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The Variable Specific Impulse Magnetoplasma Rocket (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, highspecific impulse systems. VASIMR is capable of functioning in either mode. Costa Rican scientist and former astronaut Franklin Chang Daz created the VASIMR concept and has been working on its development since 1977.[1]
VASIMR are manufactured by the Ad Astra Rocket Company headquartered in the city of Houston, Texas, United States.[2]
Contents
1 Design and operation 1.1 Benefits and drawbacks of design 2 Research and development 2.1 Development of the 200 kW engine 2.2 Testing on the space station 2.2.1 VF-200 2.2.2 NASA partnership 3 Potential future applications 3.1 Use as a space tug or orbital transfer vehicle 4 Criticisms of VASIMR 5 See also 6 References 7 Further reading 8 External links
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The Variable Specific Impulse Magnetoplasma Rocket, sometimes referred to as the Electro-thermal Plasma Thruster or Electro-thermal Magnetoplasma Rocket, uses radio waves[3] to ionize and heat propellant, which generates plasma that is accelerated using magnetic fields to generate thrust. This type of engine is electrodeless and as such belongs to the same electric propulsion family (while differing in the method of plasma acceleration) as the electrodeless plasma thruster, the microwave arcjet, or the pulsed inductive thruster class. It can also be seen as an electrodeless version of an arcjet, able to reach higher propellant temperature by limiting the heat flux from the plasma to the structure. Neither type of engine has any electrodes. This is advantageous in that it eliminates problems with electrode erosion that cause rival designs of ion thrusters to have a short life expectancy. Furthermore, since every part of a VASIMR engine is magnetically shielded and VASIMR schematic does not come into direct contact with plasma, the potential durability of this engine design is greater than other ion/plasma engine designs.[1] VASIMR can be most basically thought of as a convergent-divergent nozzle for ions and electrons. The propellant (a neutral gas such as argon or xenon) is first injected into a hollow cylinder surfaced with electromagnets. Upon entry into the engine, the gas is first heated to a cold plasma by a helicon RF antenna (also known as a coupler) which bombards the gas with electromagnetic waves, stripping electrons off of the Argon or Xenon atoms and leaving plasma consisting of ions and loose electrons to continue down the engine compartment. By varying the amount of energy dedicated to RF heating and the amount of propellant delivered for plasma generation VASIMR is capable of either generating low-thrust, highspecific impulse exhaust or relatively high-thrust, lowspecific impulse exhaust.[4] The second phase is a strong electromagnet positioned to compress the ionized plasma in a similar fashion of a convergent-divergent nozzle which compresses gas in traditional rocket engines. A second coupler, known as the Ion Cyclotron Heating (ICH) section, emits electromagnetic waves in resonance with the orbits of ions and electrons as they travel through the engine. Resonance of the waves and plasma is achieved through a reduction of the magnetic field in this portion of the engine which slows down the orbital motion of the plasma particles. This section further heats the plasma to temperatures upwards of 1,000,000 Kelvin200 times the temperature of the Suns surface. Motion of ions and electrons through the engine can be approximated by lines parallel to the engine walls; however, the particles actually orbit those lines at the same time that they are traveling linearly through the engine. The final, diverging section of the engine, contains a steadily expanding magnetic field which forces the ions and electrons into steadily lengthening spiral orbits in order to eject from the engine parallel and opposite to the direction of motion at speeds of up to 50,000 m/s, propelling the rocket forward through space.[4][5]
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VASIMR does not use electrodes; instead it magnetically shields plasma from most of the hardware parts, thus eliminating electrode erosiona major source of wear and tear[citation needed ] in ion engines. Compared to traditional rocket engines with very complex plumbing, high performance valves, actuators and turbopumps, VASIMR eliminates practically all moving parts from its design (apart from minor ones, like gas valves), maximizing its long term durability.[citation needed ] However, some new problems emerge, like interaction with strong magnetic fields and thermal management. The relatively large power at which VASIMR operates generates a lot of waste heat, which needs to be channeled away without creating thermal overload and undue thermal stress on materials used. Powerful superconducting electromagnets, employed to contain hot plasma, generate tesla-range magnetic fields.[6] They can present problems with other on board devices and also can produce unwanted torque by interacting with the magnetosphere. To counter this latter effect, the VF-200 will consist of two 100 kW thruster units packaged together, with the magnetic field of each thruster oriented in opposite directions in order to make a zero-torque magnetic quadrupole.[7]
In 1998, the first helicon plasma experiment was performed at the ASPL. The decision was made regarding the official name of VASIMR and VASIMR experiment (VX). VX-10 in 1998 ran up to 10 kW helicon discharge, VX-25 in 2002 ran up to 25 kW and VX-50up to 50 kW of RF plasma discharge. In March, 2000, the VASIMR group was given a Rotary National Award for Space Achievement / Stellar Award. By 2005 major breakthroughs were obtained at the ASPL including full and efficient plasma production, and acceleration of the plasma ions in the second stage of the rocket. The VASIMR engine model VX-50 proved to be capable of 0.5 newtons (0.1 lbf) thrust.[8] Published data on the VX-50 engine, capable of processing 50 kW of total radio frequency power, showed ICRF (second stage) efficiency to be 59% calculated as: 90% NA coupling efficiency 65% NB ion speed boosting efficiency. It was hoped that the overall efficiency of the engine could be increased by scaling up power levels.[8] Ad Astra Rocket Company (AARC) was incorporated in Delaware on January 14, 2005. On June 23, 2005, Ad Astra and NASA signed first Space Act Agreement to privatize the VASIMR Technology.[9] On July 8, 2005, Franklin Chang Daz retired from NASA after 25 years of service. Ad Astras Board of Directors was formed and Dr. Chang Daz took the helm as Chairman and CEO on July 15, 2005. In July 2006 AARC opened the Costa Rica subsidiary in the city of Liberia at the campus of Earth University. In December 2006, AARC-Costa Rica performed first plasma experiment on the VX-CR device utilizing helicon ionization of argon.
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100 kW VASIMR experiment was successively running in 2007 and demonstrated efficient plasma production with an ionization cost below 100 eV. VX-100 plasma output is tripled over the prior record of the VX-50. In the same year, AARC moved out from NASA facility to its own building in Webster, TX. Model VX-100 was expected to have the NB ion speed boosting efficiency of 80%.[10][11] There were, however, additional (smaller) efficiency losses related to the conversion of DC electric current to radio frequency power and also to the superconducting magnets' auxiliary equipment energy consumption. By comparison, 2009 state-of-the-art, proven ion engine designs such as NASA's HiPEP operated at 80% total thruster/PPU energy efficiency.[12]
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On December 8, 2008, Ad Astra signed an agreement with NASA to arrange the placement and testing of a flight version of the VASIMR, the VF-200, on the International Space Station (ISS).[19] As of June 2012, its launch is anticipated to be in 2015,[20] the Antares rocket has been reported as the "top contender" for the launch vehicle.[21] Since the available power from the ISS is less than 200 kW, the ISS VASIMR will include a trickle-charged battery system allowing for 15 min pulses of thrust. Testing of the engine on ISS is valuable because it orbits at a relatively low altitude and experiences fairly high levels of atmospheric drag, making periodic boosts of altitude necessary. Currently, altitude reboosting by chemical rockets fulfills this requirement. The VASIMR test on the ISS may lead to a capability of maintaining the ISS or a similar space station in a stable orbit at 1/20th of the approximately $210 million/year present estimated cost.[9] VF-200 The VF-200 flight-rated thruster consists of two 100 kW VASIMR units with opposite magnetic dipoles so that no net rotational torque is applied to the space station when the thrusters are firing. The VF-200-1 is the first flight unit and will be tested in space attached to the ISS.[7] NASA partnership In June 2005, Ad Astra signed its first Space Act Agreement with NASA which led to the development of the VASIMR engine. In December 10, 2007, AARC and NASA signed an Umbrella Space Act Agreement relating to the space agencys potential interest in the VASIMR, providing a framework for collaboration between the parties, setting out the general conditions governing aspects of their ongoing relationship.[22] In December 8, 2008, NASA and AARC entered into a Space Act Agreement that could lead to conducting a space flight test of the VASIMR on the ISS.[23] In March 2, 2011, Ad Astra and NASA Johnson Space Center have signed a Support Agreement to collaborate on research, analysis and development tasks on spacebased cryogenic magnet operations and electric propulsion systems currently under development by Ad Astra.[24] As of February 2011, NASA had 100 people assigned to the project to work with Ad Astra to integrate the VF-200 onto the space station.[21]
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In August 2008, Tim Glover, Ad Astra director of development, publicly stated that the first expected application of VASIMR engine is "hauling things [non-human cargo] from low-Earth orbit to low-lunar orbit" supporting NASA's return to Moon efforts.[26]
Criticisms of VASIMR
Robert Zubrin is critical of the VASIMR claiming that it is less efficient than other electric thrusters which are now operational. Zubrin also believes that electric propulsion is not necessary to get to Mars and therefore budgets should not be assigned to develop it. His second point of criticism concentrates on the lack of a suitable power source.[29] Ad Astra subsequently responded to the criticism.[30]
See also
Comparison of orbital rocket engines Electrodeless plasma thruster Helicon Double Layer Thruster Magnetoplasmadynamic thruster Ion thruster Pulsed plasma thruster Solar panels on spacecraft Spacecraft propulsion List of plasma (physics) articles Nano-particle field extraction thruster
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References
1. ^ a b Billings, Lee (September 29, 2009). "A Rocket for the 21st Century" (http://seedmagazine.com/content/article/a_rocket_for_the_21st_century/). Seed. Retrieved September 30, 2009. 2. ^ "About us" (http://www.adastrarocket.com/aarc/AboutUs). Ad Astra Rocket Company. Retrieved July 29, 2013. 3. ^ Noelle Stapinsky (May 13, 2010). Nautels space oddity (RF generator for Ad Astra) (http://www.canadianmanufacturing.com/plant/features/industry/article.jsp?content=20100513_153743_3324). Canadian Manufacturing 4. ^ a b c Tim W. Glover, et al. (February 1317, 2005). "Principal VASIMR Results and Present Objectives" (http://www.adastrarocket.com/TimSTAIF2005.pdf). Space Technology and Applications International Forum. Retrieved February 27, 2010. 5. ^ Ad Astra Rocket Company (2009). "Technology" (http://www.adastrarocket.com/aarc/Technology). Ad Astra Rocket Company. Retrieved December 10, 2012. 6. ^ a b Jared P. Squire, et al. (September 56, 2008). "VASIMR Performance Measurements at Powers Exceeding 50 kW and Lunar Robotic Mission Applications" (http://www.adastrarocket.com/ISGLP_JPSquire2008.pdf). International Interdisciplinary Symposium on Gaseous and Liquid Plasmas. Retrieved February 27, 2010. 7. ^ a b "International Space Station Mission" (http://www.adastrarocket.com/aarc/VASIMRISS). Ad Astra Rocket Company. 2011. Retrieved February 8, 2011. "The VX-200 will provide the critical data set to build the VF-200-1, the first flight unit, to be tested in space aboard the International Space Station (ISS). It will consist of two 100 kW units with opposite magnetic dipoles, resulting in a zero-torque magnetic system. The electrical energy will come from ISS at low power level, be stored in batteries and used to fire the engine at 200 kW." 8. ^ a b "High Power VASIMR Experiments using Deuterium, Neon and Argon" (http://www.adastrarocket.com/Jared_IEPC07.pdf). IEPC-2007. September 20, 2007. Retrieved May 16, 2012. 9. ^ a b "Executive summary" (http://www.adastrarocket.com/EXECUTIVE%20SUMMARY240110.pdf). Ad Astra Rocket Company. January 24, 2010. Retrieved February 27, 2010. 10. ^ Bering, Edgar A; et al (January 912, 2006). "Recent Improvements In Ionization Costs And Ion Cyclotron Heating Efficiency In The VASIMR Engine" (http://www.adastrarocket.com/AIAA2006.pdf). AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting and Exhibit. Retrieved February 27, 2010. 11. ^ Squire, Jared P; et al (September 1720, 2007). "High Power VASIMR Experiments using Deuterium, Neon and Argon" (http://www.adastrarocket.com/Jared_IEPC07.pdf). International Electric Propulsion Conference. Retrieved February 27, 2010. 12. ^ Elliott, Frederick W; et al. (July 1114, 2004). "An Overview of the High Power Electric Propulsion (HiPEP) Project" (ftp://ftp.grc.nasa.gov/users/ep/ion/publications/2004/onsite/aiaa-2004-3453.pdf). AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference & Exhibit. Retrieved February 27, 2010. 13. ^ "VASIMR VX-200 first stage achieves full power rating" (http://www.adastrarocket.com/Release241008.pdf) (Press release). Ad Astra Rocket Company. October 24, 2008. Retrieved February 27, 2010. 14. ^ de Faoite, Daith; Browne, David J; Chang-Daz, Franklin R; Stanton, Kenneth T (November 17, 2011). "A review of the processing, composition, and temperature-dependent mechanical and thermal properties of dielectric technical ceramics" (http://www.springer.com/home?SGWID=0-0-1003-00&aqId=2116767&download=1&checkval=b54e5cb930dc6f82d70550d158d889d7). Journal of Materials Science (Springer Netherlands). Bibcode:2012JMatS..47.4211F (http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2012JMatS..47.4211F). doi:10.1007/s10853-011-6140-1 (http://dx.doi.org/10.1007%2Fs10853-011-6140-1). 15. ^ "VASIMR VX-200 reaches 200 kW power milestone" (http://www.adastrarocket.com/Release_200kW_01Oct2009Final.pdf) (Press release). Ad Astra Rocket Company. September 30, 2011. Retrieved February 24, 2012. 16. ^ Benwl (December 15, 2010). "Video of VASIMR VX-200 firing for 25 seconds at full power rating." (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRS26DcQhq0). Ad Astra Rocket Company. Retrieved January 4, 2011. 17. ^ Longmier, Benjamin. "VASIMR VX-200 Performance Measurements and Helicon Throttle Tables Using Argon and Krypton" (http://www.adastrarocket.com/Ben_IEPC11-156.pdf). IEPC-2011.
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18. ^ Glover, Tim (January 19, 2011). "VASIMR VX-200 Performance and Near-term SEP Capability for Unmanned Mars Flight" (http://spirit.as.utexas.edu/~fiso/telecon/Glover_1-19-11/Glover_1-19-11.pdf). UTexas.edu. Retrieved January 31, 2011. 19. ^ Trinidad, Katherine (December 17, 2008). "NASA Administrator Hails Agreement with Ad Astra" (http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2008/dec/HQ_08-332_VASMIR_engine.html) (Press release). NASA.gov. Retrieved February 24, 2012. 20. ^ Carreau, Mark (2012-06-06). "Ad Astra Eyes SpaceX Commercial Model For Deep Space" (http://www.aviationnow.com/Article.aspx?id=/article-xml/awx_06_06_2012_p0-465042.xml). Aviation week. Retrieved 7 June 2012. 21. ^ a b Lindsay, Clark S. (February 7, 2011). "Briefs: Japan & commercial crew; VASIMR on ISS update; Delta IV Heavy liftoff flames" (http://web.archive.org/web/20111102152209/http://www.hobbyspace.com/nucleus/index.php?itemid=27038). HobbySpace.com. Archived from the original (http://www.hobbyspace.com/nucleus/index.php?itemid=27038) on November 2, 2011. Retrieved February 8, 2011. "About 100 NASA people are now working with AAR on the project. AAR is negotiating with NASA for a launcher and the leading contender currently is Orbital Science's Taurus II. The VASIMR system will provide re-boost for the station plus it can also offer access to its 50 kWh batteries when not in operation. The thruster can fire for up to 15 minutes at 200 kW. The lab prototype has exceeded thruster output by a factor of two over the requirements set for the ISS version." 22. ^ "Ad Astra Rocket Company and NASA sign second collaborative agreement relating to the VASIMR engine" (http://www.adastrarocket.com/AdAstraPressRelease121007.pdf). Ad Astra (Press release). December 10, 2007. 23. ^ "NASA and Ad Astra Rocket Company sign Agreement for flight test of the VASIMR rocket engine aboard the International Space Station" (http://www.adastrarocket.com/AdAstra-NASA_PR12Dec08.pdf). Ad Astra (Press release). December 12, 2008. 24. ^ "Ad Astra and NASA sign support agreement on VASMIR technology" (http://www.adastrarocket.com/AdAstraPressRelease030811.pdf). Ad Astra (Press Release). March 8, 2011. 25. ^ Morring, Frank (2010). "Commercial Route". Aviation Week & Space Technology (McGraw Hill) 172 (6): 2023. 26. ^ Irene Klotz (August 7, 2008). "Plasma Rocket May Be Tested at Space Station" (http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2008/08/07/plasma-rocket.html). Discovery News. Retrieved February 27, 2010. 27. ^ Tim W. Glover, et al. (September 1720, 2007). "Projected Lunar Cargo Capabilities of High-Power VASIMR Propulsion" (http://www.adastrarocket.com/Tim_IEPC07.pdf). International Electric Propulsion Conference. Retrieved February 27, 2010. 28. ^ "Rocket Company Launches Stock Offering" (http://www.ticotimes.net/Business-Real-Estate/RocketCompany-Launches-Stock-Offering_Friday-October-01-2010). TicoTimes (San Jose, Costa Rica), 2010-10-01. accessed October 2, 2010. 29. ^ Zubrin, Robert (July 13, 2011). "The VASIMR Hoax" (http://www.spacenews.com/commentaries/110711vasimr-hoax.html). 30. ^ "Facts About the VASIMR Engine and its Development" (http://www.adastrarocket.com/VASIMR_development_AdAstra_15July2011.pdf). Ad Astra Rocket Company. July 15, 2011.
Further reading
Chang-Daz, Franklin R (November 2000). "The VASIMR Rocket" (http://www.adastrarocket.com/SciAm2000.pdf). Scientific American. Retrieved November 16, 2009. "Agreement to Commercialize Advanced NASA Rocket Concept; Former Astronaut Franklin Chang-Diaz to Lead Effort" (http://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/news/releases/2006/J06-009.html) (Press release). Johnson Space Center. January 23, 2006. J06-009. Retrieved January 18, 2008. "Plasma rocket breaks endurance record" (http://space.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn12064). Reuters via New Scientist. August 14, 2007. Retrieved January 18, 2008. Naone, Erica (September 25, 2007). "Rocket scientist Franklin Chang Diaz talks about finding the power and propulsion required to colonize space" (http://www.technologyreview.com/Infotech/19427/). Technology Review. Retrieved February 27, 2010.
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Upson, Sandra (June 2009). "Rockets For The Red Planet" (http://www.spectrum.ieee.org/aerospace/spaceflight/rockets-for-the-red-planet/0). IEEE Spectrum. Retrieved February 27, 2010. Grossman, Lisa (July 24, 2009). "Ion engine could one day power 39-day trips to Mars" (http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn17476-ion-engine-could-one-day-power-39day-trips-to-mars.html? full=true). New Scientist. Retrieved February 27, 2010. Shiga, David (October 5, 2009). "Rocket company tests world's most powerful ion engine" (http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn17918-rocket-company-tests-worlds-most-powerful-ion-engine.html? full=true). New Scientist. Retrieved February 27, 2010.
External links
Ad Astra Rocket Company (http://www.adastrarocket.com/) Comparison of rocket technologies (http://www.adastrarocket.com/aarc/Technology) at Adastrarocket.com "Plasma Rocket" (http://science.discovery.com/videos/brink-package-plasma-rocket.html) (Video). Brink . Science. December 18, 2008. NASA documents Technical Paper: Rapid Mars Transits with Exhaust-Modulated Plasma Propulsion (PDF) (http://ston.jsc.nasa.gov/collections/TRS/_techrep/TP-1995-3539.pdf) Variable-Specific-Impulse Magnetoplasma Rocket (Tech Brief) (http://www.techbriefs.com/content/view/1768/32/1/0/) Advanced Space Propulsion Laboratory: VASIMR (http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/shuttle/support/researching/aspl/vasimr.html) Propulsion Systems of the Future (http://www.nasa.gov/vision/space/travelinginspace/future_propulsion.html) Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php? title=Variable_Specific_Impulse_Magnetoplasma_Rocket&oldid=577920389" Categories: Magnetic propulsion devices Plasma physics Spacecraft propulsion This page was last modified on 20 October 2013 at 02:17. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization.
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