NASA GOING TOP SECRET PROJECT PROMETHEUS

Prometheus

Just as fire was taken from the Gods, and given to man, so too is the tech involved with this craft....though taken from aliens, and given to man, hehe.....

www.space.com...

NASA�s Project Prometheus Gets New Agenda, Changes

By: Brian Berger
Space News Staff Writer




Project Prometheus, NASA�s multibillion-dollar nuclear power and propulsion initiative, has a new home inside the U.S. space agency.

Begun as the Nuclear Systems Initiative in 2002, the program was given a new name in 2003, a bigger budget and its first mission: the Jupiter Icy Moons Orbiter (JIMO).

Now, with an ambitious new space exploration agenda handed down by the White House, NASA is making more changes to Project Prometheus.

JIMO�s launch date is slipping and responsibility for developing the nuclear systems NASA says it needs to kick solar system exploration into high gear is being given to the newly established Exploration Systems Enterprise. The new enterprise will be headed by retired U.S. Navy Adm. Craig Steidle, a veteran of the Pentagon�s Joint Strike Fighter program.

The move takes the bulk of Project Prometheus and its funding -- expected to top $438 million in 2005 � away from NASA�s Space Science Enterprise.

Ed Weiler, NASA associate administrator for space science, said his organization remains in charge of setting the science guidelines for the JIMO mission and will continue to oversee the development of the radioisotope power generators -- essentially plutonium-powered batteries -- the agency needs for a long-lasting science rover it is launching to Mars in 2009.

The rest of Project Prometheus, including the design and development of the JIMO spacecraft and its nuclear propulsion system, is moving to Steidle�s organization, literally just down the hall from Weiler�s office at NASA headquarters here.

rest of article click on link above

In reading this, I wonder where NASA stands on the VASIMR research:

"Magnetoplasma Propulsion"
www4.nationalacademies.org...

"Superfast VASIMR Rocket in Funding Limbo"
www.space.com...

"Alumnus/astronaut Chang-Diaz describes missions, new propulsion system research"
web.mit.edu...

Excerpt"
"Dr. Chang-Diaz then presented a summary of his research on plasma rocket engines and the VASIMR (variable specific impulse magnetic resonance) propulsion system. This engine uses plentiful hydrogen fuel and ion cyclotron resonance heating to create ionized plasma, which is controlled using a nozzle based on a magnetic field. The three-stage plasma rocket engine can achieve variable specific impulse and thrust at maximum power and can be used to achieve continuous acceleration."


Between the VASIMR proposed propulsion system, ion drive/propulsion and Prometheus, 50 or so years from now, humans should be roaming solar system and beyond quite decently.


regards
seekerof