To Mars and Beyond

Technology Review ^ | 09/25/07 | Erica Naone

[KevinDavis]

This coming January, Ad Astra Rocket Company will test the VX-200, a full-scale ground prototype of the variable specific impulse magnetoplasma rocket (VASIMIR), first conceived in 1979 by the company's president and CEO, astronaut and plasma physicist Franklin Chang Diaz. The rocket is an attempt to improve on current space-propulsion technologies, and it would use hot plasma, heated by radio waves and controlled by a magnetic field, for propulsion. Chang Diaz believes that the system would allow rockets to travel through space at higher speeds, with greater fuel efficiency.

If the prototype demonstrates sufficient efficiency, thrust, and specific impulse on the ground, the next step will be the VF-200, a flight version of the rocket. Ad Astra plans to fly the VF-200 to the International Space Station, where it would help maintain the space station's orbit. If all this goes according to plan, Chang Diaz hopes to eventually build VASIMIRs that could travel to Mars and beyond. In advance of his appearance at the Emerging Technologies Conference this week, Technology Review talked with him about the near future of space exploration.

[KevinDavis]

[Red Steel]

Go VASIMIR! Go Ad Astra!

[Red Steel]

Franklin Chang Diaz: I've always said that in order for us to conduct a serious space-exploration program, we need to develop two things: power and propulsion. Power in space is still severely limited. Mainly, we use solar power. This is fine as long as we stay near the sun, but the issue remains that for Mars and beyond, we will need to develop nuclear electric power. If we don't, we might as well quit. We're not going to get anywhere without it.

Diaz gets it - completely.

VASIMIR powered by nuclear power - you'll get somewhere fast!

[KevinDavis]

AD ASTRA!!!!

[Red Steel]

FCD: I think lots of people are going to be moving into space. I think we will be populating the moon, building enclaves of research and even money-making ventures there. Just last month, Ad Astra signed an agreement with Excalibur Exploration Ltd., a British company, to mine asteroids [when the time is right]. I believe there will be a huge demand for resources, particularly water, from asteroids and comets, because taking water from the earth is going to be very expensive. We're probably going to supply the moon and the habitat on the moon with water from comets

So Whale,

How does this square with that UN Outer Space treaty? Contract(s) are being written and signed to mine space bodies. Heehee....

Chang-Diaz has got a winner in that engine of his, and he's going to see to that there are space enterprises.

[RightWhale]

• Contract(s) are being written and signed to mine space bodies

  Illegal. Only pirates and adventurers will be interested but no significant investment will appear.

[SunkenCiv]

Alright!