NASA Selects Companies to Develop Super-Fast Deep Space Engine
http://sputniknews.com/science/20150402/1020349394.html
03:24 02.04.2015(updated 13:15 04.04.2015)
NASA announced it will partner with a variety of companies in new attempts to create more advanced space technology--including a new engine that could get humans to Mars in less than 40 days.
The Texas-based Ad Astra Rocket company, a
member of NASA’s 12 Next Space Technologies for Exploration Partnerships
(NextStep), boasted their VASIMR engine can get humans to Mars in 39
days.
A diagram showing how the VASIMR works
The engine rocketed to fame several years ago when it was revealed to cut a journey
to Mars down from months to weeks. And even though it does require a
nuclear power source, of which NASA has a shortage, after its successful
test in 2013 the agency is considering employing it.
“We are thrilled by this announcement and proud
to be joining forces with NASA in the final steps of the technology
maturation,” said Dr Franklin Chang Diaz, Ad Astra’s Chairman and CEO,
in a statement.
“We look forward to a very successful partnership as we jointly advance the technology to flight readiness.”
The VX 200 prototype VASIMR engine that could potentially be a part of the next Mars mission.
Over a three year period, NASA will give Ad
Astra around $10 million dollars to fully develop a new version of the
VASIMR engine to be flight ready. With the successful demonstrations of
their new VX-200-SS prototype, able to fire continuously for more than
100 hours, NASA will consider employing the propulsion system on their
future excursion to Mars.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nyepvfuHho
NASA said in a statement that other commercial
partners such as Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Dynetics Inc were in place
to explore other possibilities on Mars.
“Commercial partners were selected for their
technical ability to mature key technologies and their commitment to the
potential applications both for government and private sector uses,”
said William Gerstenmaier, associate administrator for Human Exploration
and Operations at NASA Headquarters.
“This work ultimately will inform the strategy to move human presence further into the solar system.”
A Variable Specific Impulse Magnetoplasma Rocket
(VASIMR), developed by Ad Astra, is an electromagnetic thruster for the
propulsion of a spacecraft. It employs radio waves and magnetic fields
to ionize and heat a propellant to generate a thrust for lift off.
3 comments:
why are they allowed to waste people's money (tax money) ? still they will be kick out from Mars, because they are sending weapons of mass destruction over there, the Galactics will be watching them, because NASA is sending war heads that is their plan.
DON'T BELIEVE THIS CRAPPOLA....AS .....WE ALREADY HAVE ALIEN TECH THAT CAN GET US THERE ALMOST WITH A SNAP OF THE FINGER.... THIS IS JUST TO SPEND MONEY AND MAKE MONEY FOR THE CORPORATION....
I agree they already have the technology to get mars and the moon in minutes. This is a bunch of crap. Nasa are habitual liers. Period....
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