Diagnostics Used For The VASIMR VX-200i

This is one test firing in a series of experiments with the VASIMR VX-200 plasma rocket prototype. The rocket's 1st stage (a Helicon plasma source) was fired at 30 kW using a state-of-the-art solid state RF power supply, and the rocket's 2nd stage was fired at 100 kW using a second solid state RF power supply. Argon gas was used as the propellant, and gives a distinctive purple/blue/UV glow. The second half of the video is slowed down to 1/10 speed during the firing of the second stage.

The plasma diagnostics that can be seen in this video are situated on an x-y motion stage capable of moving side to side 200cm and in an out 500cm with 0.5mm precision. The diagnostics include an Retarding Potential Analyzer (RPA) to measure ion energy, a Force Target to measure the plasma thrust, a 10-collector Langmuir probe array to measure plasma properties, and an additional Langmuir probe to measure the plasma properties within the rocket core. A second stationary 10-collector Langmuir probe array can be seen hanging from ceiling. Because of the extreme temperatures and heating within the plasma exhaust, the diagnostics are all constructed out of refractory metals, high temperature ceramics, or graphite (or all three). The rocket and everything else seen in this video is located within a vacuum chamber, used to simulate the vacuum environment of space.

The VX-200 is the precursor to the VF-200, a flight demonstration unit that is intended to fly on the International Space Station (ISS). http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2008/dec/HQ_08-332_VASMIR_engine.html

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[niiidar]

How much thrust does this engine create?

Is this an Ion thruster?

[benwl]

It is an ion thruster, though people tend to use the names ion thruster, ion engine, plasma thruster somewhat interchangeably. It is designed to produce 5N (~1lb) of force at a full power level of 200 kW. The plasma you see in this video is 1/1,000,000 the density of air at atmospheric pressure.

[kenny8331]

is that bubble the same thing thats on the sides of the black hole?

[MadMichigander1313]

Greetings:

The VASIMR is short for Variable Specific Impulse MagnetoPlasma Rocket. It is a plasma thruster that use radio energy to heat a working fluid to a plasma and accellerate it. An Ion Engine is an electrostatic thruster which uses a voltage differential to accellerate atoms of heavier elements and has a ISP of 15000, but generates relatively low thrust. VASMIR can range from 2000 in high-thrust to over 30000 lb/sec/lb at low thrust. Its the only engine with a variable ISP.

[MattOGormanSmith]

very little Reaction Mass, is more accurate. They use an inert gas (xenon) which supplies no chemical energy, but is ejected at enormous speed electrostatically, much faster than a rocket exhaust.

[Helge129]

Ion engine.

[vemEhanDenDrA]

can someone explain this video fore me i dont understand what it is?

[smakabitch]

crazy smart

[roidroid]

yes that's right.

[niiidar]

200 kW for 5 newton?

That's alot of energy going to waste. I suppose that ion thrusters is good because they use very little fuel, am I right?