Traveling to Mars in just one month moves closer to reality with Russian plasma propulsion technology
The scientific community surprised everyone by announcing the development of a prototype plasma electric motor capable of achieving unprecedented speeds in space. The technology promises to reduce the journey to Mars from nearly a year to just one month, if tests confirm its effectiveness. This breakthrough could mark a significant milestone in the history of space exploration.
Rosatom’s Promise
A plasma engine, based on a plasma magnetic accelerator, accelerates charged particles between two electrodes subjected to high voltage. This interaction expels particles with a constant thrust, achieving speeds of over 100 km per second. With this technology, the journey to Mars could potentially be reduced to just 30-60 days, compared to the six months currently required. The plasma engine is also up to ten times more efficient in fuel usage, potentially reducing costs and making manned missions more viable.
How does the plasma engine work?
The principle behind the plasma engine is simple in theory, yet complex in execution. The interaction between the electric current and the magnetic field expels particles with a constant thrust, resulting in:
– Speed reached: over 100 km per second
– Thrust: at least 6 Newtons
– Fuel consumption: up to ten times lower than that of a chemical rocket
In practical terms, this means greater efficiency, less mass launched, and crucial factors for the viability of long missions with astronauts and supplies.
A Future in the Making
To validate this system, construction of an experimental complex in Troitsk, Moscow has begun, with a 14-meter vacuum chamber designed to simulate space conditions. Large-scale tests will be conducted before sending prototypes into space by 2030. This development is part of a larger plan involving the creation of nuclear space tugs that could transport large payloads and satellites across the solar system, potentially reducing costs and expanding scientific and commercial exploration possibilities.
Challenges remain in achieving and sustaining the necessary speed for a 30-day journey to Mars, as well as integrating nuclear energy for powering the engine. Despite these obstacles, faster missions could lead to human colonies on Mars, research bases in the asteroid belt, and trips to the moons of Jupiter or Saturn, ultimately reshaping the geopolitics of space exploration. While there is currently only a prototype and a ten-year plan, the possibility of traveling to Mars in just one month is no longer a distant fantasy, but a tangible goal on the horizon.
