Paradigm shift: Russia develops plasma electric rocket engine to reach Mars in 30 days

The race to develop a powerful rocket engine capable of reaching Mars in just 30 to 60 days has intensified, with Russia unveiling a groundbreaking plasma electric rocket engine. Developed by Rosatom's Troitsk Institute, the new technology could drastically reduce current space travel durations, which presently take nearly a year. By using hydrogen as fuel, the engine minimizes both weight and volume, significantly enhancing efficiency and making deep-space missions more viable.

Unlike conventional chemical rockets that rely on combustion, the new plasma electric engine accelerates ions using a strong electric field.

Traditional rockets are limited to speeds of around 4.5 km per second due to combustion constraints, but the plasma engine utilizes charged particles propelled by an electromagnetic field, enabling unprecedented velocity and efficiency. READ: Elon Musk's SpaceX eyes £350 billion valuation, could surpass ByteDance[1] (December 3, 2024)

According to Konstantin Gutorov, the project's scientific adviser, "A prototype engine has now been prepared. It is intended for ground testing and development of various engine operating modes.

Our goal is to demonstrate the prototype's operation in a pulse-periodic mode." The engine is expected to be flight-ready by 2030, with a power output of approximately 300 kW. Previous tests have justified an engine resource of more than 2,400 hours, sufficient for a full transportation operation to Mars.

The plasma propulsion system can propel spacecraft to speeds of up to 195,000 miles per hour while generating a robust 300 kW of power. Scientists believe this breakthrough will not only revolutionize interplanetary travel but also reduce astronauts' exposure to harmful cosmic radiation--a crucial factor in long-duration missions beyond Earth's protective magnetic field.

Egor, one of the lead researchers, explained that the engine harnesses energy from a nuclear reactor while using hydrogen, the universe's most abundant element, as its primary propellant.

Hydrogen's lightweight properties enable the engine to reach high speeds efficiently, and future missions may allow astronauts to collect hydrogen en route rather than carrying excessive fuel from Earth. This capability could pave the way for sustained deep-space exploration.

Transforming Space Travel

Russia is not alone in the technological pursuit to develop a plasma electric rocket engine. Italy and the European Union are actively researching similar propulsion systems, while NASA has been working on the Pulsed Plasma Rocket (PPR), nuclear propulsion, and the Torpor Inducing Transfer Habitat -- to enhance speed, efficiency, and astronaut endurance during extended space missions.

NASA is also addressing another crucial challenge--sustaining deep-space missions with efficient fuel management.

It is working on a liquefaction system designed to convert oxygen from gas to liquid on Mars and the Moon, making refueling possible for future expeditions. The system employs advanced cryogenic technology to cool oxygen to extreme temperatures, ensuring it remains in a liquid state despite the harsh conditions of space. READ: Sunita Williams grows romaine lettuce on International Space Station[2] (December 6, 2024)

Though cryogenic fluids such as liquid hydrogen, methane, and oxygen are key to space propulsion and life support, managing these fluids in space has remained a significant challenge due to extreme temperature fluctuations, low gravity, and storage constraints.

NASA's Cryogenic Fluid Management (CFM) portfolio, led by its Glenn Research Center and Marshall Space Flight Center, is actively developing techniques to mitigate boiloff, improve fuel transfer, and enhance storage efficiency.

Lauren Ameen, deputy CFM portfolio manager, last year emphasized the complexity of the challenge, stating, "Our future mission concepts rely on massive amounts of cryogenic fluids.

We must figure out how to efficiently use them over long durations, which requires new technologies far exceeding today's capabilities."

Amid these advancements, Russia's plasma electric rocket engine has accelerated progress in propulsion technology, bringing the vision of Mars and Moon colonization closer to reality.

References

1. ^ READ: Elon Musk's SpaceX eyes £350 billion valuation, could surpass ByteDance (americanbazaaronline.com)
2. ^ READ: Sunita Williams grows romaine lettuce on International Space Station (americanbazaaronline.com)