tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3714686367745306562008-01-24T12:48:12.431-08:00VASIMRB^2Blogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-371468636774530656.post-53494147056318326482007-10-10T18:42:00.001-07:002007-10-10T18:48:46.408-07:00Ad Astra Rocket Company's new vacuum chamber (35 ft long, 15 ft in dia.), which is large enough to drive a full size school bus into!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.plasmaben.com/VASIMR/uploaded_images/DSC02053-%28Large%29-740263.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://www.plasmaben.com/VASIMR/uploaded_images/DSC02053-%28Large%29-740260.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a>B^2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-371468636774530656.post-72958060865858914182007-10-10T18:27:00.000-07:002007-10-10T18:39:43.709-07:00Final check of the force paddle before we seal up the vacuum chamber.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.plasmaben.com/VASIMR/uploaded_images/2007-09-14-022-779130.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://www.plasmaben.com/VASIMR/uploaded_images/2007-09-14-022-778712.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>B^2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-371468636774530656.post-54104198090360668002007-10-10T18:15:00.000-07:002007-10-10T18:27:05.663-07:00Installing the new graphite force paddle on the translation stage in the vacuum chamber<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.plasmaben.com/VASIMR/uploaded_images/2007-09-14-005-736862.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://www.plasmaben.com/VASIMR/uploaded_images/2007-09-14-005-736277.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>We wear gloves and boots in an effort to keep the chamber clean. This typically helps with our pump down times if we are really careful inside the chamber.B^2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-371468636774530656.post-88650790372610211072007-10-10T18:12:00.001-07:002007-10-10T18:15:49.242-07:00Ben (left), Jacob (center), Chris (right) installing a force paddle and an RPA on a translation stage<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.plasmaben.com/VASIMR/uploaded_images/Ben-Jacob-Chris-777764.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://www.plasmaben.com/VASIMR/uploaded_images/Ben-Jacob-Chris-777280.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a>B^2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-371468636774530656.post-85642279770540044462007-10-10T18:09:00.000-07:002007-10-10T18:41:38.578-07:00This is the test section, between the rocket and the vacuum chamber. This is where many of the diagnostics go.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.plasmaben.com/VASIMR/uploaded_images/2007-09-14-001-777677.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://www.plasmaben.com/VASIMR/uploaded_images/2007-09-14-001-777246.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><img src="file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Casey/Desktop/temp/2007-09-14%20001.jpg" alt="" />B^2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-371468636774530656.post-23751562908192066272007-10-04T13:01:00.000-07:002007-10-04T13:22:06.857-07:00Plasma diagnostic probe in the exhaust of VX-100. This is a windshield wiper like probe that produces a 2-D map of the plasma exhaust.<a href="http://www.plasmaben.com/VASIMR/uploaded_images/jsc2007e048560-763249.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://www.plasmaben.com/VASIMR/uploaded_images/jsc2007e048560-762738.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://www.plasmaben.com/VASIMR/uploaded_images/jsc2007e048561-796802.jpg"></a><br /><br /><div></div></div>B^2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-371468636774530656.post-85543711806601992522007-10-04T12:57:00.000-07:002007-10-04T13:00:59.834-07:00The Plasma Reaction (PR) Paddle being pummeled in the plasma rocket exhaust of the VX-100. Other plasma diagnostics can be seen in the background.<a href="http://www.plasmaben.com/VASIMR/uploaded_images/jsc2007e048567-758487.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://www.plasmaben.com/VASIMR/uploaded_images/jsc2007e048567-757836.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div>B^2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-371468636774530656.post-69173217396652000042007-10-04T12:55:00.001-07:002007-10-04T12:57:05.173-07:00John Young and I discussing the future of space flight<a href="http://www.plasmaben.com/VASIMR/uploaded_images/jsc2007e048564-769260.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://www.plasmaben.com/VASIMR/uploaded_images/jsc2007e048564-768706.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div>B^2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-371468636774530656.post-14054195488381910422007-10-04T12:53:00.000-07:002007-10-04T12:55:41.402-07:00Franklin discussing the details of plasma confinement within VASIMR with John Young<a href="http://www.plasmaben.com/VASIMR/uploaded_images/jsc2007e048565-729806.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://www.plasmaben.com/VASIMR/uploaded_images/jsc2007e048565-729259.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div>B^2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-371468636774530656.post-26943927294299742002007-10-04T12:49:00.000-07:002007-10-04T12:51:46.041-07:00Dr. Ben Longmier (me) describing some of the details of VASIMR operation to two of our guests<a href="http://www.plasmaben.com/VASIMR/uploaded_images/jsc2007e048569-702293.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://www.plasmaben.com/VASIMR/uploaded_images/jsc2007e048569-701737.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div>B^2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-371468636774530656.post-71728047960918854262007-10-04T12:46:00.000-07:002007-10-04T12:49:03.776-07:00Franklin talking about recent Ad Astra Rocket Company progress<a href="http://www.plasmaben.com/VASIMR/uploaded_images/jsc2007e048571-718857.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://www.plasmaben.com/VASIMR/uploaded_images/jsc2007e048571-718311.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div>B^2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-371468636774530656.post-64566343923353645312007-10-04T12:41:00.000-07:002007-10-04T12:45:56.793-07:00Franklin talking about recent Ad Astra Rocket Company progress<a href="http://www.plasmaben.com/VASIMR/uploaded_images/jsc2007e048572-737211.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://www.plasmaben.com/VASIMR/uploaded_images/jsc2007e048572-736773.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div>B^2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-371468636774530656.post-63644808967121132372007-10-04T12:39:00.000-07:002007-10-04T12:41:16.847-07:00John Young firing the second to last VASIMR shot (sitting)<a href="http://www.plasmaben.com/VASIMR/uploaded_images/jsc2007e048575-787609.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://www.plasmaben.com/VASIMR/uploaded_images/jsc2007e048575-787148.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div>B^2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-371468636774530656.post-78790011141382480062007-10-03T14:43:00.000-07:002008-01-24T12:48:12.550-08:00The last VASIMR shot, fired by George Abbey (sitting). Dr. Franklin Chang-Diaz (left), John Young (blue shirt), Art Dula, Michele Brekke (black suit)<a href="http://www.plasmaben.com/VASIMR/uploaded_images/jsc2007e048576-709479.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://www.plasmaben.com/VASIMR/uploaded_images/jsc2007e048576-708950.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Also in the scene: Ben Longmier (crayola blue polo), Jacob Chancery (green shirt)<br /><br /><div></div>B^2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-371468636774530656.post-74588220412691912422007-10-03T12:43:00.000-07:002007-10-03T14:42:56.327-07:00Dr. Franklin Chang-Diaz (left), John Young (center), George Abbey (right) discuss the future of VASIMR<a href="http://www.plasmaben.com/VASIMR/uploaded_images/jsc2007e048579-731344.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://www.plasmaben.com/VASIMR/uploaded_images/jsc2007e048579-730670.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div>B^2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-371468636774530656.post-7811051706681772372007-10-03T11:50:00.000-07:002007-10-03T12:43:06.909-07:00me (left), John Young (center), George Abbey (right)<a href="http://www.plasmaben.com/VASIMR/uploaded_images/jsc2007e048580-741999.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://www.plasmaben.com/VASIMR/uploaded_images/jsc2007e048580-741464.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div>B^2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-371468636774530656.post-63592387130091201532007-10-03T11:47:00.000-07:002007-10-03T11:49:01.488-07:00some inspiring thoughts from Franklin on the direction of the company and VASIMR<a href="http://www.plasmaben.com/VASIMR/uploaded_images/jsc2007e048582-757839.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://www.plasmaben.com/VASIMR/uploaded_images/jsc2007e048582-757370.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div>B^2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-371468636774530656.post-62834251913788313962007-10-03T11:34:00.000-07:002007-10-03T11:46:54.652-07:00A champagne toast after the last shot<a href="http://www.plasmaben.com/VASIMR/uploaded_images/jsc2007e048584-742552.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://www.plasmaben.com/VASIMR/uploaded_images/jsc2007e048584-741984.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div>B^2