VASIMR Lunar Tug Trajectory

The most important near-future application of VASIMR-powered spacecraft is transportation of cargo. Numerous studies have shown that, despite longer transit times, VASIMR-powered spacecraft will be much more efficient than traditional integrated chemical rockets at moving goods through space. An OTV (space tug) powered by a single VF-200 engine would be capable of transporting about 4 metric tons of cargo from Low Earth Orbit (LEO) to Low Lunar Orbit (LLO) with about a three month long transit time.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• HD
• Low
• Thrust
• VASIMR
• Trajectory
• to
• the
• Moon
• nasa
• astronaut
• franklin
• chang
• diaz
• electric
• propulsion
• ion
• thruster
• engine
• plasma
• leo
• llo
• lunar
• inclination
• earth
• sun
• stars
• high
• definition
• plane
• change
• science
• isp
• power
• kw
• kilowatt
• gigawatt
• days
• satellite
• propellant
• altitude
• attitude
• cargo
• defying
• gravity
• iron
• man

[LaughatNAZIs]

That makes sense.

Bring on the beanstalk.

[valcan321]

@LaughatNAZIs Its ment for cargo.

Typicaly to get people/cargo to the moon a typical rocket carries about half as much cargo as it would if it was going to low earth orbit(LEO).

This would allow us to send alot up to LEO and have the tug take it to the moon on a slow trip while using far less fuel than a typical rocket would need.

Humans would go the typical route i figure.

[LaughatNAZIs]

I thought 200Kw sounded very low, but if you can afford the high transit times, it's brilliant.

Obviously humans will need transit durations of days, not months, so I guess add more engines???

[begekim]

wow, this is a very interesting trajectory, what software is this?

[dajsinjo]

it is more efficient to accelerate at once !

[ytams1]

NASA is having money trouble at the moment. Sending a probe to Mars's moon Phobos could just be a useful low cost mission. Phobos has the advantage that a chemical lander is not needed because it has a very week gravity, so VASIMR spacecraft could dock there.