Propulsion method
VASIMR
An electric-propulsion concept that heats propellant to a plasma with radio waves and confines and exhausts it with magnetic fields, in principle allowing the exhaust velocity to be tuned in flight. It has been tested on the ground but has not flown in space, and operating it at useful power levels would require an electrical source far beyond today's spacecraft.
Highlights
- ›Plasma heated by radio waves — ground-tested, not yet flown
Hardware & related concepts
Knowledge connections
- Associated withElectric Propulsion
- Associated withNuclear Electric Propulsion
Sources
The primary and reference sources this topic draws on.
- NASANational Aeronautics and Space Administration
Mission data, planetary science, space telescopes, and public-domain imagery.
Most NASA-produced imagery is in the public domain; individual items are checked for usage terms before publication.