A Flight Demonstration of Plasma Rocket Propulsion

Andrew Petro

Advanced Space Propulsion Laboratory

NASA Johnson Space Center

The Advanced Space Propulsion Laboratory at the Johnson Space Center has been

engaged in the development of a magneto-plasma rocket for several years. This type of

rocket could be used in the future to propel interplanetary spacecraft. One advantageous

feature of this rocket concept is the ability to vary its specific impulse so that it can be

operated in a mode which maximizes propellant efficiency or a mode which maximizes

thrust. This presentation will describe a proposed flight experiment in which a simple

version of the rocket will be tested in space. In addition to the plasma rocket, the flight

experiment will also demonstrate the use of a superconducting electromagnet, extensive

use of heat pipes, and possibly the transfer of cryogenic propellant in space.