Russian scientists have unveiled an ambitious new plasma engine that could drastically cut the travel time to Mars, reducing the journey from several months to just one or two. If successful, this breakthrough could redefine interplanetary exploration and bring humanity closer to deep-space travel. But is this cutting-edge technology ready for real-world missions, or is it just another sci-fi dream?
The Science Behind the Plasma Engine
Developed by Rosatom’s Troitsk Institute, this revolutionary magnetoplasma propulsion system functions differently from traditional chemical rockets. Instead of burning fuel to generate thrust, it uses electromagnetic fields to accelerate charged particles—primarily hydrogen ions—to extreme speeds of 100 km/s (360,000 km/h). By comparison, conventional rockets can only achieve 4.5 km/s due to the limitations of combustion.
Unlike chemical propulsion, which delivers an initial burst of speed but then coasts, plasma engines provide continuous thrust, allowing spacecraft to accelerate steadily over time. This sustained acceleration could allow a spacecraft to reach Mars in 30 to 60 days, significantly reducing astronauts’ exposure to cosmic radiation and psychological strain during the voyage.
A Prototype Already in Testing
This isn’t just a theoretical concept—scientists at Rosatom have already built a working prototype of the plasma engine, which is currently undergoing ground tests. The experimental setup includes a 4-meter-wide and 14-meter-long vacuum chamber designed to replicate space conditions. The engine operates in a pulse-periodic mode, with a power output of 300 kW, and has demonstrated a lifespan of 2,400 hours, long enough for a Mars-bound journey.
Once operational, the plasma engine will not replace traditional chemical rockets but will instead take over once a spacecraft reaches orbit. The system could also be used as a space tug, transporting cargo between planetary orbits much faster than current technology allows.
Why Hydrogen? The Ultimate Space Fuel
One of the key innovations behind this engine is its use of hydrogen as the primary propellant. Hydrogen’s advantages include:
- Lightweight and abundant: It is the most common element in the universe and can potentially be harvested in space.
- Efficient acceleration: Lighter atoms allow for faster ion acceleration, maximizing propulsion efficiency.
- Lower heat generation: Unlike other plasma propulsion methods, this system doesn’t require extreme temperatures, reducing wear and tear on engine components.
How Does It Compare to Existing Technology?
While plasma propulsion isn’t a new concept, the speeds claimed by Rosatom—100 km/s—are far beyond the capabilities of existing ion thrusters, which typically max out at 30-50 km/s. If these claims hold up, Russia could be decades ahead of competitors in advanced propulsion systems.
Currently, NASA’s Psyche mission and several OneWeb satellites already use Russian-made plasma thrusters, demonstrating the country’s expertise in this field. However, this new system aims to take plasma propulsion to an entirely new level.
When could this engine be space-ready?
The roadmap for this technology is ambitious. According to the project’s scientific advisor, a flight-ready model of the engine is expected to be completed by 2030. While this timeline might seem optimistic, Russia’s track record in space propulsion gives the project credibility.
If successful, this innovation could open the door for faster missions to Mars, deep-space exploration, and even the possibility of reaching the outer solar system within a human lifetime.
A Game-Changer or Just Hype?
While the idea of reaching Mars in one to two months sounds incredible, several challenges remain:
- Independent verification: No peer-reviewed studies have confirmed the engine’s performance yet.
- Integration with spacecraft: How will it be incorporated into future Mars missions?
- Energy source: A nuclear power supply will likely be needed, adding complexity to the design.
Despite these uncertainties, if this technology delivers on its promises, it could mark a new era in space exploration. Whether it becomes a reality or remains a futuristic concept, the idea of a 30-day journey to Mars is closer than ever before.
The article was originally published in En.iz.ru.
Rubbish
Oh, so because it goes against Elon, all of a sudden Russia is good, right?
You people are sick in the head.
What’s the difference between this and VASMIR. …”variable specific impulse magnetoplasmic rocket”? It a accelerates hydrogen as a plasma using microwaves magnetic confinement and a resonance accelerator. This article doesn’t describe how the device functions at all. This sounds the same except for acceleration of xenon or argon, it accelerates hydrogen. This the high speed of the exhaust.
Sooo speed-up game is strong but… how is the slow down game? Cuz yaknow… getting there as fast as possible is sweet and all but being able to stop when you arrive is another.
Forgive me, but: Yawn!
Entrepreneurs in the US have had a similar plasma rocket called VASIMR under development for about 25 years.
There is a huge problem with these plasma engines. They work on electrical power. To get high thrust at high specific impulse (“efficiency”) requires megawatts of power. There is no way to get around this. The requirement is a rigid as F=mA or E=mc^2. But any megawatt-class power source, such as a big solar panel or a nuclear reactor, would be so heavy that any advantage is lost.
Lol so let’s all a sudden trust russias ingenuity and innovation over known working models. They barely probed Venus and it took how many attempts? Lmao
Sounds good in theory. Let’s see if it works out.
US doing nything in this field – if so where are they?
Sounds very promising, but expect many issues to arise over time. Control of the engine and over heating come to mind.
Article taken from propaganda media. These days russian media is trying to lift nationalistic mood of the people in order to justify the invasion to Ukrain. Not very much reliable source of news :).
It’s the same tech the U.S. has been theorizing for a few decades yes; but, anytime someone outside can tweak things and discover an even better way to the process, is still better, and move humanity that much closer to the stars. Incremental Steps my friends.
This technology has been in process for years. What you do not mention is A) It is orgionally created by the U.S. B) It was already in use on the ion-plasma powered Dawn NASA powered spacecraft to propel it toward the Asteroid Ceres in 2015. C) It take Ion-plasma spacecraft months to years to reach high speeds, so unless you have one already orbiting the earth, and you could actually catch up to it to board without both exploding, that would be the ONLY way to reach mars in 30 days, as it would take almost 30 days in space to get a stationary ion-plasma craft up to 1/10 speed of a conventional spacecraft, as it take over 4 days to get over 60 mph.
Whether we like it or not, the Russians are far ahead of our OLD USofA. Our arrogance and ignorance is our problem.
Top three scientifically developed countries:
1. China
2. Russia
3. USA
@Roger
Forgive me but Yawn!
Why have entrepreneurs in US been developing it for 25 years if it has such an obvious disadvantage? Putting aside the possibility of being government funded and leeching money, when do they expect a flight ready model? Another 25 is good enough?
Also as it’s written in the article it wouldn’t be used for liftoff and once in space it would tug the load. Did you even read or you got opinionated after 2 sentences?
@Jack
Space X is blowing something up every week, what are you talking about?
Well, the Rissians will be able to claim land in Mars cause they’ll be the first ones there. They can call it New Russia. They could put weapons on Mars. Great job America! This is why our education system is so important. But we are throwing our kids future away and giving them to foreigners.
So the people who can’t figure out Rubber tires or precision GPS, or how to beat a small group of Ukrainian Nazis, suddenly have figured out high speed space travel?
Dear Gerald,
You jump to the conclusion that he likes Musk at all based on one word and he’s sick in the head. Riigghhhhht. You are a moron be quiet smart people are talking.
Who writes these articles? They’re packed with mistakes a human probably wouldn’t make. Point being I think this was written by an AI just so someone could make their very small little political jibe.
I got one on my feed not too long ago talking about China and their “artificial sun” (Which is literally an aluminum water tank with like four household AC units bolted to the top.) and how they’d managed some odd minutes of confinement and produced like a gigajoule of positive gain or something equally laughable.
I thought then that it was clear China was claiming so but left unclear was the reason they were writing about a claim that is just that. No evidentiary backing or even a clearly annunciated argument as to why I should, you know; take there word for it. Nevermind a peer reviewed opinion on a thesis that was never saw the light of day.
Just insert Russia for China and bam! I’m done for the day.😏
Anything that furthers musk and spacex going down the tubes is a fine thing. He has lost his mind. And China asked.him.to turn off his star link system over Taiwan and he bowed down, kissed the ring and obliged.
I will believe it when I see it 🙂
Anyone can say anything!
Congrats to Russian scientists if this bears out.
And useful if Mankind can get over itself.
I wish to help add insights of my own research to this project. Mainly having to do with ideas and concepts behind a self generating electromagnetic energy recycling design I’ve been working on and some theories I have on particle barrier energy transitions that involve the varying speed of particle motion and it’s connection to the earths magnetosphere and it’s energy source. Please if this could be passed to them they can contact me for questions at [email protected].
Good article, but it’s almost unreadable with the ridiculous amount of ads.
You do need to stop or slow down, or you’ll just blow past Mars… so that will make the trip a little longer since it wouldn’t be wise to over shoot your target… and just dropping off would mean a one way trip.
I’m sir the guy from Zimbabwe will invent something better in the next few weeks!
You’d also have to slow down when you got there, and that would be an inversely proportional to how fast you got there. Ion drives accelerate, and deceleration gradually (albeit continuously) over time.
Sounds good but as l recall da Russians always take shortcuts, ex: poor reactor design Chernobyl, let’s not talk about submarine design,,, yes they know how to make firecrackers,,, but short fuses r dangerous and a good point was brought up how do you decelerate, deal with deflecting micro meteorites at those speeds
“ The mechanics behind it remain largely untested”
Shameful article only put out there to trash SpaceX. I wonder why?
Elon Derangement Syndrome is real.
Two problems
1) Half way there they would have to reverse the craft and spend the next half of the journey in deceleration .
2) Without inertial dampeners the crew would not survive the acceleration.
So many ignorant nationalist comments here.
Russia other than the moon landing has always been more advanced than the US in space science. So you folks know Russia has been providing the US space launches since the shuttle was canceled. When they shuttle was active Russia could launch the same payloads into orbit at much lower costs.. because the space shuttle was a boondoggle. Russia has been delivering cargo including US cargo to the space station or a very long time. And the newfangled nuclear propulsion NASA is now investigating was invented by the Russians in the ’60s and ’70s. They had a working prototype but it was just too dirty. Stop your egotistical nationalist b******* because it’s b*******. US isn’t better at everything in fact were worse in most things than Europe.. and in this case Russia
Yup similar to my idea of using magnetism to travel in space with use of a high power magnet that moves from one to the next through attraction with the ability to separate and disconnect the charge created same charge turn to slow down but hey I’m a dummy. I said this year’s ago. My premise was academic but it could be the basis for this. They always laugh at me until something like this is created. I’m no rocket scientist
Russia should stop war first dont deal with russia at all they are corrupt look after there people first, they cant even make enough for there people putin is greedy and corrupt stop supporting Russian tech they will use it against us
How many pols will take a one-way trip?
By 2030 Elon will have a working plasma engine.
You people need to stop looking for a quick buck on sensational misinformation news. There already is a rocket of this design. Do some research before you write.