MOSCOW – Scientists at Rosatom have unveiled a plasma electric rocket engine that is claimed to be capable of propelling spacecraft to Mars in just one to two months.
As reported by Russia’s Izvestia newspaper, unlike traditional rocket engines that rely on fuel combustion, this innovative propulsion system utilizes a magnetic plasma accelerator and promises to significantly reduce interplanetary travel time, Interesting Engineering reported.
“A plasma rocket motor is a type of electric motor. It is based on two electrodes. Charged particles are passed between them, and at the same time a high voltage is applied to the electrodes,” Egor Biriulin, a junior researcher at Rosatom’s scientific institute in Troitsk, told Izvestia.
“As a result, the current creates a magnetic field that pushes the particles out of the engine. Thus, the plasma receives directional motion and creates thrust.”
Plasma propulsion offers unprecedented speeds
Under this approach, hydrogen is used as fuel, and the engine accelerates charged particles – electrons and protons – to a speed of 100 km/s (62 miles/s).
“In traditional power units, the maximum velocity of matter flow is about 4.5 km/s, which is due to the conditions of fuel combustion. In contrast, in our engine, the working body is charged particles that are accelerated by an electromagnetic field,” said Alexei Voronov, first deputy general director for science at the Troitsk Institute, as reported by Izvestia.
A faster journey to Mars would not only increase efficiency but also minimize the risks associated with prolonged exposure to cosmic radiation for astronauts.
A laboratory prototype of the engine has already been developed at Rosatom’s Troitsk Institute.
This prototype will be subjected to extensive ground testing to refine its operational modes and pave the way for the creation of a flight model, expected to be ready by 2030.
“The engine operates in pulse-periodic mode. Its power is about 300 kW. Earlier, the engine resource of more than 2400 h was justified, which is enough for a transportation operation to Mars,” Konstantin Gutorov, the project’s scientific adviser, told the Russian newspaper.
Testing of plasma engine
To facilitate testing, a specialized experimental stand has been built to simulate the conditions of space. This 4-meter diameter, 14-meter long chamber is equipped with advanced sensors, vacuum pumping systems, and heat removal mechanisms.
While the initial launch into orbit will rely on traditional chemical rockets, the plasma engine will be activated once the spacecraft reaches its designated orbit. This technology could also be incorporated into space tugs used for transporting cargo between planets.
The engine’s design involves two electrodes with a high voltage applied across them. As charged particles pass between the electrodes, a magnetic field is created, propelling the particles out of the engine and generating thrust.
“Another positive feature of the new installation – in the proposed mechanism, the plasma does not need to be strongly heated. As a result, parts and components of the engine do not experience temperature overloads, and the electrical energy used for its operation is almost completely converted into motion,” concluded Biriulin.
