Posted on 10/02/2009 12:19:00 PM PDT by decimon
Once we’ve demonstrated a 200-kilowatt prototype engine operating at full power on the ground, the next step is testing an identical version in space. We’re already testing the prototype unit in our vacuum chamber here in Houston, and we’re designing the actual flight engine, which is called the VF-200. We signed an agreement with NASA last December to actually mount the VF-200 on the International Space Station in 2012 or 2013.
>
We would hope that, if not the US, maybe the Europeans, the Chinese, the Russians, or somebody else will develop a nuclear-electric power capability that we can marry up to this rocket. We have to realize that the US is no longer the only player.
>
(Excerpt) Read more at nextbigfuture.com ...
A Nuclear powered Manned Mars mission using this technology is the only way to go to the red planet in reasonable amounts of time.
This is the type of engine you turn on and leave on until you get 1/2 way there and then turn the ship around to decelerate. Bets estimates are that you can lower the time to get to mars to around 4 months will a fully powered version of this.
I say build several modular units in orbit and have a constant “cargo train to mars” before you send any people all the while constantly sending cargo to mars. Then you send the people to mars with plenty of already landed supplies and infrastructure to ensure their safety and maybe even start a permanent residence on mars.
Nuclear Power with these types of thrusters is our ticket to planetary colonization.
“In 2013 or 2014, we’ll make clusters of 200-kilowatt engines to give us something close to a megawatt of electricity, and deploy them with a very high-powered solar array. This will be a robotic reusable “space tug” that can refuel or reposition satellites, or even send packages to the Moon at a much lower price.”
I hope this works for them! This will make is so all we need for interplanetary exploration is to get to low earth orbit and the rest of the way will be paved by solar or nuclear powered VASIMIR.
I like this one because it’s in the works and imminent. Not some iffy thing some twenty years out.
Like Nuclear Fusion....
We need Nuclear Fission Power in space and Nuclear Fission power on the earth.
The home page of Next Big Future has more on space lasers, deuterium, fusion...a feast for space nuts.
I love Future Space technology, I just hope we can colonize space as I feel nervous having all of humanity’s eggs in one basket we call earth.
Boo Hoo, did NASA piss in his cornflakes!
What?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.