Scientists Firing The VASIMR Plasma Rocket

[RealLifeVlogs]

Lets See This To NASA You can travel to mars in 29 Days!! VASIMR For Mars In 2030!!!!!

[irishbreakfast]

DUH, NO BRAKES??? HELLO GENIUSES! on an interstellar flight,the speeds it would get to would exceed the crafts sttural integrity.itll jst shear apart at a certain point.and nevermind hitting debis at such speeds. a grain of dust at 120000 miles an hour will leave quite a bruise! even passing just the wrong way some gravitational shear from something,passes too close to something we dont know is out there.better upgrade hull design first.

[AgrivatedKillah]

@irishbreakfast I'm pretty sure guys who have been studying this type of stuff for decades have already thought of that.

[irishbreakfast]

looks like the warp reactor on archers enterprise.

[Albear20]

Does NASA know about this?!?!?!?

[rubikfan1]

@Albear20 yes they do, they want to test it around the earth befor using it. but as with everything nasa is doing, it is always later and later

[TheBassmastersmith]

How much thrust does this thing provide?

[3Daver]

THAT THING IS IN YOUR OFFICE?!?!?!?!!?!?!?!

[JustSomeRandomNewb]

Is this a magnetoplasma engine or is that a totally different kind of engine?

[SASNIGHTCRAWLER]

@JustSomeRandomNewb I think that's what it is, it uses em fields to maintain the plasma and guide the thrust.

[Tjita1]

Is it really necessary to have a red AND a blue warninglight, or is that just for show?

[TejasRCpilot]

@Tjita1 that place looks like bullshit

[Stoozor]

@Tjita1 LOL I was wondering exactly the same thing. XD

[KittyyyTammyaj793]

hëhe_í_fËËl_sÕ_lÓñElý_t0Ðåÿ

[LightYagame100000]

can we use these propulsion systems for cars ? oO on a much smaller scale of course, don't want to accidentally take the wrong turn and end up on Orion.

[banana12292]

i don't wanna sound dumb or anything, but what is VASIMR?

[CrazyForCooCooPuffs]

@banana12292 Variable Specific Impulse Magnetoplasma Rocket took 2 secs via google

[banana12292]

@CrazyForCooCooPuffs google is just another way to say communist propaganda

[CrazyForCooCooPuffs]

@banana12292 excuses

[banana12292]

@CrazyForCooCooPuffs look up recursion on google then :)

[CrazyForCooCooPuffs]

@banana12292 OK, done, what about it?

[SpaceMarine1986]

What we need to realize is that this is going to take a bit of time people! Steps need to be taken In order for this all these new technologies to be integrated into NASA. What were doing now is taking steps In the right direction, that's all leading up to an incredible future In space. Rome was not built in a day as the saying goes.

[disgruntledgoat]

Wasn't this the set from Innerspace?

[TheZeus022]

Benwl, is it true that a VASIMR rocket could reduce the time for a trip to mars to under 40 days?

If so, I find that truly amazing. And we've already discovered that an artificial magnetosphere around a spacecraft need not be so massive anymore.

Can't wait to see further advancement in things like this. They could make science fiction seem not so fictional anymore.

[SkyyCaptainn]

@TheZeus022

Yes it is true. Howewer 40 day trip would recquire lighweight space rated high temperature nuclear reactor producing at least 200 MW of power. Currently there are no such reactor available. Slower missions could be done with solar power. What's really cool about VASIMR is it employs many principles that would be used on a fusion rocket engine so one can consider VASIMR as a first step toward true fusion rocket.

[Buayacool]

3-4 months?? that's mean we requires some thousand kilos of food supplies for 5-6 astronauts.. living in that cramp space for a half year, i won't think those astronauts could survive physically or even mentally.

[klp4d]

@Buayacool Hears a blast from the past, away stations, an example is the one shown in 2001 a space odessy there are quite a few recommendations that were suggested during the sixties, seventies, and eighties that were put on hold, I respect the international space station and the work being done to maintain it.

But if certain steps are taking such stations can be built and easily maintain long term, if one is considered it should be between the earth and the moon.

[bojorge3]

QUICK QUESTION???

Where is that ROOM LOCATED??



[Humancyclone7]

I still can't see the power requirements for a long mission/long period being remedied any time soon: anyone care to enlighten me as to how this could be used continuously in a remote location such as space for long periods? Otherwise a fascinating machine...

[MrMushroom90]

@Humancyclone7 condine with nuclear power and solar

[klp4d]

@Humancyclone7 all that is required is an high voltage electrical source to generate power, for example photovoltaic cells is one example since there is constant sunlight in space there will be constant flow of energy to provide voltage round the clock ..

As well there are other methods known and that will be discovered in the near future outside of nuclear based power generation.

Hope that helps a bit ..

[AnselmoFanZero]

@ThePhoneDepot

Sucks, but yes. Only in vaccum.

[AhileyGusani]

how long will take to the mars with this rocket..40 days?

[dropboxattitude]

@AhileyGusani

I guess by what i've heard, between 3 and 4 months.

Instead of 1 year with a standard rocket.

[Phelan666]

I fucking love science.

[SpaceMarine1986]

One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.

[TheZedo999]

Great work guys. It must be fun working on the future all the time..

A device like that would be perfect as a long term solution to keep the ISS's low orbit decay in check.

[detibry]

i cant imagine how long it takes to bring that massive chamber to vacuum. btw what kind of thrust are you guys producing.

[Polywog84]

I love the ads that comes whit this clip - Buy a brand new Toyota...

[mcfatass301]

Deathstar gun is fully operational!

[CATSHITONEMM]

So you probably get asked this question quite frequently. But to power the 200kW electrical power, the heat production must be pretty significant. Do you guys plan on using radiators to radiate those heat away for any inter-planetary mission? It might not be your guys' concern, but is solar the big favor? or is it going to be nuclear? I'm guessing nuclear will be the way to go, but radiating the heat becomes the problem.

[bushai1]

wait! what is he doing up there?! nothing you need to worry about gordon...

[z0nt21]

The ISS would be a great platform to test the engine on: orbit correction, tests of durability under varying temperatures.

I believe you have NASA's full support for the ISS mission, would that be correct?

[Taimak77]

It's too effective, technically advanced and free of multiple contractor politically volatile issues for the technology to be approved. Unless multiple states and congressman can "get a piece of the action" it's going to be a long time (2013) for actual deployment. The VASIMR can be built and launched NOW with a compact reactor for power supply and reach Mars in 45 days but the current admistration WILL NOT allow it!!! I hate it when technology and politics clash!

[FreshApplePieOnXBL]

That would've been funny if his head exploded

[raptorbsp]

Is this project public? I thought that was top secret...

[SteveBracy]

Jeez, osirisvb ... slow down on the coffee, buddy! I'm American & honestly I think our country is pretty near-sighted. Science will prevail & help the whole world! Unless it blows it up, first.

[foxdea]

bogus... why would u sit next to a experimental rocket ... it might blow up .... they even test the jet engines from enclosed environment

[osirisvb]

Of course it is bogus, leave it to a brit to show no respect to appreciation for Amercian achievements. Yeah cuz it was never thought of by the europeans it must be a fake. The self absorbed, self centered nature of you brits is just disgusting

[Zarrov]

hey, leave us alone. Europe did not wanted brits-but they insisted, so we let them in ;)

[phlogios]

because VASIMRs don't blow up

[Isuckatpaintball2]

that's because fire will...you know burn things

[boinkboink1968]

@foxdea an explosion from VFX-100 or even VFX-200 is hardly likely

because it uses a plasma that has a high flow rate yet practically no

thrust power.A 100Nm or 10 kg of push is nothing on earth but in space

it is a whole lot. Speed is of the essence here not power.

Do not compare it to a chemical rocket like a SRB but more

like a plasma cutter beam.

[boinkboink1968]

@foxdea an explosion from VFX-100 or even VFX-200 is hardly likely

because it uses a plasma that has a high flow rate yet practically no

thrust power.A 100Nm or 10 kg of push is nothing on earth but in space

it is a whole lot. Speed is of the essence here not power.

Do not compare it to a chemical rocket like a SRB but more

like a plasma cutter beam.

[squeege421]

This video is all description and no plasma rocket.

[dodow1234]

mmm..okay!

[KzrrainzYes]

A bright light on my screen less than a centimeter in diameter. Amazing!

[adamcpennington]

Poor guy it's at least a foot on mine.

[dmix09]

By all means, don't give us a closeup of that monitor way over there.. we can see just fine from here.

[patricknelson]

That room looks awesome. Like the perfect scene for a monster from outer space to break out of that containment cell in the middle. RAWRRG!!!

[bojorge3]

@patricknelson

QUICK QUESTION???

Where is that ROOM LOCATED??



[RestoFarian]

I don't get it...

[tj1990]

@RestoFarian same

[GLeNss]

Why would anyone want any other job.

Im a banker and I bank all day

Well, I'm a physicist and I work on plasma rockets

:O

xD

[Chappy1567]

lol! the siren sounds exactly like the one from wallace and gromit :P

[ignolan]

It's too bad you can't see more. Otherwise very cool.

[GLeNss]

Is this what physicists get to do all day?

[uzkhan1]

lol

[ninjapiratefromspace]

cool!

[desipher]

They're waiting for you Gordon...In the test chamber...

[suska16]

XDD HAHAHAAA

[agento1001]

@desipher HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! OMG I laughed so hard at this.

[SUPERBOOM777]

@desipher LOOOL

[gow]

@desipher

hahaha , that made me giggle

[super3boy]

That is cool. That how I could expect one of those things to sound like.

What is the potential cost savings over a conventional propellant rocket?

[xack10]

Millions and millions

[Elukka]

Lots, possibly, but note that this can't be used to launch things from Earth surface. It can do a lot better than a chemical rocket for moon flights and interplanetary flights, though.

[SullivanRoom]

please keep the technology in NA and LA thank you! Canada, USA, Costa Rica... no selling to the east! We need some leverage (not in terms of weapons but tech in general).

[Fliepke]

Impressive!

[2007TypeR]

That looks like some shit out of a movie....thinking Iron Man or some shit :)

[TheFluffyDuck]

so how long untill we see one of theses babies on a spacecraft?

[benwl]

We are planning on launching a spaceflight qualified VASIMR unit named VF-200-1 to the International Space Station in 2013. The 200 kW rocket will trickle charge a battery pack off of ISS power, and will fire for ~15 minutes at 200 kW frm battery power.

[IanTWL]

I do hope you come up with an actual *name* for it - something from Golden Age science fiction, perhaps?

[danthemanzizzle]

@benwl to renew iss orbit?

[sajabz2007]

@benwl How much thrust are you expected to achieve from 200 kw @ 15mins of run time?

Thanks!

[mengan1111]

@sajabz2007 200KW will gives about 5N of thrust.

So 15 minutes should give an impulse of around 4.5kNs

[klp4d]

@benwl glad to see one of the special space based projects of the past has been awaken it's good to see, my question is are there any plans in the works to enable an alternativie vehicle to be utilized to bring hardware such as VASIMR into high orbit outside of the conventional means currently utilized ..

I am certain this is a out of left field question to ask you ..

[flipballaz93]

@benwl but its gonna be the end of the world in 2012?

[CrazyForCooCooPuffs]

@benwl what kinda degree will I need to do this??? Aerospace?

[Kaikumach]

@benwl It's being fired on the ISS? Won't that deorbit it?

[Tjita1]

@Kaikumach They fire one in each direction so the net thrust is zero. :)

[Stoozor]

@benwl Could these eventually replace the current thrust systems on the ISS? Given the unlimited solar power, would it be feasible?

[Stoozor]

@Stoozor NVM, I looked it up on google, Wiki says that it could :)

[HeadSHOT604]

@benwl How far could it go if we had 2-3 on a craft and hooked it up to a nuclear reactor?

[SASNIGHTCRAWLER]

@benwl Its replacing the ISS's low orbit thruster isn't it? What will it be using, hydrogen?

[SASNIGHTCRAWLER]

@benwl The amount of hydrogen in space over time could be collected, maybe a collection of tubes that freeze and collect the ice in some way, then heat up and drain or pull in the liquid in? This engine could get a probe to 90% the speed of light over time, it could collect hydrogen on route and then use the fuel every few weeks for a good burn...you think after Curiosity does its stuff, the funding will come in for a manned mission with VASIMR?

[Eagle1Division2]

@TheFluffyDuck

Don't you think it's about time we see these powering a manned flight to Mars, the high impulse allowing a "booster bus" vehicle to shuttle hab and ERV's back and forth, making them all either pemanent (habs) or full reusable? (ERV, from surface to Mars orbit, dock with VASIMR bus, return to LEO), or even Moon shuttles?

@benwl

How much waste heat does it produce in Watts? What kind of radiators would a VASIMR craft need? Just currently existing ones?

[Taimak77]

@TheFluffyDuck I want a 60 minute burn off of a Darpa developed - military application compact reactor and screw the trickle charge. Why the baby steps?! Let's employ some robust power supplies and explore the FULL capabilities of this technology!

[michaelsterling37]

@TheFluffyDuck Don't worry there will be one just for you in the near future.