VASIMR: The Future of Spaceflight, help Kickstart the documentary

[FactMan]

VASIMR

 

 

There are many methods implemented with current technology for spacecraft propulsion, developed decades ago or developed recently. Among them are solid fuel rockets and liquid fuel rockets, for example. There are also many methods that are currently in development, some of them related to nuclear technology and some other related to electro magnetics.

 

Among the electro magnetic technologies being currently in development, there's the VASIMR. It stands for Variable Specific Impulse Magnetoplasma Rocket. Its Wikipedia page states the following:

 

The VASIMR is an electro-magnetic thruster for spacecraft propulsion. It uses radio waves to ionize and heat a propellant, and magnetic fields to accelerate the resulting plasma to generate thrust. It is one of several types of spacecraft electric propulsion systems.

The method of heating plasma used in VASIMR was originally developed as a result of research into nuclear fusion. VASIMR is intended to bridge the gap between high-thrust, low-specific impulse propulsion systems and low-thrust, high-specific impulse systems. VASIMR is capable of functioning in either mode.

The VASIMR is intended to achieve several advantages over current chemical rocket designs, including lunar cargo transport, in-space refueling, and ultra-high speeds for distant space missions.

 

 

The VASIMR is being in research and development by Ad Astra Rocket Company (AARC), a company based in Houston, USA and in Liberia, Costa Rica.

 

If some of you don't remember from high school, or have yet to finish high school, Plasma is one of the four fundamental states of matter (the others being solid, liquid, and gas). For more, you can go to the wiki page.

 

So, how does this propulsion system work?

 

Let the company's CEO, Dr. Franklin Chang Díaz explain:

 

 

AARC is looking to make a documentary on its technology through Kickstarter.

 

Kickstarter is a funding platform whose goal is to help creative projects get the funding they require for their completion; everybody can donate $1, or $100, or $1000 to help a dream come true. AARC is looking for people like you and me to help fund the documentary that will help us understand wtf is this all about!

 

Here's the link to the official Kickstart campaign:

 

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/821885354/animating-vasimr-the-future-of-spaceflight

 

Help kickstart it! Let's be part of an educational project for once. Deadline is August 12, it's all or nothing. The goal is $46 000. So far they've made $11 000.

 

Sources:

http://www.kickstarter.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vasimr

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ad_Astra_Rocket_Company

 

Note: Image posted above used for illustration purposes. Taken from the Kickstart campaign page.

[FactMan]

There are still 8 days left to participate. http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/821885354/animating-vasimr-the-future-of-spaceflight