For The First Time, Russia Has Tested A Prototype Plasma Rocket Engine That Travels 10 Times Faster Than Normal Rockets
According to the latest research, scientists at Rosatom's Troitsk Institute have successfully developed a laboratory prototype of a plasma electric rocket engine based on a magnetic plasma accelerator. This revolutionary propulsion system can operate at an average power of 300 kilowatts, accelerating charged particles (electrons and protons) to astonishing velocities of up to 100 kilometers per second. By relying on electromagnetic fields rather than traditional chemical combustion, the engine makes fuel consumption up to ten times more efficient while achieving speeds that chemical rockets simply cannot match.
Currently, a one-way trip to Mars can take almost a year, exposing astronauts to dangerous levels of cosmic radiation. By drastically increasing spacecraft velocities, this plasma engine aims to cut that transit time to a mere 30 to 60 days, paving the way for safer crewed return missions. The prototype is currently undergoing rigorous ground testing inside a massive 14-meter-long vacuum chamber designed to perfectly simulate outer space conditions, with engineers targeting 2030 to produce a flight-ready unit.
Author: Saikat Bhattacharya
