Russia’s state nuclear corporation, Rosatom, has unveiled a prototype plasma rocket engine that could cut travel time to Mars from the usual 300 days to just 30–60 days. Developed by scientists at the Troitsk Institute, the engine uses magnetic plasma accelerators to propel hydrogen ions at speeds up to 100 km/s (about 223,000 mph), far beyond the 4.5 km/s limit of conventional chemical rockets.
For decades, Mars has loomed as both a tantalizing destination and a stubborn challenge. The Red Planet is close enough to capture humanity’s imagination, yet far enough to expose the …
Russia’s state nuclear corporation, Rosatom, has unveiled a prototype plasma rocket engine that could cut travel time to Mars from the usual 300 days to just 30–60 days. Developed by scientists at the Troitsk Institute, the engine uses magnetic plasma accelerators to propel hydrogen ions at speeds up to 100 km/s (about 223,000 mph), far beyond the 4.5 km/s limit of conventional chemical rockets. Read More