While we were watching that shiny balloon last week, the internet was abuzz over the news that deep-space exploration just became much faster — and more likely. It’s what Zandar, Mighty Destroyer of Stupid , calls an “ Epic Civ4 Technology Win .”

Two developments coincide to make this possible.

The first is called a “plasma rocket.” While that sounds very Star Trek-y, it’s actually a new variation on the “ion engine” propulsion system proposed by Werner Von Braun’s colleague Hermann Oberth and first used on the Deep Space 1 mission. But the VASIMR engine (Variable Specific-Impulse Magnetoplasma Rocket) is much faster. Here’s a short video of one being test-fired at an Ad Astra lab:



Basically, the VASIMR engine creates plasma. That’s really, really hot matter. It’s so hot that it provides thrust. It’s enough to provide a gentle nudge in gravity, but in the vacuum of space it’s enough to accelerate. Plus, you don’t use fuel nearly as fast as a chemical rocket.

So the plasma rocket won’t get your spaceship off the ground by itself. You still need an old-fashioned liftoff rocket. But once in orbit, this new rocket can do a neat trick: by combining the VASIMR plasma rocket with the Earth’s gravity to create a slingshot effect, it can cut transits to Mars down to just thirty-nine days. That’s fast enough to think about putting humans on Mars. Surprisingly, or perhaps not, there are plenty of scientists who would like to go.

Automated lunar tugs could resupply a moon base or pre-position supplies for a Mars base, making human travel more possible and safer.

In fact, the entire solar system is more open to exploration. With better thrust, deep-space probes can take more equipment and solve some real mysteries. Here’s a sample animation of a mission to Titan, Saturn’s moon, using both new technologies:



The new engine was designed by former NASA astronaut Ronald Chang-Diaz in cooperation with NASA. Scientists at Ad Astra’s Houston laboratory have focused on building the engine’s power while Costa Rica works on endurance.

Globalization is critical in getting humans off this lone rock. As for what lies beyond the solar system…well, there have been some developments.

And what do you know…we CAN build a flying saucer!