VASIMR to ISS....

[docm]

Flight Global has posted an article confirming what rumors had NASA's Griffin saying at Oshkosh. Presumably this would be the VF-200 flight capable 200kw unit.&nbsp; It's testbed twin, VX-200, is being tested now.<br /> <br /> Link....<br /> <br /> <div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom:2px">Quote:</div> <strong>NASA to test plasma engine on space station</strong><br /> <br /> By Rob Coppinger<br /> <br /> NASA expects to sign an agreement to test a new propulsion system on the International Space Station, according to the US space agency's administrator Michael Griffin.<br /> <br /> At the AirVenture show in Oshkosh on 29 July, Griffin was asked about the status of NASA's advanced space propulsion research. His reply referred to the Variable Specific Impulse Magnetoplasma Rocket (Vasimir).<br /> <br /> The Vasimir involves the injection of a gas such as hydrogen into an engine that turns it into a plasma. That plasma is then energised further using radio signals as it flows through the engine, a process controlled by electromagnetic waves from superconducting magnets. Accelerated and heated through this process the plasma is focused and directed as exhaust by a magnetic nozzle. Vasimir is many times more efficient than conventional chemical rockets and far less fuel is needed.<br /> <br /> Griffin says that the next step for the Vasimir is to operate it in space and that "we are at the end stages of agreeing a co-operative agreement for NASA to test the Vasimir engine on station".<br /> <br /> The Vasimir engine taken to the ISS would be a scale-model test engine. Griffin says he does not know whether that scale-model engine would be launched by a Space Shuttle and would not give a timescale for Vasimir's possible deployment to the ISS.<br /> <br /> The agency signed an agreement in 2006 to co-operate on Vasimir with the Texas based-Ad Astra Rocket corporation. Vasimir was originally conceived by Ad Astra Rocket chief executive and former NASA astronaut Franklin Chang-Diaz. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[vogon13]

<p>From the article: </p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The Vasimir involves the injection of a gas such as hydrogen into an engine that turns it into a plasma. That plasma is then energised further using radio signals as it flows through the engine, a process controlled by electromagnetic waves from superconducting magnets. Accelerated and heated through this process the plasma is focused and directed as exhaust by a magnetic nozzle. Vasimir is many times more efficient than conventional chemical rockets and far less fuel is needed.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Vasimir <strong>MAY </strong>be more efficient.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>That is why they are testing, IIRC, for the first time.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>There is a theoretical possiblity the exhaust plume will curve back and contact the vehicle and negate the desired acceleration effect.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>I HOPE it works.&nbsp; But I need to see the test results, first.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#ff0000"><strong>TPTB went to Dallas and all I got was Plucked !!</strong></font></p><p><font color="#339966"><strong>So many people, so few recipes !!</strong></font></p><p><font color="#0000ff"><strong>Let's clean up this stinkhole !!</strong></font> </p> </div>

 

[thor06]

<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>Flight Global has posted an article confirming what rumors had NASA's Griffin saying at Oshkosh. Presumably this would be the VF-200 flight capable 200kw unit.&nbsp; It's testbed twin, VX-200, is being tested now. Link.... Quote: NASA to test plasma engine on space station By Rob Coppinger NASA expects to sign an agreement to test a new propulsion system on the International Space Station, according to the US space agency's administrator Michael Griffin. At the AirVenture show in Oshkosh on 29 July, Griffin was asked about the status of NASA's advanced space propulsion research. His reply referred to the Variable Specific Impulse Magnetoplasma Rocket (Vasimir). The Vasimir involves the injection of a gas such as hydrogen into an engine that turns it into a plasma. That plasma is then energised further using radio signals as it flows through the engine, a process controlled by electromagnetic waves from superconducting magnets. Accelerated and heated through this process the plasma is focused and directed as exhaust by a magnetic nozzle. Vasimir is many times more efficient than conventional chemical rockets and far less fuel is needed. Griffin says that the next step for the Vasimir is to operate it in space and that "we are at the end stages of agreeing a co-operative agreement for NASA to test the Vasimir engine on station". The Vasimir engine taken to the ISS would be a scale-model test engine. Griffin says he does not know whether that scale-model engine would be launched by a Space Shuttle and would not give a timescale for Vasimir's possible deployment to the ISS. The agency signed an agreement in 2006 to co-operate on Vasimir with the Texas based-Ad Astra Rocket corporation. Vasimir was originally conceived by Ad Astra Rocket chief executive and former NASA astronaut Franklin Chang-Diaz. <br /> Posted by docm</DIV></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Hi docm,</p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I actually learned about this through you tube.&nbsp; Specifically Ben Longmier who works for AdAstra.&nbsp; His channel is interesting for many reasons, but these videos are exactly what your talking about. &nbsp;</p><p><strong>&nbsp;the engine:</strong></p><p>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVsgSjm_vXg</p><p><strong>The moon design promo:</strong></p><p>&nbsp;http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXofYP_VfUg</p><p><strong>Vasimir Mars mission:</strong></p><p>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zj53rVWK5z0</p><p>Really neat stuff, thanks for the thread.&nbsp;</p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p> <font color="#0000ff">                           www.watchnasatv.com</font></p><p>                          ONE PERCENT FOR NASA! </p> </div>

 

[docm]

<p>Discovery Channel story.....</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[shuttle_guy]

<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>From the article: &nbsp;The Vasimir involves the injection of a gas such as hydrogen into an engine that turns it into a plasma. That plasma is then energised further using radio signals as it flows through the engine, a process controlled by electromagnetic waves from superconducting magnets. Accelerated and heated through this process the plasma is focused and directed as exhaust by a magnetic nozzle. Vasimir is many times more efficient than conventional chemical rockets and far less fuel is needed.&nbsp;&nbsp;Vasimir MAY be more efficient.&nbsp;That is why they are testing, IIRC, for the first time.&nbsp;There is a theoretical possiblity the exhaust plume will curve back and contact the vehicle and negate the desired acceleration effect.&nbsp;I HOPE it works.&nbsp; But I need to see the test results, first.&nbsp;&nbsp; <br />Posted by vogon13</DIV></p><p>The VASIMiR engines have be tested many times in vacuum chambers on Earth. Their performance is proven.&nbsp;The flight type engine is being built now.<br /></p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>