NASA Tests High-Powered Plasma Thruster for Future Mars Missions

NASA reported that it successfully tested a high-powered plasma thruster designed to support future crewed missions to Mars. The test took place in February at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California. The lithium-fed magnetoplasmadynamic thruster reached power levels of up to 120 kilowatts during the trial.

Officials said this exceeded the output of current electric propulsion systems used on agency spacecraft, including the system aboard the Psyche asteroid mission.

The prototype uses electromagnetic forces to accelerate lithium plasma instead of relying on chemical reactions. NASA stated that electric propulsion systems can operate continuously over long periods while consuming up to 90 percent less propellant than conventional rockets.

Researchers noted that scaling the technology to megawatt-class power levels could reduce launch mass and allow larger payloads on deep-space flights. Future crewed Mars missions may require between 2 megawatts and 4 megawatts of total propulsion power, according to the agency.

A senior research scientist at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory said the test followed years of design work and confirmed that the thruster met targeted power levels. The agency described the outcome as progress toward operating electric propulsion systems at higher power levels.

NASA's effort occurs alongside similar research by other governments and aerospace organizations exploring advanced electric propulsion for long-duration space travel. Russian state nuclear agency Rosatom has announced its own plasma propulsion concept that could theoretically shorten transit times to Mars.