Russia’s nuclear research corporation Rosatom has announced that it has developed a new plasma engine that could revolutionize space travel. According to Izvestia newspaper, this propulsion system will make it possible to reach Mars in just 30 to 60 days. Unlike conventional chemical rockets, this new engine uses a magnetic plasma accelerator to provide thrust instead of burning fuel. Here are the details…

Will Russia’s new plasma engine make it possible to travel to Mars in 30 days?

According to Rosatom, plasma engines can accelerate electrons and protons up to 100 kilometers per second using hydrogen fuel. By comparison, in conventional rockets this speed is around 4.5 kilometers per second. This will greatly shorten the journey to Mars and significantly reduce the amount of radiation astronauts will be exposed to.

Currently, a laboratory prototype of the plasma engine is being tested at Rosatom’s Troitsk Research Institute. In the experiments conducted so far, the engine has been able to operate continuously for more than 2,400 hours. By 2030, it is planned to develop a full-scale flight model. However, since independent scientific verifications have not yet been published, it is unclear whether the engine will actually achieve the promised performance.

Meanwhile, in recent years, the US, Chinese and private space companies are already working on nuclear and plasma-based propulsion systems. US-based RocketStar Inc. recently unveiled the FireStar Drive, a fusion-powered electric propulsion engine. In addition, the US Space Force has allocated $35 million in funding to a project led by the University of Michigan that aims to develop electric propulsion systems using microreactors.

Clearly, Russia’s plasma engine seems to be a major advance in the race, although it is worth noting that the technology has yet to be independently scientifically validated. But if successful, it could be a major milestone in humanity’s exploration of deep space.