Launch a Water-Propelled Satellite into Deep Space

http://pepl.engin.umich.edu/thrusters/CAT.html

"First, from a propellant tank, our fuel propellant will be injected from its storage tank into the plasma liner, a quartz chamber that distributes the gas and contains the plasma. The gas is turned into a plasma by a radio frequency antenna that surrounds the liner and launches a plasma wave known as a "helicon." Then the plasma is launched out of the liner with magnetic fields from extremely powerful permanent magnets, pushing the satellite in the opposite direction. Unlike conventional rockets, almost any gas can be used as propellant for the CAT - even water vapor! "

Some ion engines use electrostatics (charged grids) for accelerating the ions. Maybe here it's just their random movement?

Here's the noble gas helicon double layer thruster, I don't know how related the CAT is related to this: http://physics.anu.edu.au/prl/sp3/hdlt/how_does_it_work.php

I have seen even Nasa uses Spaaaaaace as a word.

Anyone have an explanation?

http://www.nasa.gov/content/blue-origin-test-fires-new-rocke...