The prototype/engineering model VASIMR appears to be undergoing ground testing at the moment. Here is a YouTube video.They claim that nominally, the VX-200 will produce 5 N (~1.1lbf) at a 5,000 s Isp. It uses 200 kW and argon as a propellant.Notes: ISRU Argon is extractable from the atmosphere of Mars. The current mass of the ISS is about 278 000 kg. So a VASIMR should be able to supply the ISS's station keeping delta-v in less than a month.
Too bad ISS can only generate 110 kW of power...
That sounds like a good opportunity to test the new 100 kW solar arrays.
300 W/kg sounds very good for the stretched-lens solar panels, much better than nuclear (inside Mars or asteroid belt orbit) and probably a lot cheaper, too. Of course, it may be simpler (lighter?) to use Nanosolar sort of solar panels, which are also dirt-cheap as a bonus.
Quote from: Robotbeat on 11/21/2008 07:57 pm300 W/kg sounds very good for the stretched-lens solar panels, much better than nuclear (inside Mars or asteroid belt orbit) and probably a lot cheaper, too. Of course, it may be simpler (lighter?) to use Nanosolar sort of solar panels, which are also dirt-cheap as a bonus.That is 300 w/kg at LEO and Lunar orbit. Due to the extra distance from the sun the arrays in Mars orbit produce about 300 * 0.4 = 120 w/kg
Quote from: A_M_Swallow on 08/26/2008 01:03 amThat sounds like a good opportunity to test the new 100 kW solar arrays.The link is meaningless, it isn't going to happen
Quote from: Jim on 08/26/2008 01:17 amQuote from: A_M_Swallow on 08/26/2008 01:03 amThat sounds like a good opportunity to test the new 100 kW solar arrays.The link is meaningless, it isn't going to happenIf the large Entech solar array has been cancelled are there any other ones under development? Possibly by SRS Technologies?