical propulsion
1175:2012JMatS..47.4211F
1141:on November 5, 2015
1098:10.2514/6.2004-3453
1065:on January 19, 2016
1032:on October 30, 2012
945:"Executive summary"
651:2005AIPC..746..976G
498:Electric propulsion
415:: 2.31 kW/kg)
260:Liberia, Costa Rica
256:Franklin Chang DĂaz
252:Space Act Agreement
172:cyclotron resonance
96:Franklin Chang DĂaz
74:electric propulsion
2780:Technology roadmap
2424:Spaceflight portal
2390:Reactionless drive
2355:Aerogravity assist
2195:Nuclear propulsion
1595:, Time Index 14:30
531:Project Prometheus
319:
112:
27:
2836:Rocket propulsion
2813:
2812:
2632:
2631:
2628:
2627:
2431:
2430:
2385:Atmospheric entry
2340:Orbital mechanics
2307:
2306:
2189:
2188:
2140:Resistojet rocket
2030:
2029:
2005:Intake mechanisms
1938:Liquid propellant
1842:Cold gas thruster
1632:Technology Review
1169:(10): 4211–4235.
1107:978-1-62410-037-6
957:on March 31, 2010
895:on March 15, 2011
763:on August 1, 2014
659:10.1063/1.1867222
303:energy efficiency
262:on the campus of
205:NEXT ion thruster
119:concepts are the
2848:
2801:
2800:
2748:Horizon scanning
2664:Ephemeralization
2582:Helicon thruster
2567:Laser propulsion
2485:
2484:
2476:
2475:
2458:
2451:
2444:
2435:
2434:
2421:
2405:Alcubierre drive
2395:Field propulsion
2345:Orbital maneuver
2333:Related concepts
2200:
2199:
2051:Colloid thruster
2041:
2040:
1902:
1901:
1804:Specific impulse
1756:
1749:
1742:
1733:
1732:
1672:
1670:
1668:
1663:on July 22, 2011
1659:. Archived from
1647:
1645:
1643:
1638:on April 4, 2012
1634:. Archived from
1622:
1620:
1618:
1597:
1588:
1582:
1575:
1569:
1568:
1566:
1564:
1559:. Discovery News
1552:
1546:
1545:
1533:
1527:
1526:
1519:
1513:
1512:
1510:
1508:
1502:
1495:
1487:
1481:
1480:
1478:
1476:
1470:
1463:
1455:
1449:
1448:
1446:
1444:
1438:
1431:
1423:
1417:
1416:
1414:
1412:
1406:
1399:
1391:
1385:
1384:
1382:
1380:
1374:
1367:
1359:
1353:
1352:
1350:
1348:
1343:on July 24, 2021
1342:
1335:
1327:
1321:
1320:
1318:
1316:
1305:
1299:
1298:
1296:
1294:
1288:
1281:
1270:
1264:
1263:
1261:
1259:
1243:
1237:
1236:
1234:
1232:
1227:on March 1, 2012
1226:
1219:
1211:
1205:
1204:
1194:
1157:
1151:
1150:
1148:
1146:
1140:
1133:
1125:
1119:
1118:
1116:
1114:
1081:
1075:
1074:
1072:
1070:
1064:
1057:
1048:
1042:
1041:
1039:
1037:
1031:
1020:
1012:
1003:
1002:
1000:
998:
992:
985:
976:
967:
966:
964:
962:
956:
949:
941:
935:
934:
932:
930:
915:
909:
908:
902:
900:
885:
879:
878:
876:
874:
868:
861:
852:
843:
842:
840:
838:
827:
821:
820:
818:
816:
805:
799:
798:
796:
794:
788:
779:
773:
772:
770:
768:
762:
751:
742:
736:
735:
733:
731:
715:
704:
703:
701:
699:
684:
678:
677:
675:
673:
667:
661:. Archived from
644:
633:
620:
619:
611:
605:
604:
602:
600:
588:
582:
581:
579:
577:
561:
429:
425:
421:
395:
390:
366:
336:specific impulse
289:
264:Earth University
202:
123:, the microwave
110:VASIMR schematic
92:chemical rockets
89:specific impulse
2856:
2855:
2851:
2850:
2849:
2847:
2846:
2845:
2816:
2815:
2814:
2809:
2789:
2624:
2598:
2543:
2467:
2462:
2432:
2427:
2411:
2328:
2303:
2251:
2185:
2154:
2108:
2082:Electromagnetic
2077:
2026:
2017:Pump-fed engine
2000:
1969:
1926:
1893:
1830:
1821:Rocket equation
1787:Reaction engine
1765:
1760:
1722:Wayback Machine
1684:"Plasma Rocket"
1680:
1675:
1666:
1664:
1641:
1639:
1616:
1614:
1609:
1605:
1603:Further reading
1600:
1589:
1585:
1576:
1572:
1562:
1560:
1553:
1549:
1534:
1530:
1521:
1520:
1516:
1506:
1504:
1500:
1493:
1489:
1488:
1484:
1474:
1472:
1468:
1461:
1457:
1456:
1452:
1442:
1440:
1436:
1429:
1425:
1424:
1420:
1410:
1408:
1404:
1397:
1393:
1392:
1388:
1378:
1376:
1372:
1365:
1361:
1360:
1356:
1346:
1344:
1340:
1333:
1329:
1328:
1324:
1314:
1312:
1307:
1306:
1302:
1292:
1290:
1289:on May 14, 2014
1286:
1279:
1271:
1267:
1257:
1255:
1244:
1240:
1230:
1228:
1224:
1217:
1213:
1212:
1208:
1158:
1154:
1144:
1142:
1138:
1131:
1127:
1126:
1122:
1112:
1110:
1108:
1082:
1078:
1068:
1066:
1062:
1055:
1049:
1045:
1035:
1033:
1029:
1018:
1014:
1013:
1006:
996:
994:
990:
983:
977:
970:
960:
958:
954:
947:
943:
942:
938:
928:
926:
925:. July 28, 2021
917:
916:
912:
898:
896:
887:
886:
882:
872:
870:
866:
859:
853:
846:
836:
834:
828:
824:
814:
812:
806:
802:
792:
790:
786:
780:
776:
766:
764:
760:
749:
743:
739:
729:
727:
726:on May 22, 2013
716:
707:
697:
695:
685:
681:
671:
669:
668:on May 29, 2015
665:
642:
634:
623:
612:
608:
598:
596:
589:
585:
575:
573:
572:on July 7, 2019
562:
558:
554:
483:
460:
458:Mars in 39 days
436:
427:
423:
419:
393:
388:
377:
364:
361:
311:
287:
284:
272:
236:
200:
197:
168:
104:
17:
12:
11:
5:
2854:
2844:
2843:
2838:
2833:
2828:
2811:
2810:
2808:
2807:
2794:
2791:
2790:
2788:
2787:
2782:
2777:
2772:
2767:
2766:
2765:
2760:
2755:
2750:
2745:
2740:
2730:
2725:
2720:
2715:
2714:
2713:
2703:
2698:
2693:
2692:
2691:
2686:
2681:
2676:
2666:
2661:
2656:
2651:
2646:
2640:
2638:
2634:
2633:
2630:
2629:
2626:
2625:
2623:
2622:
2617:
2612:
2606:
2604:
2600:
2599:
2597:
2596:
2591:
2590:
2589:
2584:
2574:
2569:
2564:
2559:
2553:
2551:
2545:
2544:
2542:
2541:
2536:
2535:
2534:
2529:
2527:Space fountain
2524:
2522:Space elevator
2519:
2514:
2509:
2499:
2493:
2491:
2482:
2473:
2469:
2468:
2461:
2460:
2453:
2446:
2438:
2429:
2428:
2416:
2413:
2412:
2410:
2409:
2408:
2407:
2402:
2392:
2387:
2382:
2377:
2372:
2367:
2362:
2357:
2352:
2350:Gravity assist
2347:
2342:
2336:
2334:
2330:
2329:
2327:
2326:
2321:
2315:
2313:
2312:External power
2309:
2308:
2305:
2304:
2302:
2301:
2300:
2299:
2289:
2288:
2287:
2285:Bussard ramjet
2277:
2272:
2271:
2270:
2259:
2257:
2253:
2252:
2250:
2249:
2244:
2243:
2242:
2237:
2232:
2227:
2217:
2212:
2206:
2204:
2197:
2191:
2190:
2187:
2186:
2184:
2183:
2178:
2173:
2168:
2162:
2160:
2156:
2155:
2153:
2152:
2147:
2142:
2137:
2132:
2127:
2122:
2116:
2114:
2113:Electrothermal
2110:
2109:
2107:
2106:
2101:
2096:
2091:
2085:
2083:
2079:
2078:
2076:
2075:
2074:
2073:
2068:
2063:
2053:
2047:
2045:
2038:
2032:
2031:
2028:
2027:
2025:
2024:
2019:
2014:
2008:
2006:
2002:
2001:
1999:
1998:
1993:
1988:
1986:Expander cycle
1983:
1977:
1975:
1971:
1970:
1968:
1967:
1962:
1957:
1955:Monopropellant
1952:
1951:
1950:
1945:
1934:
1932:
1928:
1927:
1925:
1924:
1919:
1914:
1908:
1906:
1899:
1895:
1894:
1892:
1891:
1886:
1881:
1876:
1871:
1866:
1865:
1864:
1854:
1849:
1844:
1838:
1836:
1832:
1831:
1829:
1828:
1826:Thermal rocket
1823:
1818:
1813:
1812:
1811:
1806:
1796:
1795:
1794:
1789:
1779:
1773:
1771:
1767:
1766:
1759:
1758:
1751:
1744:
1736:
1730:
1729:
1724:
1712:
1707:
1701:
1700:
1699:NASA documents
1696:
1695:
1679:
1678:External links
1676:
1674:
1673:
1648:
1623:
1606:
1604:
1601:
1599:
1598:
1583:
1570:
1547:
1528:
1514:
1482:
1450:
1418:
1386:
1354:
1322:
1300:
1265:
1238:
1206:
1152:
1120:
1106:
1076:
1043:
1004:
968:
936:
910:
880:
844:
822:
800:
774:
737:
705:
679:
621:
606:
583:
555:
553:
550:
549:
548:
543:
538:
533:
527:
526:
522:
521:
516:
511:
506:
500:
499:
495:
494:
489:
482:
479:
459:
456:
447:Charles Bolden
435:
432:
376:
373:
359:
310:
307:
283:
280:
271:
270:VX-10 to VX-50
268:
235:
232:
196:
193:
167:
164:
103:
100:
85:nuclear fusion
58:magnetic field
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
2853:
2842:
2839:
2837:
2834:
2832:
2829:
2827:
2824:
2823:
2821:
2806:
2805:
2796:
2795:
2792:
2786:
2785:Transhumanism
2783:
2781:
2778:
2776:
2773:
2771:
2768:
2764:
2761:
2759:
2756:
2754:
2751:
2749:
2746:
2744:
2741:
2739:
2736:
2735:
2734:
2731:
2729:
2726:
2724:
2721:
2719:
2716:
2712:
2709:
2708:
2707:
2704:
2702:
2699:
2697:
2694:
2690:
2687:
2685:
2682:
2680:
2677:
2675:
2672:
2671:
2670:
2667:
2665:
2662:
2660:
2657:
2655:
2652:
2650:
2647:
2645:
2642:
2641:
2639:
2635:
2621:
2618:
2616:
2613:
2611:
2608:
2607:
2605:
2601:
2595:
2592:
2588:
2585:
2583:
2580:
2579:
2578:
2575:
2573:
2570:
2568:
2565:
2563:
2560:
2558:
2555:
2554:
2552:
2550:
2546:
2540:
2537:
2533:
2530:
2528:
2525:
2523:
2520:
2518:
2515:
2513:
2510:
2508:
2505:
2504:
2503:
2500:
2498:
2497:Fusion rocket
2495:
2494:
2492:
2490:
2486:
2483:
2481:
2480:Space science
2477:
2474:
2470:
2466:
2459:
2454:
2452:
2447:
2445:
2440:
2439:
2436:
2426:
2425:
2420:
2414:
2406:
2403:
2401:
2398:
2397:
2396:
2393:
2391:
2388:
2386:
2383:
2381:
2378:
2376:
2373:
2371:
2368:
2366:
2363:
2361:
2360:Oberth effect
2358:
2356:
2353:
2351:
2348:
2346:
2343:
2341:
2338:
2337:
2335:
2331:
2325:
2322:
2320:
2317:
2316:
2314:
2310:
2298:
2295:
2294:
2293:
2290:
2286:
2283:
2282:
2281:
2280:Fusion rocket
2278:
2276:
2273:
2269:
2266:
2265:
2264:
2261:
2260:
2258:
2254:
2248:
2245:
2241:
2238:
2236:
2233:
2231:
2228:
2226:
2223:
2222:
2221:
2218:
2216:
2213:
2211:
2208:
2207:
2205:
2203:Closed system
2201:
2198:
2196:
2192:
2182:
2179:
2177:
2174:
2172:
2169:
2167:
2164:
2163:
2161:
2157:
2151:
2148:
2146:
2143:
2141:
2138:
2136:
2135:Arcjet rocket
2133:
2131:
2128:
2126:
2123:
2121:
2118:
2117:
2115:
2111:
2105:
2104:Plasma magnet
2102:
2100:
2097:
2095:
2092:
2090:
2087:
2086:
2084:
2080:
2072:
2069:
2067:
2064:
2062:
2059:
2058:
2057:
2054:
2052:
2049:
2048:
2046:
2044:Electrostatic
2042:
2039:
2037:
2033:
2023:
2020:
2018:
2015:
2013:
2010:
2009:
2007:
2003:
1997:
1996:Tap-off cycle
1994:
1992:
1989:
1987:
1984:
1982:
1979:
1978:
1976:
1972:
1966:
1965:Tripropellant
1963:
1961:
1958:
1956:
1953:
1949:
1946:
1944:
1941:
1940:
1939:
1936:
1935:
1933:
1929:
1923:
1920:
1918:
1915:
1913:
1910:
1909:
1907:
1903:
1900:
1896:
1890:
1887:
1885:
1884:Photon rocket
1882:
1880:
1877:
1875:
1874:Magnetic sail
1872:
1870:
1869:Electric sail
1867:
1863:
1860:
1859:
1858:
1855:
1853:
1850:
1848:
1845:
1843:
1840:
1839:
1837:
1833:
1827:
1824:
1822:
1819:
1817:
1814:
1810:
1807:
1805:
1802:
1801:
1800:
1797:
1793:
1792:Reaction mass
1790:
1788:
1785:
1784:
1783:
1782:Rocket engine
1780:
1778:
1775:
1774:
1772:
1768:
1764:
1757:
1752:
1750:
1745:
1743:
1738:
1737:
1734:
1728:
1725:
1723:
1719:
1716:
1713:
1711:
1708:
1706:
1703:
1702:
1698:
1697:
1693:
1689:
1685:
1682:
1681:
1662:
1658:
1657:IEEE Spectrum
1654:
1649:
1637:
1633:
1629:
1624:
1612:
1608:
1607:
1596:
1594:
1587:
1580:
1574:
1558:
1551:
1543:
1539:
1532:
1524:
1518:
1499:
1492:
1486:
1467:
1460:
1454:
1435:
1428:
1422:
1403:
1396:
1390:
1371:
1364:
1358:
1339:
1332:
1326:
1310:
1304:
1285:
1278:
1277:
1269:
1253:
1249:
1242:
1223:
1216:
1210:
1202:
1198:
1193:
1188:
1184:
1180:
1176:
1172:
1168:
1164:
1156:
1137:
1130:
1124:
1109:
1103:
1099:
1095:
1091:
1087:
1080:
1061:
1054:
1047:
1028:
1024:
1017:
1011:
1009:
989:
982:
975:
973:
953:
946:
940:
924:
920:
914:
907:
894:
890:
884:
865:
858:
851:
849:
837:September 29,
833:
826:
811:
804:
785:
784:VASIMR Engine
778:
759:
755:
748:
741:
725:
721:
714:
712:
710:
694:
690:
683:
664:
660:
656:
652:
648:
641:
640:
632:
630:
628:
626:
617:
610:
594:
587:
571:
567:
560:
556:
547:
544:
542:
539:
537:
534:
532:
529:
528:
524:
523:
520:
517:
515:
512:
510:
507:
505:
502:
501:
497:
496:
493:
490:
488:
485:
484:
478:
476:
472:
468:
463:
455:
451:
448:
444:
439:
431:
416:
414:
410:
406:
402:
397:
384:
382:
372:
370:
362:
358:
352:
349:
344:
342:
337:
331:
329:
324:
315:
306:
304:
301:
297:
291:
279:
277:
267:
265:
261:
257:
253:
249:
244:
241:
231:
229:
225:
224:magnetosphere
221:
217:
213:
208:
206:
195:Disadvantages
192:
188:
185:
181:
177:
173:
163:
159:
157:
151:
149:
145:
141:
137:
132:
130:
126:
125:arcjet rocket
122:
118:
108:
99:
97:
93:
90:
86:
82:
77:
75:
71:
67:
64:, generating
63:
59:
55:
52:
48:
44:
40:
36:
32:
23:
19:
2802:
2689:Robot ethics
2586:
2562:Ion thruster
2532:Space tether
2512:Orbital ring
2422:
2365:Space launch
2297:Fission sail
2225:Radioisotope
2149:
2056:Ion thruster
1974:Power cycles
1960:Bipropellant
1852:Steam rocket
1847:Water rocket
1687:
1667:February 27,
1665:. Retrieved
1661:the original
1656:
1642:February 27,
1640:. Retrieved
1636:the original
1631:
1615:. Retrieved
1592:
1586:
1573:
1563:February 27,
1561:. Retrieved
1550:
1541:
1537:
1531:
1517:
1505:. Retrieved
1485:
1473:. Retrieved
1453:
1441:. Retrieved
1421:
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2684:Neuroethics
2679:Cyberethics
2507:Mass driver
2380:Aerocapture
2375:Aerobraking
2256:Open system
2240:"Lightbulb"
2181:Mass driver
1931:Propellants
1862:Diffractive
1617:January 18,
1544:(6): 20–23.
1036:February 7,
899:February 8,
767:February 7,
698:February 7,
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2820:Categories
2644:Automation
2594:Solar sail
2549:Propulsion
2400:Warp drive
2230:Salt-water
1948:Hypergolic
1857:Solar sail
1258:January 4,
1192:10197/8477
552:References
228:quadrupole
212:waste heat
166:Advantages
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2674:Bioethics
1943:Cryogenic
1686:(Video).
1411:August 9,
1201:137329155
593:"History"
184:cyclotron
144:frequency
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1770:Concepts
1718:Archived
1577:Video: "
1507:July 24,
1498:Archived
1475:July 15,
1466:Archived
1443:July 24,
1434:Archived
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1370:Archived
1347:July 24,
1315:July 24,
1252:Archived
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929:April 2,
815:June 24,
793:April 2,
566:"VASIMR"
481:See also
475:kilogram
467:megawatt
381:VX-200SS
375:VX-200SS
2517:Skyhook
2324:Tethers
2176:MagBeam
2061:Gridded
1816:Staging
1809:Delta-v
1692:Science
1590:Video:
1293:May 14,
1171:Bibcode
647:Bibcode
599:July 9,
576:July 9,
363:of 5000
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2669:Ethics
2637:Topics
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2472:Fields
2150:VASIMR
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2603:Other
2159:Other
1905:State
1688:Brink
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471:watts
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348:tesla
328:argon
220:tesla
140:xenon
136:argon
51:inert
2804:List
1889:WINE
1669:2010
1644:2010
1619:2008
1565:2010
1509:2021
1477:2021
1445:2021
1413:2017
1381:2021
1349:2021
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1233:2012
1147:2010
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1102:ISBN
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674:2010
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