Ad Astra Rocket Company is a private aerospace company focused on developing advanced propulsion systems for space exploration. Founded in 2005 by Franklin Chang-Díaz, a former NASA astronaut, the company aims to create innovative technologies that can significantly reduce travel time to destinations like Mars and beyond. The company's flagship project is the VASMIR (Variable Specific Impulse Magnetoplasma Rocket) engine, which uses plasma to generate thrust. This technology has the potential to enable faster and more efficient space travel, making it a key player in the future of human space exploration and commercial spaceflight.