"Full power to main engines..."

[unixronin]

Ad Astra test-fired their VASIMR engine at full power on October 2.  Ad Astra announcement page here, video here.  At full power, VASIMR consumes 200kW of power, generates magnetic fields of 2 Tesla in its core, produces about a pound of thrust ... and looks stunning.  A pound of thrust doesn't sound like much, but it'll take a two-ton payload from Earth orbit to Jupiter in 19 months.

Comments

[lebo-superman.livejournal.com]

Am I the only one who realizes that this kicks open the gate for manned exploration of the entire solar system? Damn! I want to go!

[perspicuity.livejournal.com]

we can hook a few of those up to the poles of our planet, and feed it with hot wind from DC, and we'll be going places :)

#

[lebo-superman.livejournal.com]

We could do that just with the hot wind from DC, if we could get it all going in the same direction! *lol*

[unixronin.livejournal.com]

The outer planets would still be infeasibly long trips. (The problem is radiation exposure.) But once they get the VASIMR technology a little more mature, Mars and the inner Belt are within reach.

[attutle.livejournal.com]

Looks like they only ran the thing for 3+ seconds. They've probably got a ways to go before they can leave it running at full power for 19 months.

Still, way cool.

[unixronin.livejournal.com]

Yup, it was a short burn. But it at least proves it'll run at full rated power without immediately exploding.