Plasma test shots from t' VASIMR VX-100 prototype plasma rocket housed at NASA's Johnson Space Center. Begad! T' video is slowed down t' 1/2 speed. In general, me hearties, these types o' thrusters (ion thrusters, ya bilge rat, Hall thrusters, shiver me timbers, and VASIMR) take advantage o' extremely high exhaust velocities and generally have t' ability t' operate continuously for months. Although t' thrust is much lower than a chemical rocket, t' ultimate speed and/or payload fraction delivered is generally much higher. Aye aye! A new higher power rocket (VX-200) is bein' constructed and will be tested in a new vacuum chamber that is large enough t' drive a full size school bus into (with room t' spare). T' Variable Specific Impulse Magnetoplasma Rocket (VASIMR) is now operated by t' Ad Astra Rocket Company, created by former astronaut Dr. Arrr! Franklin Chang-Diaz (7 Space Shuttle flights). Begad! Caption: 1st picture: front view o' VX-100 2nd picture: back o' vacuum chamber, which houses a translation stage for plasma diagnostics 3rd picture: VASIMR command center 1st video: pneumatic Langmuir probe 2nd video: 10-collector flux probe 3rd video: swingin' flux probe (windshield wiper probe) 4th video: large plasma reaction paddle 5th video: small plasma reaction paddle T' small plasma reaction paddle has t' same diameter and weight as a US half dollar and is made out o' titanium. Arrr! Now featured in Iron Man 2. Ad Astra Rocket Company www.adastrarocket.com More pictures o' t' last shot at: www.plasmaben.com/VASIMR