VASMIR Propulsion

VASIMR, Variable Specific Impulse Magnetoplasma Rocket, will be our propulsion system to our ship propulsion on our exterior, the Destino Magnus. VASIMR is a plasma based propulsion system that is safe and fast. It uses radio waves and magnetic fields to power it. Our fuels will either be hydrogen, helium, or deuterium. The best would be hydrogen because we're most likely to find hydrogen anywhere we go in the solar system, especially on Jupiter. We will get our hydrogen from Jupiter since we will orbit a moon of it called Ganymede. The moons are close to Jupiter and Jupiter is a gas planet supplying us with lots of fuel. Incase there is no hydrogen to be found we will either create it or we will use the other options as fuel, deuterium or helium. Although it is does not have as much benefits as hydrogen, it will be backup.

The reason we will be using this source as our propulsion system is because it is very safe and efficient. It is a quick way to get to our destination and is very stable. Another benefit of VASIMR is that because of the hydrogen fuel. And hydrogen is the best known radiation shield, so the fuel for the VASIMR engine could also be used to protect the crew from harmful effects of radiation exposure during the flight.

There will be some basic needs of VASIMR that must be fulfilled. These things are necessary technology, super conducting magnets at space temperatures, compact power generation and conditioning equipment, compact and robust radio frequency systems, hybrid magnetic nozzle, and a light weight heat shields and radiative cooling. And of course there is our hydrogen fuel and the power generator will be nuclear or solar.

Our source to power our propulsion system is light power/ solar panels and nuclear power. The waves and fields will be created by electricity provided by the solar panels. The radio waves will ionize the fuel we use into plasma. Then it is guided into a central chamber threaded with magnetic fields. The ion spiral around the magnetic field lines with a certain natural frequency by bombarding them with radio waves of the same frequency. Electric/magnetic fields heat it to 10 megakelvins and accelerate the plasma through a magnetic nozzle converting the spiral motion of the particles into an axial motion. Then the magnetic fields direct the plasma to the proper direction as it is ejected from our engine creating thrust which is about 40 - 1,200 N. The system is also able to decrease acceleration or increase the acceleration. Also it gives additional speed with an "afterburn" which sacrifices fuel efficiency for an extra bit of fuel and propulsion. So our spacecraft will move from10, 000 to 300,000 meters per second.