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VASIMR VX-200 bus
(note the hex structure - can you say "modular", as in able to use them in arrays?)
Link...(PDF)
(note the hex structure - can you say "modular", as in able to use them in arrays?)
Link...(PDF)
Ad Astra Rocket Company achieves
all major 2007 milestones, releases
’08 Q1 progress and VX-200 updated
schedule.
[Houston, TX. For immediate release] - In
an internal report to its investors, presented
in February of this year, Ad Astra Rocket
Company reported the achievement of all its
stated milestones in 2007 and presented a
revised schedule of testing for the VX-200
VASIMRâ„¢ prototype under development at
its Houston facility.
Short for Variable Specific Impulse
Magnetoplasma Rocket, VASIMRâ„¢ is a
new high-power plasma-based space
propulsion technology, initially studied by
NASA and now being developed privately
by Ad Astra. A VASIMRâ„¢ engine could
allow space operations far more efficiently
and with much less propellant than today’s
chemical rockets. Ultimately, VASIMRâ„¢
engines could also greatly speed up robotic
and human transit times for missions to
Mars and beyond.
Ad Astra Houston team at new facility
Major 2007 milestones achieved included
key results from a newly operational
VASIMRâ„¢ 100kW test bed, the VX-100
and initiation of manufacturing and
subsystem integration for the first flight-like
engine prototype, the 200kW VX-200. In
addition, the company signed important
agreements with NASA and NAUTEL Ltd
of Canada.
>
Integrated tests for the VX-200 prototype
are presently ongoing in Houston and will
continue throughout most of 2008.
Successful tests have been completed on the
vacuum integrity of the engine’s first stage,
as well as the operation of the control and
propellant feed subsystems. The RF
subsystem has passed its certification tests at
its manufacturer, Nautel Ltd. of Halifax, NS.
Canada, and is being readied for shipment to
Houston for integration. The high power
solid-state RF subsystem is a key
VASIMRâ„¢ component and generates the
needed radio frequency power to create and
accelerate the plasma.
An initial test firing of the full engine
prototype has been postponed until the 2nd
quarter of 2008 in order to give Scientific
Magnetics of Culham, UK. the needed time
to complete its certification of the
superconducting subsystem. This is a critical
component of the engine, which the British
company is building under contract with Ad
Astra.
In the process of design, integration and test
of the VX-100 and VX-200 systems, Ad
Astra has generated new patents in the
efficient production of high speed plasma
jets and associated thermal management
technologies. These are necessary in order to
achieve the overall performance of which
these engines are capable. These patents
have now been formally submitted to the US
Patent Office.
“The Costa Rica team has matured, spirits
are high. Nothing can top this adventureâ€
said Ing. Ronald Chang D�*az, Ad Astra’s
Director of Operations in Costa Rica. “The
Company’s methodical and reliable record
of meeting its milestones and achieving its
goals continues to inspire confidence from
both within and without†said Mr. Robert
Singer, Ad Astra’s chief counsel and a
member of its board of directors. “We’ve
come a long way. At this pace, VASIMRâ„¢
will reach Technology Readiness Level
(TRL) 6 this year. The next level will be
space flight, our ultimate goal†said Franklin
R. Chang-D�*az, Ad Astra’s Chairman and
CEO.
all major 2007 milestones, releases
’08 Q1 progress and VX-200 updated
schedule.
[Houston, TX. For immediate release] - In
an internal report to its investors, presented
in February of this year, Ad Astra Rocket
Company reported the achievement of all its
stated milestones in 2007 and presented a
revised schedule of testing for the VX-200
VASIMRâ„¢ prototype under development at
its Houston facility.
Short for Variable Specific Impulse
Magnetoplasma Rocket, VASIMRâ„¢ is a
new high-power plasma-based space
propulsion technology, initially studied by
NASA and now being developed privately
by Ad Astra. A VASIMRâ„¢ engine could
allow space operations far more efficiently
and with much less propellant than today’s
chemical rockets. Ultimately, VASIMRâ„¢
engines could also greatly speed up robotic
and human transit times for missions to
Mars and beyond.
Ad Astra Houston team at new facility
Major 2007 milestones achieved included
key results from a newly operational
VASIMRâ„¢ 100kW test bed, the VX-100
and initiation of manufacturing and
subsystem integration for the first flight-like
engine prototype, the 200kW VX-200. In
addition, the company signed important
agreements with NASA and NAUTEL Ltd
of Canada.
>
Integrated tests for the VX-200 prototype
are presently ongoing in Houston and will
continue throughout most of 2008.
Successful tests have been completed on the
vacuum integrity of the engine’s first stage,
as well as the operation of the control and
propellant feed subsystems. The RF
subsystem has passed its certification tests at
its manufacturer, Nautel Ltd. of Halifax, NS.
Canada, and is being readied for shipment to
Houston for integration. The high power
solid-state RF subsystem is a key
VASIMRâ„¢ component and generates the
needed radio frequency power to create and
accelerate the plasma.
An initial test firing of the full engine
prototype has been postponed until the 2nd
quarter of 2008 in order to give Scientific
Magnetics of Culham, UK. the needed time
to complete its certification of the
superconducting subsystem. This is a critical
component of the engine, which the British
company is building under contract with Ad
Astra.
In the process of design, integration and test
of the VX-100 and VX-200 systems, Ad
Astra has generated new patents in the
efficient production of high speed plasma
jets and associated thermal management
technologies. These are necessary in order to
achieve the overall performance of which
these engines are capable. These patents
have now been formally submitted to the US
Patent Office.
“The Costa Rica team has matured, spirits
are high. Nothing can top this adventureâ€
said Ing. Ronald Chang D�*az, Ad Astra’s
Director of Operations in Costa Rica. “The
Company’s methodical and reliable record
of meeting its milestones and achieving its
goals continues to inspire confidence from
both within and without†said Mr. Robert
Singer, Ad Astra’s chief counsel and a
member of its board of directors. “We’ve
come a long way. At this pace, VASIMRâ„¢
will reach Technology Readiness Level
(TRL) 6 this year. The next level will be
space flight, our ultimate goal†said Franklin
R. Chang-D�*az, Ad Astra’s Chairman and
CEO.
))
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