Will Collaborate On Plasma Propulsion Technology

Plasma rocket developer Ad Astra Rocket Company and national aerospace defense and technology company MEI Technologies have joined forces to create a strategic alliance in support of Ad Astra's Variable Specific Impulse Magnetoplasma Rocket (VASIMR) rocket development.

The alliance combines Ad Astra's work in plasma physics and advanced rocket propulsion with MEI's knowledge in safety, payload integration, engineering and advanced technology. The two companies have collaborated for more than five years on a variety of projects.

As a first step in this alliance, MEI Technologies will provide support in the development and integration of the VF-200 payload, a project to demonstrate Ad Astra's proprietary technology, the VASIMR, on the U.S. National Laboratory portion of the International Space Station. VASIMR is a high power electric thruster for in-space propulsion that uses radio waves and strong magnetic fields to ionize and accelerate propellant and direct the resulting intense plasma jet to generate thrust. Selected by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics as one of the top 10 emerging aerospace technologies of 2009, the VASIMR engine is fueled by abundant, inexpensive propellants and has demonstrated exhaust velocities from five to nearly 40 times higher than the best chemical rockets. The company's current prototype engine, the VX-200, demonstrated its full 200 kW power rating in tests conducted last September 30 at Ad Astra's Houston facility. In the near- term, when combined with high power photovoltaic solar arrays currently under development for space applications, the VASIMR engine is expected to provide a transformational approach to in-space transportation, significantly reducing costs and enhancing efficiency over conventional chemical rockets. Farther in the future, and combined with high nuclear electric power, Ad Astra says VASIMR could drastically reduce the travel time for human and robotic missions to Mars and beyond.

"We have had a long and rewarding association with MEI Technologies, and it is a company that we trust to perform. Through this alliance, our team of scientists can focus on enhancing VASIMR's capability while leveraging MEI Technologies' experience and expertise in payload integration and project development. In this relationship, we share a common vision: to revolutionize space transportation and exploration," said Ad Astra CEO Dr. Franklin Chang Diaz.

"Ad Astra's impressive technology coupled with our payload integration capabilities will ultimately result in innovative cargo and supply mechanisms, greater access to resources and broader support for robotic and human missions in space," said MEI Technologies CEO Ed Muniz.

FMI: www.adastrarocket.com/aarc, www.meitechinc.com