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A VASIMR plasma rocket/solar powered lunar (and possibly inner solar system) tugboat that would ferry cargo to its target then return to Earth for another load of fuel and cargo.
Fanciful? Nope. NASA has contracted with VASIMR's creator, the Ad Astra Rocket Co., to work out the details over the next year.
A 2-engine VASIMR array will also be launched ~2013 and used to re-boost the ISS without the need to do it with visiting spacecraft. Booster will be either a SpaceX Falcon 9 or a ULA Delta.
Large sized image....
Fanciful? Nope. NASA has contracted with VASIMR's creator, the Ad Astra Rocket Co., to work out the details over the next year.
A 2-engine VASIMR array will also be launched ~2013 and used to re-boost the ISS without the need to do it with visiting spacecraft. Booster will be either a SpaceX Falcon 9 or a ULA Delta.
Large sized image....