(Christopher) wrote in message ...
Liquid propellant rocket engines have the engine on a gimbals frame so
servo motors can move the exhaust a few degrees in the X and Y axis so
the rocket can be steered.

Would a plasma rocket engine have a similar mechanical frame work, or
as the plasma is electrically conductive and is afected by magnetic
fields would you have the enging in a ridgid frame work and have a
circular ring of electromagnetic nozzle elements or a ring of magnetic
panels so you can pitch and yaw the plasma stream for a turning force
for direction like the gimbals on a liquid propelled rocket does?

I didn't see any mention of this on the VASIMR site. It's a neat idea,
but I'm sure a mechanical method would win because:
1. It would be cheaper, given the low thrusts involved
2. There would be no cosine losses

Though thinking about it, you'd probably just turn the whole ship.
That would work at the low forces and accelerations typical of
electric propulsion.