Plasma Ben | VASIMR VX-200 Full Field Full Power 1st Stage, HD @benwl | Uploaded 15 years ago | Updated 23 hours ago
VASIMR VX-200 Full Field Full Power 1st Stage, HD

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Alka-Seltzer added to spherical water drop in microgravity

$In-vacuum Camera View Of The VASIMR VX-200i This is one test firing in a series of experiments with the VASIMR VX-200 plasma rocket prototype. The rockets 1st stage (a Helicon plasma source) was fired at 30 kW using a state-of-the-art solid state RF power supply, and the rockets 2nd stage was fired at 144 kW using a second solid state RF power supply. Argon gas was used as the propellant, and gives a distinctive purple/blue/UV glow. The second half of the video is slowed down to 1/10 speed during the firing of the second stage. The plasma diagnostics that can be seen in this video are situated on an x-y motion stage capable of moving side to side 200cm and in an out 500cm with 0.5mm precision. The diagnostic suite was moved to a close approach in front of the rockets plasma exhaust. Because of the extreme temperatures and heating within the plasma exhaust, the diagnostics are all constructed out of refractory metals, high temperature ceramics, or graphite (or all three). The rocket and everything else seen in this video is located within a vacuum chamber, used to simulate the vacuum environment of space. The VX-200 is the precursor to the VF-200, a flight demonstration unit that is intended to fly on the International Space Station (ISS). http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2008/dec/HQ_08-332_VASMIR_engine.html www.adastrarocket.com$

Simulating Space: A Space Training History, Frank Hughes

VASIMR VX-200 Full Field Full Power 1st Stage, HD @benwl