VASMIR Space Engine

[jyl]

I initially thought this was hooey, but the bit about the engines being tested on the ISS was interesting.

Fantastic VASIMR Starship Engine Will Take Astronauts to Mars in Only 39 Days : Tech : Yibada

Is it hooey?

The VASIMR Hoax - The Mars Society

Is it real?

The Space Review: VASIMR: hope or hype for Mars exploration?

Is it just an electrically power retro-thruster that needs big solar panels to deliver small thrust?

The Revolutionary Rocket That Could Shuttle Humans to Mars | DiscoverMagazine.com

[beepbeep]

I have been following it for a while. Nothing hoax-y about it. Think of it as an ion-thruster on steroids, with RF added. But it needs a lot of power. Last time I checked it they worked on 100kW design, kinda north of what solar-panel could supply. But much bigger thrust and good ISP too. (100kW is nothing a small reactor couldn't fix though...)

The Mars Society article does sound fishy though. " couple of astronauts received 50REM dose (1% chance of cancer), and they didn't get cancer, so we don't need VASIMR and fast transit to MArs" is just one of interesting "proofs".

[Don Plumley]

I've met Franklin Chang-Diaz both he and Ad Astra (his company that makes the VASMIR) are the real deal. Strong political forces from folks that make traditional propulsion...

"Has anyone met an Astronaut" thread:

I spent time with and did some consulting work for Franklin Chang-Diaz. His life story is amazing. He told me a bit about what it was like to do EVA/Spacewalks (your feet get cold strapped to the remote arm). The most compelling thing he told me about being in space and looking down at the earth is that he felt he was the wrong person to be there. He said that poets, artists, writers should be there, that they had the ability to absorb the absolute wonder of it and share that experience with the world. I still get choked up typing that.

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by beepbeep

I have been following it for a while. Nothing hoax-y about it. Think of it as an ion-thruster on steroids, with RF added. But it needs a lot of power. Last time I checked it they worked on 100kW design, kinda north of what solar-panel could supply. But much bigger thrust and good ISP too. (100kW is nothing a small reactor couldn't fix though...)

The Mars Society article does sound fishy though. " couple of astronauts received 50REM dose (1% chance of cancer), and they didn't get cancer, so we don't need VASIMR and fast transit to MArs" is just one of interesting "proofs".

The Mars society articles are 5+ years old. As far as fission nuclear reactors, Gen 4 gas cooled reactors could be made very light for the power produced. With a "standard" uranium load, 200 MW could be produced easily for 10 years without refueling.

I would like to also see a conventional design. Maybe as a "test", use an unmanned unit with a "backup" convention propulsion system good for a return only and put it in orbit around Mars first. This gives us a way home.

Long term, these ion propulsion drives are the only way to go. Hopefully with multiple "engine" capability, since crap breaks.

[jyl]

I have not read much about the realties of a manned Mars mission. How long it would take, what the technology would be, how long they could stay on Mars, how they would get back, etc. Anyone have a link or two for reading?

[Scott R]

Originally Posted by jyl

I have not read much about the realties of a manned Mars mission. How long it would take, what the technology would be, how long they could stay on Mars, how they would get back, etc. Anyone have a link or two for reading?

The people that are being selected currently are not planning on returning.

These People Want to Go to Mars (and Never Come Back) | Mars One

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by jyl

I have not read much about the realties of a manned Mars mission. How long it would take, what the technology would be, how long they could stay on Mars, how they would get back, etc. Anyone have a link or two for reading?

Here are some of the proposed missions.

Human mission to Mars - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

List of manned Mars mission plans in the 20th century - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[red-beard]

Here is the official NASA plan

Moon and Mars

[Aragorn]

Franklin Chang-Diaz was on one of the space exploration shows (may have been The Universe) talking about the future of space propulsion. The show made it seem like this form of engine was right around the corner.

As far as current trips to Mars, I remember this from a few years ago:
Inspiration Mars

2018 Alignment with Mars for optimal window for arrival and return.

Shielding for craft of today:
Mars mission couple have to coat spacecraft walls with their own POO to protect from cosmic rays | Daily Mail Online

Shielding for craft of the future:
Scientists Designing “Ion Shield” To Protect Astronauts From Solar Wind

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by red-beard

The Mars society articles are 5+ years old. As far as fission nuclear reactors, Gen 4 gas cooled reactors could be made very light for the power produced.

How do they get rid of waste heat? It seems that it would have to be done radiantly. How do they accomplish that?

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

How do they get rid of waste heat? It seems that it would have to be done radiantly. How do they accomplish that?

Blackbody radiators - I have a patent in process on this.

[Don Plumley]

Ad Astra Rocket Company has been selected by NASA as one of the winners of the space agency’s Next Space Technologies for Exploration Partnerships (NextSTEP)...

Ad Astra’s winning proposal was one of three selected in the field of advanced electric propulsion. Under this work, valued at approximately $10 million over three years, the partnership will advance the VASIMR® engine to a technology readiness level (TRL) greater than 5 – a step closer to spaceflight – with a demonstration of the VX-200-SS™ laboratory prototype, a fully integrated system capable of operating at high power continuously for a minimum of 100 hours.

In addition to the Mars mission, one of the potential uses is to help keep the ISS in stable orbit. Today, they have to haul up fuel for short duration burns to lift the station out of the naturally decaying orbit. This puts the station under stress during the burn - something an Ion engine would do constantly and gently.