This is a record power level test firin' in a series o' experiments with t' VASIMR VX-200 plasma rocket prototype. Avast, me proud beauty! T' rocket's 1st stage (a Helicon plasma source) was fired at 30 kW usin' a state-of-the-art solid state RF power supply, and t' rocket's 2nd stage be fired at 149 kW usin' a second solid state RF power supply. Avast! Argon gas was used as t' propellant, and gives a distinctive purple/blue/UV glow. T' second half o' t' video is slowed down t' 1/10 speed durin' t' firin' o' t' second stage. T' plasma diagnostics that can be seen in this video are situated on an xy motion stage capable o' movin' side t' side 200cm and in an out 500cm with 0.5mm precision. Begad! Because o' t' extreme temperatures and heatin' within t' plasma exhaust, t' diagnostics are all constructed out o' refractory metals, high temperature ceramics, me bucko, or graphite (or all three). Ya scallywag! T' rocket and everythin' else seen in this video is located within a vacuum chamber, me bucko, used t' simulate t' vacuum environment o' space. T' VX-200 be t' precursor t' t' VF-200, ya bilge rat, a flight demonstration unit that is intended t' fly on t' International Space Station (ISS). www.nasa.gov www.adastrarocket.com