NASA Teaser

[Jakemaster]

Well guys I got back from Johnson Space Center today.  I was participating in this program that is such a pain to explain Ill let you read about it, but if you have any questions just ask.

Ive got like 60 or so pictures, and here is a little teaser:


This is the VASIMR project.  Basically its a plasma rocket engine powered by a field of plasma contained by liquid nitrogen cooled superconducting copper magnets.  This is the kind of thing that I NEVER believed was real let alone I would ever stand next to


More to come from all over, including the worlds largest indoor swimming pool, a vacuum chamber so large that the building its in was built AROUND it, the old Mission Control Center from the time of Apollo, me with an astronaut, the full motion shuttle sim, and much more

[Jared]

SWEETNESS!

[Katahu]

What's next, a hyperdrive?

[killerbunny]

What's next, a hyperdrive?

Warpdrive! Then the Vulcans will come and meet us

[Jakemaster]

What's next, a hyperdrive?

I believe the VASIMR engine will be able to get a ship to mars in less than four months, a trip that takes 6 to 8 with a normal engine

[beaky]

VASMIR is still very much in the experimental phase, but it shows promise.
It was developed, BTW, by astronaut/scientist Franklin Chang-Diaz.

That must've been something to see it up close!

[Thunderbird1]

I just installed one of these in a Cessna-150 the other day, works like a champ!

[flymo]

not that impressice. a squirrel cud build that with its hands tied behind its back and while it was being repeatedly hit in the face with a budweiser bottle. did i mention its a blind squirrel

kl

im also in a engineering scheme thingy and we just got thru to the regional finals or sumit like that
its the EES. i will link and poop later. rite now my gf is nudgeing me cos im typing this not tlkin 2 her

[beaky]

not that impressice. a squirrel cud build that with its hands tied behind its back and while it was being repeatedly hit in the face with a budweiser bottle. did i mention its a blind squirrel

That's a harsh assessment, but I guess you know what you're talking about.
Can't wait to see your better plasma drive... how's it coming along...?  ;D

[Jakemaster]

VASMIR is still very much in the experimental phase, but it shows promise.
It was developed, BTW, by astronaut/scientist Franklin Chang-Diaz.

That must've been something to see it up close!

It sure was!  The other group got Chang Diaz to show it to them, but he had to go before my group

[Jakemaster]

That's a harsh assessment, but I guess you know what you're talking about.
Can't wait to see your better plasma drive... how's it coming along...?  ;D

I hope its better than your english