I open this thread for space news. Some are not important enough to rate their own TeakDoor thread but may interest a few. So add what you think fits here.


I start it with a bit of info about
VASIMR Variable Specific Impulse Magnetoplasma Rocket link to WIKIPEDIA


Ion drives have been around for a while in labs. They also have been used in a few space systems. But so far they have very low thrust and can only drive very small loads at very low acceleration. The japanese Hayabusa used them and there also was a european moon mission.


VASIMR may change the game. It has a lot more thrust and can run with little wear for a long time.


The Ad Astra Rocket Company has developed the design into a two engine drive consuming 200kW of electrical power. That power can be provided by app 1300m˛ of solar panels (my estimate, but good enough). 1300m˛ sound a lot but with modern lightweight panels it is not too heavy. It is a panel with only 34m x 34m. More engines and larger panels could be used for more thrust.


It is scheduled to be tested on the International Space Station ISS. Full testing is not possible on earth because it works only in a vacuum and there are no high grade vacuum chambers big enough for it on earth. But it was tested and performed as expected in a low grade vacuum chamber. If successful it could be used to lift up the ISS to higher orbit as the ISS keeps losing altitude because of some traces of earth atmosphere at that height. That could save a few Million Dollars a year on fuel that is shipped up for orbit maneuvers every year.


VASIMR could also be used to ship cargo from low earth orbit to lunar orbit on much lower fuel cost. The empty cargo vehicle could come back to earth orbit for a new haul.


It uses Argon gas as a propellant. My first thought was how much Argon do we have, would it not run out soon? I checked it and to my surprise Argon is the third largest component of our atmosphere after Nitrogen and Oxygen. So we have billions of tons available.