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Rosatom scientists are developing a plasma rocket engine that promises to speed up trips to Mars, reducing travel time to just one to two months
Scientists from Rosatom, one of the world's largest nuclear energy from Russia have unveiled a revolutionary plasma rocket engine that could transform space travel.
The electric plasma engine could, according to experts, reduce the travel time to Mars to just one to two months, a significant advance compared to current technologies. The news was revealed by the Russian newspaper Izvestia.
Unlike traditional rocket engines, which rely on burning fuel to generate thrust, this innovative system uses a magnetic plasma accelerator.
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The main advantage of this engine is the impressive speed it can reach, making it possible to travel to Mars in a fraction of the time currently required.
How the plasma engine works
The plasma engine developed by Rosatom is a type of electric motor. According to Egor Biriulin, junior researcher at Rosatom Scientific Institute, the engine is based on two electrodes.
Provided particles, such as electrons and protons, are accelerated by a magnetic field generated by a high voltage applied to the electrodes. This process creates a directed movement in the plasma, generating thrust and, consequently, speed for the spacecraft.
"In traditional power units, the maximum speed of the flow of matter is about 4,5 km/s, which is limited by the combustion of the fuel. In our engine, charged particles are accelerated by an electromagnetic field, which allows for much higher speeds.“, explained Alexei Voronov, First Deputy Director General for Science at the Troitsk Institute.
The engine accelerates particles to an impressive speed of 100 km/s, much faster than conventional engines. This speed is essential to reduce interplanetary travel time, one of the biggest limitations of space exploration.
Accelerating the journey to Mars
One of the biggest challenges of long-duration space missions is the exposure of astronauts to cosmic radiation, which can be harmful to their health during prolonged trips.
With the plasma engine, a trip to Mars would be shortened, reducing the risks associated with radiation and improving the safety of the crew. In addition, a faster trip would bring significant gains in efficiency and cost reduction.
Rosatom has already developed a laboratory prototype of the engine, which will undergo extensive ground testing in the coming years. The flight model is expected to be ready by 2030.
"The engine operates in pulse-periodic mode, with a power of about 300 kW. The engine's lifespan, which exceeds 2.400 hours, is sufficient for a transport operation to Mars.“, said Konstantin Gutorov, scientific consultant for the project.
The challenge of testing
To ensure that the engine operates in extreme space conditions, a specialized test chamber was built.
Measuring 4 meters in diameter and 14 meters long, the chamber simulates the space environment, including expendable and heat removal systems.
While the mission's launch will still rely on chemical rocket boosters, the plasma engine will ignite once the spacecraft reaches its designated orbit.
One of the advantages of the plasma engine is that it does not require excessive heating of the plasma, which prevents damage to the system's parts and components.
This results in more efficient operation, where most of the electrical energy is converted directly into motion, without significant losses.
More information about the new Russian plasma engine at Interesting Engineering.
