- Mars-bound plasma drive is set for arrival in four weeks.
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Title: Russia Pioneers Plasma-Electric Propulsion Engine to Dramatically Slash Mars Trip Time
In a game-changing leap for space travel, Russia has unveiled a revolutionary plasma-electric rocket engine. With this innovation, the distance to Mars could be halved, cutting the journey down from months to merely a couple of months. This groundbreaking development comes when Russia's space plans have taken a backseat to headlines dominated by Peking and SpaceX's Elon Musk.
Egor Biriulin, a young researcher from Rosatom's scientific institute in Troitsk, describes the technology as an electric propulsion system based on two electrodes. Charged particles zip between them, propelled by a high voltage on the electrodes. This electric current creates a magnetic field, pushing the particles out of the engine and generating thrust.
At its core, this plasma rocket engine shares a similarity with an electromagnetic railgun, which accelerates its projectile using electricity instead of an explosion. The electrical acceleration of this engine is significantly more powerful than its propellant counterpart. Rosatom uses hydrogen as the starting material, and the facility accelerates charged particles, such as electrons and protons, to an extraordinary speed of 100 kilometers per second, which translates into 360,000 km/h.
According to Alexei Voronov, first deputy general director for science at Rosatom's institute in Troitsk, the plasma engine will likely be ready for testing by 2030. Its prototype is currently undergoing testing under laboratory conditions at its Institutes. When it comes to power, the engine boasts about 300 kilowatts and is designed to function for up to 2400 hours, sufficient for the Mars journey.
The facility simulates the conditions of space in a 14-meter-long chamber with a diameter of 4 meters for testing under laboratory conditions. It's worth noting that this engine won't ignite inside Earth's atmosphere. Instead, conventional rockets will lift the spacecraft into orbit before the plasma engine takes over.
While this invention is still in its experimental stages, it could have far-reaching implications beyond space exploration. A plasma engine capable of producing high acceleration could revolutionize military rocket technology as well.
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Rosatom's plasma-electric propulsion engine is a significant leap in space technology, with potential benefits for Mars missions and beyond. The innovative engine accelerates charged particles to speeds of 100 km/s using electromagnetic forces, achieving a much higher thrust than traditional chemical rockets.
The engine operates in short, powerful bursts, ensuring efficient energy use and stable thrust while maintaining a high average power output of 300 kilowatts. The engine's design minimizes radiation exposure and is more fuel-efficient, potentially reducing the logistical effort and conflicts associated with long-duration space travel.
Once the engine is ready for use, it will offer significant advantages over chemical rockets, such as reduced travel times and the ability to carry more payloads or scientific equipment while using less propellant mass. In fact, this innovation could reduce Mars mission fuel needs by up to tenfold.
The following innovative propulsion system, developed by Rosatom's scientists, is based on a plasma-electric engine and could revolutionize space travel. According to Egor Biriulin, this technology involves an electric propulsion system that utilizes two electrodes, creating a magnetic field and thrust through the acceleration of charged particles.
