Benjamin Longmier
Papers
2
Total Citations
60
H-Index
2
About
Benjamin Longmier is a leading figure in advanced electric propulsion, specializing in high-power magnetoplasma rockets for deep-space transportation. His most influential work centers on the Variable Specific Impulse Magnetoplasma Rocket (VASIMR™), a revolutionary thruster capable of modulating specific impulse and thrust at constant power. In his landmark 2011 paper, "VX-200 Magnetoplasma Thruster Performance Results Exceeding Fifty-Percent Thruster Efficiency" (56 citations), Longmier demonstrated that the VX-200 engine could achieve over 50% thruster efficiency, a critical milestone proving the viability of high-power electric propulsion for heavy-payload missions to the Moon and near-Earth asteroids. This breakthrough directly addresses the need to reduce propellant mass and trip times for robotic and piloted interplanetary voyages. Earlier, his 2008 work on the VASIMR VX-100 laid the groundwork for space transportation beyond low Earth orbit, detailing how helicon discharge creates plasma and ion cyclotron resonance heating adds bulk energy. Longmier’s contributions are pivotal for enabling efficient, high-thrust cargo missions and accelerating human exploration of the solar system, cementing his reputation as a key innovator in next-generation space propulsion.
Research Focus
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Top Papers
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