Ad Astra Rocket Company
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aerospace |
| Founded | 2005 |
| Founder | Franklin Chang-Díaz |
| Headquarters | Webster, Texas , United States |
Area served | Global (including Liberia, Costa Rica) |
Key people | Franklin Chang-Díaz (CEO) |
| Products | Variable Specific Impulse Magnetoplasma Rocket (VASIMR) |
| Website | www |
The Ad Astra Rocket Company, established in Delaware in 2005, is a leader in cutting-edge plasma rocket propulsion technologies. Its main office is situated in Webster, Texas, close to NASA's Johnson Space Center, and it operates a subsidiary located in Liberia, Costa Rica. The firm's primary focus is the development of the Variable Specific Impulse Magnetoplasma Rocket (VASIMR), a propulsion system invented by retired astronaut and company CEO Franklin Chang-Díaz. VASIMR is designed to outperform conventional chemical rockets by facilitating cargo transport to the Moon, enabling refueling in orbit, and supporting fast missions into deep space.
Ad Astra Rocket Company Costa Rica (AARC CR), a fully owned branch founded in 2005, is based on the campus of EARTH University near Liberia in Guanacaste Province. The Costa Rican team successfully generated plasma for the first time in 2006. After rigorous testing of a 200 kW ground-based VASIMR engine, the company plans to undertake a three-year flight demonstration to confirm the technology’s viability.
In March 2015, NASA selected Ad Astra for its NextSTEP initiative, which backs critical advancements in deep-space propulsion. As of mid-2021, this collaboration remains active, with Ad Astra working towards NASA’s objective of achieving a continuous 100-hour VASIMR operation at 100 kilowatts—highlighting its prominent role and potential impact within the space propulsion sector.
History
The VASIMR system represents an innovative plasma rocket propulsion concept developed by Franklin Chang-Díaz, who is both a founder of the company and a former NASA astronaut with seven shuttle flights. After his NASA retirement in 2005, Chang-Díaz founded Ad Astra Rocket Company to bring VASIMR technology to commercial readiness.
In June 2013, Ad Astra reached a significant milestone by completing a Preliminary Design Review (PDR) with NASA for its VF-200 engine, advancing toward testing aboard the International Space Station. On August 1, 2024, NASA granted $10 million to Ad Astra under its "12 Next Space Technologies for Exploration Partnership" program to continue VASIMR development aimed at enabling rapid Mars transit within just 39 days—approximately ten times faster than chemical propulsion systems while consuming only one-tenth of the fuel.
200 kW engine
Ad Astra created the VX-200, a full-scale prototype of the VASIMR engine, which underwent successful testing in September 2009. This achievement laid the groundwork for developing the VF-200-1 flight model. The VASIMR technology seeks to shorten travel time between Earth and Mars from eight months to less than four months; nuclear-powered variants could reduce round-trip durations to under five months. Additionally, smaller solar-powered versions are intended for satellite maneuvering and lunar cargo delivery.
By 2010, Ad Astra was focusing on space tug applications as a solution to orbital debris issues. Midway through 2012, testing revealed a 10% boost in efficiency at medium specific impulse levels due to redesigns of key components and software improvements—resulting in enhanced payload capabilities and shorter mission durations.
By June 2013, Ad Astra had finalized the VF-200 PDR as part of its ongoing product development efforts. By July 2021, multiple extended-duration firings of the updated VF-200SS engine had been completed, including an endurance test lasting 88 hours at high power. A continuous 100-hour run at 100 kW was planned as the final verification step before space deployment, potentially scheduled as early as 2023.