A new breakthrough in space propulsion technology could one day power spacecrafts to reach Mars in just 39 days, instead of the gruelling six months it takes to reach the Red Planet. Scientists have tested a powerful new ion engine that works with plasma at temperatures close to the interior of the Sun.
On Wednesday, Ad Astra, a US-based corporation ran its VX-200 engine with a superconducting magnet, which helps the engine process large amounts of plasma power. The company’s founder Chang Diaz claims that the engine is the most powerful plasma rocket in the world, and that it could transport payloads in space far more efficiently and economically than today’s chemical rockets.
The company had signed an agreement on Wednesday to commence testing the VASIMR (Variable Specific Impulse Magnetoplasma Rocket) engine in 2013 on the International Space Station (ISS). The 200 kilowatt ion engine could by used by NASA to maintain the ISS’s altitude and orbit.
Conventional thrusters aboard the ISS consume 7.5 tonnes of fuel ever year, Chang said that the VASIMR rocket would require only 0.3 tonnes of fuel, saving millions of dollars in operational costs.
100 TIMES MORE POWERFUL
While chemical rockets are effective in giving the initial thrust to push the rocket off the Earth’s surface, trip times and payload mass are major limitations of conventional rockets.
Ion engines provide much less thrust, but once in space, they can give a continuous push for years, accelerating gradually, eventually moving faster than normal rockets.
VASIMR works something like a steam engine, with the first stage performing a duty analogous to boiling water to create steam. In the second phase, it uses a radio frequency generator to reach power levels a hundred times as higher than conventional ion engines.
“Preliminary data indications point to operation well within the design specifications.” said Dr Jared P Squire, leader of the experimental team conducting the tests. The company envisions the technology to reduce maintenance costs of space stations, satellites, lunar outposts and fuel depots. The engines could also reduce transit times for robotic and human missions to Mars and beyond.
AS HOT AS THE SUN
The VASIMR engine works with plasma, electrically charged fluids that can be heated to temperatures close to the interior of the Sun. Plasmas can be controlled and guided by strong magnetic fields, which can be used to insulate the structure. Temperatures well beyond the melting point of materials can be achieved while maintaining safely of the aircraft.
On Wednesday, Ad Astra, a US-based corporation ran its VX-200 engine with a superconducting magnet, which helps the engine process large amounts of plasma power. The company’s founder Chang Diaz claims that the engine is the most powerful plasma rocket in the world, and that it could transport payloads in space far more efficiently and economically than today’s chemical rockets.
The company had signed an agreement on Wednesday to commence testing the VASIMR (Variable Specific Impulse Magnetoplasma Rocket) engine in 2013 on the International Space Station (ISS). The 200 kilowatt ion engine could by used by NASA to maintain the ISS’s altitude and orbit.
Conventional thrusters aboard the ISS consume 7.5 tonnes of fuel ever year, Chang said that the VASIMR rocket would require only 0.3 tonnes of fuel, saving millions of dollars in operational costs.
100 TIMES MORE POWERFUL
While chemical rockets are effective in giving the initial thrust to push the rocket off the Earth’s surface, trip times and payload mass are major limitations of conventional rockets.
Ion engines provide much less thrust, but once in space, they can give a continuous push for years, accelerating gradually, eventually moving faster than normal rockets.
VASIMR works something like a steam engine, with the first stage performing a duty analogous to boiling water to create steam. In the second phase, it uses a radio frequency generator to reach power levels a hundred times as higher than conventional ion engines.
“Preliminary data indications point to operation well within the design specifications.” said Dr Jared P Squire, leader of the experimental team conducting the tests. The company envisions the technology to reduce maintenance costs of space stations, satellites, lunar outposts and fuel depots. The engines could also reduce transit times for robotic and human missions to Mars and beyond.
AS HOT AS THE SUN
The VASIMR engine works with plasma, electrically charged fluids that can be heated to temperatures close to the interior of the Sun. Plasmas can be controlled and guided by strong magnetic fields, which can be used to insulate the structure. Temperatures well beyond the melting point of materials can be achieved while maintaining safely of the aircraft.
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