Plasma Ben | VASIMR Ground Testing @benwl | Uploaded 16 years ago | Updated 5 hours ago
This is a series of test firings of the VASIMR VX-200 plasma rocket prototype. The rocket's 1st stage (a Helicon plasma source) was fired at 14 kW using a solid state RF amplifier, and argon gas as the propellant. The video is slowed down to half speed.
The VX-200 is designed to use 30 kW for its first stage and 70 kW for its second stage (an ion cyclotron heating stage).
The VX-200 is the precursor to the VF-200, a flight demonstration unit that is intended to fly on the International Space Station (ISS).
"Watch your back Voyager!"
www.adastrarocket.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Variable_specific_impulse_magnetoplasma_rocket
This is a series of test firings of the VASIMR VX-200 plasma rocket prototype. The rocket's 1st stage (a Helicon plasma source) was fired at 14 kW using a solid state RF amplifier, and argon gas as the propellant. The video is slowed down to half speed.
The VX-200 is designed to use 30 kW for its first stage and 70 kW for its second stage (an ion cyclotron heating stage).
The VX-200 is the precursor to the VF-200, a flight demonstration unit that is intended to fly on the International Space Station (ISS).
"Watch your back Voyager!"
www.adastrarocket.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Variable_specific_impulse_magnetoplasma_rocket