Vasimr is still an ejection of mass. It is a way to to greatly accelerate the mass. But it still requires loading up the ship with mass.
Vasimr is still an ejection of mass. It is a way to to greatly accelerate the mass. But it still requires loading up the ship with mass.
Yep - I’m aware of that. The Mass it will use is not nearly as heavy as H2O. It can use electricity from any source solar or nuclear to do the job it’s doing. It’s estimated that a 1MW Vasimr system could get us to Mar in 13.
http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1690/1
Summary: Vasimr could get us to Mars in 39 days with direct, constant acceleration. It would use Argon as the fuel source - a LOT lighter than H2O.