If the VASIMR test on the ISS is successful.

[Meredith]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Variable_specific_impulse_magnetoplasma_rocket

If this rocket motor is successful, how about mounting a VASIMR rocket motor in orbit onto a Inflatable space module built by Bigelow and a add a bunch of solar cells and create a space-tug that would move back and forth between the earth and moon?

Even if it would take a week or two to reach the moon if it can do several trips on one tank of gas it would be worth it, plus as I hear you can harvest the Hydrogen from the waste water and use it as propellant so it really could be powered by piss and vinegar. I wonder how many solar cells you would need to power it?

 

[Irishman]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Variable_specific_impulse_magnetoplasma_rocket

If this rocket motor is successful, how about mounting a VASIMR rocket motor in orbit onto a Inflatable space module built by Bigelow and a add a bunch of solar cells and create a space-tug that would move back and forth between the earth and moon?

Even if it would take a week or two to reach the moon if it can do several trips on one tank of gas it would be worth it, plus as I hear you can harvest the Hydrogen from the waste water and use it as propellant so it really could be powered by piss and vinegar. I wonder how many solar cells you would need to power it?

The thing I love about the VASIMR engine is that it's throttleable. That means greater efficiency and longer time between refueling.

 

[Meredith]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Variable_specific_impulse_magnetoplasma_rocket

If this rocket motor is successful, how about mounting a VASIMR rocket motor in orbit onto a Inflatable space module built by Bigelow and a add a bunch of solar cells and create a space-tug that would move back and forth between the earth and moon?

Even if it would take a week or two to reach the moon if it can do several trips on one tank of gas it would be worth it, plus as I hear you can harvest the Hydrogen from the waste water and use it as propellant so it really could be powered by piss and vinegar. I wonder how many solar cells you would need to power it?

The thing I love about the VASIMR engine is that it's throttleable. That means greater efficiency and longer time between refueling.

I hope it is efficient enough to allow for my "Tug" idea to come to fruition. Imagine only needing to get into Low to Mid earth orbit and then transferring to the tug at the ISS and then taking off towards the moon. then rendezvous with another craft that lands on the moon in lunar orbit.

No need for huge rockets to make it tot he moon and if it takes a week to get tot he moon in this craft then no biggie as the savings would be worth it.

You could even have 2 or even 3 Tugs working at the same time keeping a constant stream on people and materials flowing from the earth tot he moon and vice versa.


We really need a Tug, we could learn a lot by operating one and we could take than knowledge and use it to build a true interplanetary craft.

 

[Irishman]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Variable_specific_impulse_magnetoplasma_rocket

If this rocket motor is successful, how about mounting a VASIMR rocket motor in orbit onto a Inflatable space module built by Bigelow and a add a bunch of solar cells and create a space-tug that would move back and forth between the earth and moon?

Even if it would take a week or two to reach the moon if it can do several trips on one tank of gas it would be worth it, plus as I hear you can harvest the Hydrogen from the waste water and use it as propellant so it really could be powered by piss and vinegar. I wonder how many solar cells you would need to power it?

The thing I love about the VASIMR engine is that it's throttleable. That means greater efficiency and longer time between refueling.

I hope it is efficient enough to allow for my "Tug" idea to come to fruition. Imagine only needing to get into Low to Mid earth orbit and then transferring to the tug at the ISS and then taking off towards the moon. then rendezvous with another craft that lands on the moon in lunar orbit.

No need for huge rockets to make it tot he moon and if it takes a week to get tot he moon in this craft then no biggie as the savings would be worth it.

You could even have 2 or even 3 Tugs working at the same time keeping a constant stream on people and materials flowing from the earth tot he moon and vice versa.


We really need a Tug, we could learn a lot by operating one and we could take than knowledge and use it to build a true interplanetary craft.

Well, aren't they planning on first using it as a station-keeping engine on the ISS? Or is the ISS just the test platform?