Title :
Rockets for the Red Planet
fDate :
6/1/2009 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
The paper describes VASIMR (variable specific impulse magnetoplasma rocket), nuclear-electric rocket engine - a fission reactor with a plasma thruster that could potentially push people to Mars and back using a fraction of the propellant and time needed for a chemical rocket.
Keywords :
Mars; aerospace propulsion; fission reactors; rocket engines; space vehicles; Mars; fission reactor; nuclear-electric rocket engine; plasma propulsion rocket; plasma thruster; variable specific impulse magnetoplasma rocket; Chemicals; Earth; Engines; Magnetosphere; Mars; Moon; Planets; Plasma chemistry; Rockets; Testing;
Journal_Title :
Spectrum, IEEE
DOI :
10.1109/MSPEC.2009.4977611
