Ad Astra Rocket Company is a rocket propulsion company dedicated to the development of advanced plasma rocket propulsion technology, specifically the Variable Specific Impulse Magnetoplasma Rocket (VASIMR®) engine. This engine is designed for in-space transportation, lunar cargo transport, and high-speed deep space missions. Ad Astra has a partnership with NASA under the NextSTEP program and has also partnered with The Space Nuclear Power Corporation to develop high-power Nuclear Electric Propulsion (NEP) technology. Key activities include research and development, prototype manufacturing, and integrated clean energy solutions, with a vision to revolutionize space travel and enable human missions to Mars and beyond.
All verified mentions of this organization in source documents.
Ad Astra Rocket Company was founded by former astronaut Franklin Chang Diaz.
Ad Astra Rocket Company’s Vasimr engine uses plasma heated by radio waves and guided by magnetic fields.
Ad Astra Rocket Company operated the Vasimr system for 88 continuous hours at 80 kW.
Ad Astra Rocket Company established a new high-power world endurance record in electric propulsion with the VASIMR VX-200SS 88-hour, 80 kW test.
Ad Astra Rocket Company’s VASIMR VX-200SS plasma rocket completed 88 hours of continuous operation at 80 kW at the company’s Texas laboratory near Houston.
Ad Astra Rocket Company completed a 28-hour, 82.5 kW firing of its VASIMR® VX-200SS plasma engine on 2021-06-30 at the company’s Texas research facility near Houston.