Ex-Astronaut Developing Plasma Rocket To Revitalize NASA

TechReviewAl writes "Former astronaut Franklin Chang Diaz believes that the private sector can revitalize NASA, and his company is developing a plasma rocket to back up that claim. Chang Diaz argues that private industry can be used to develop much of the basic technology needed for space exploration, allowing NASA to focus on more sophisticated and critical components. His company, Ad Astra, is developing a variable specific impulse magnetoplasma rocket (VASIMR) that will be used to reposition the International Space Station. Last week, the rocket passed an important milestone in testing — reaching 200 kilowatts (enough to move the ISS). A video of the rocket can be seen on Ad Astra's site."

Comments

Another ex-NASA type trying to cash in

[Dr_Ken]

A cynical view I know. But the US Gov pays through the nose to train these guys who then just retire and try to cash in on the Washington gravy train. Just like the rest of the high level military, political and bureaucratic employees that leave gov employment in order to cash in. Typical and sad.

Re:Another ex-NASA type trying to cash in

[Dr_Ken]

So if Mr. Astronaut became a lobbyist instead that'd be okay too? Or a Medal of Honor winner who pimps his heroism out to lobby for munitions makers seeking gov contracts? Guns and bombs is what he knows right? For a self described cynic (as in always asking "who benefits?") you sure do have a idealistic outlook which goes against the weight of the evidence about who lobbys and for what.

Re:Perspective

[4D6963]

You can create steam using a radiothermal nuclear generator

That's original, I've never heard such a suggestion before. However I believe I never have because it would work. How much thrust could you possibly get out of steaming out water?

And ok, sure, if you've got as much energy as you want then why not. Although if you have as much energy as you want then instead of doing something completely retarded like carrying an impossibly huge ice cube through space you could use an engine that's powered by a RTG, like a ion thruster.

Having imagination is good but that would be a plus if you knew what you're talking about so you'd know why what you proposed is dumb as fuck.

gravity tractors

lol, oh I see, so your solution is to the problem of moving an impossibly huge block of ice is to move another impossibly huge block of whatever towards the huge block of ice. Yeah, that should work. Alternatively you could try reading less science fiction and more scientific articles, and get a grip on that thing called feasibility.

You can sit there with a hectare of solar panels

Yeah, again, that's oh so very feasible. Here, get a clue. If you still don't get why I'm pointing you to this, it's to show you why saying "fuck it, let's just send a square mile of solar panels up there" is a dumb idea.