From: gdpusch@NO.xnet.SPAM.com (Gordon D. Pusch)
Newsgroups: sci.physics.plasma
Subject: Re: PLASMA ROCKET ?
Organization: XNet Information Systems, Inc.
References: <b46gq0$cema$1@saturn.cs.uml.edu>


<rgs50@bellsouth.net> writes:

> I understand there is a new kind of rocket called a PLASMA ROCKET that will
> get us to Mars in 29 days as opposed to 9 or 8 months. Anyone know more
> about this ?

The "official" name for it is "VASIMR," which stands for "Variable Specific
Impulse Magnetoplasma Rocket." Basically, this is just a fancy NASA acronym
for a microwave-heated plasma rocket; its primary semi-new wrinkles are
that it can easily trade off specific impulse for thrust, and that it
should be able to use a wide variety of working fluids. VASIMR has been
heavily hyped in the media by its developers, but the big issue they are
careful to avoid talking about is that it's not a practical drive unless
you also use a nuclear power source, which is still highly politically
incorrect.

Visit the NASA webpage
<http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/mars/technology/propulsion/aspl/vasimr.html>
or do a Google search on "VASIMR" to learn more.


-- Gordon D. Pusch

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