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Space scientists say they have slashed travel time to Mars
nypost.com • • science
Key Points:
- NASA Marshall has successfully tested a lithium-fed electromagnetic thruster reaching power levels over five times greater than current electric propulsion systems, potentially revolutionizing space travel to Mars.
- When paired with a nuclear power source, this new technology could reduce Mars travel time from the current nine months to just three months, cutting the total round-trip mission duration to about two years.
- The thruster achieved power levels up to 120 kilowatts during testing at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, surpassing the power of thrusters on current NASA spacecraft like Psyche by over 25 times.
- This advancement marks the highest-power electric propulsion test in the U.S. and is expected to accelerate both crewed and robotic missions throughout the solar system.
- NASA officials emphasize that this breakthrough is a significant step toward sending astronauts to Mars, with ongoing tests planned to further develop the technology.
