Guy Lochhead, 08/09/10
The Variable Specific Impulse Magnetoplasma Rocket is an ion engine that “uses radio waves to ionize a propellant and magnetic fields to heat the resulting plasma to generate thrust”. The rocket could apparently power a spaceflight to Mars in 39 days, if coupled with a very high-power, low-mass energy source such as a nuclear reactor. It is being developed by Franklin Chang-Diaz and the Ad Astra Rocket Company. This is incredibly exciting, but I don’t know how I could reasonably include it in the programmes. Maybe something in its development could be included, but at the moment it isn’t possible really. The engine will be tested in 2011 or 2012, so I suppose we’ll see then.. Really amazing though… So amazing..