The Variable Specific Impulse Magnetoplasma Rocket is an electrothermal thruster under development for possible use in spacecraft propulsion. It uses radio waves to ionize and heat an inert propellant
Artist's impression of a spacecraft powered by a VASIMR engine
VX-10 test chamber at the Advanced Space Propulsion Laboratory, Johnson Space Center
VX-200 plasma engine at full power, employing both stages with full magnetic field
Plasma propulsion engine
Videos
A plasma propulsion engine is a type of electric propulsion that generates thrust from a quasi-neutral plasma. This is in contrast with ion thruster engines, which generate thrust through extracting a
Variable Specific Impulse Magnetoplasma Rocket
…ionize and heat an inert propellant, forming a plasma, then a magnetic field to confine and accelerate the expanding plasma, generating thrust. It is a plasma propulsion engine, one of several types of spacecraft electric propulsion systems. The VASIMR method for heating plasma was originally developed during nuclear fusion…
A thruster during test firing