Could Experimental Plasma Engine Rockets Get Us to Mars in 30 days?

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For many years, discussions have revolved around journeying to Mars, but so far, we haven’t figured out a way to transport people there and back safely within a reasonable timeframe. The challenge lies primarily in the vast distance and the constraints of traditional rockets, not forgetting that both planets are constantly moving.

For a lunar expedition, it’s advantageous that the Moon maintains a fairly consistent distance from us. In contrast, Mars orbits the Sun independently, causing the distances and travel times between Earth and Mars to fluctuate significantly. To minimize travel time, we could launch when the planets are nearest, but by the time we reach Mars, perform our mission, and return, the planets would have moved apart, lengthening the journey back. Currently, a manned mission to Mars could take approximately two to three years in total.

There aren’t many options for altering the vast distances between planets, but planets will naturally follow their course. However, we may have the potential to design more advanced rockets. Intriguingly, researchers at Rosatum, a Russian state-owned organization, have unveiled a prototype plasma electric engine, claiming it could potentially cut Mars travel time down to just 30 days.

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Russian plasma engines could get us to Mars in 30 days, scientists say

In the first episode of the iconic science fiction series “Farscape” in 1999, the character John Crichton – from the imaginary International Aeronautics and Space Administration (IASA) – traveled into space aboard a shuttle. After reaching orbit, he entered a prototype spaceship named Farscape-1, expecting a brief journey around Earth.

The spacecraft he built was constructed to harness Earth’s gravitational pull like a catapult, enabling it to reach astonishing speeds and pave the way for interstellar exploration. However, he ended up being drawn into a wormhole and carried across the universe. In our reality, researchers are exploring innovative propulsion methods that might not yet lead to manned interstellar travel, but could make interplanetary journeys more feasible.

Traditional rockets like those launched from Cape Canaveral combine liquid hydrogen fuel with liquid oxygen as an oxidizer, which are ignited within a combustion chamber. When this mixture burns, it breaks apart and the energy produced propels the spacecraft forward. This process follows Newton’s third law, where for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. The speed achievable by these rockets is limited due to the maximum velocity of the matter flowing through their engine, which typically reaches around 2.8 miles per second.

As an enthusiast, I’m thrilled to share that researchers at Rosatom have fabricated a lab-scale prototype of a plasma electric engine. This engine promises faster matter flow velocities due to its unique design. Unlike traditional engines, it runs on hydrogen fuel, which is both lightweight for easier acceleration and abundant. Instead of using an oxidizer, hydrogen particles are accelerated between two electrodes while applying high voltage. A magnetic field is generated, propelling the particles out the back of the engine at astonishing speeds, reaching up to 62 miles per second!

The engine is currently under development, being tested inside a unique facility that mimics space conditions. Our aim is to have a functional model ready for flight by 2030. If everything proceeds as intended, a spacecraft will initially be launched using traditional rockets, followed by igniting the onboard nuclear reactor and transitioning to the plasma engine. Approximately one or two months later, we anticipate the experimental spacecraft will reach Mars. Fingers crossed it won’t accidentally enter a wormhole during the journey!

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2025-02-13 22:32