An innovative rocket system could revolutionize future space missions to Mars, reducing travel time to the Red Planet in just a few months.
The goal of bringing humans to Mars has presented countless challenges, including the need to quickly transport large payloads to and from the distant planet, which, depending on the positions of Land and Mars, would take almost two years for a round trip using current propulsion technology.
The pulsed plasma rocket (PPR), developed by Howe Industries, is a propulsion system designed to be much more efficient than current methods of deep space propulsion, which will allow the trip between Earth and the Red Planet to be made in just two months. Specifically, the rocket will have a high specific impulse, or Isp, a measure of how efficiently an engine generates thrust. This technology could therefore allow astronauts and cargo to travel to and from Mars more efficiently and quickly than existing spacecraft, according to a declaration from NASA.
Related: How long does it take to get to Mars?
Building on the concept of pulsed fission fusion, PPR uses fission-based technology. the nuclear energy system, which obtains energy from the controlled splitting of atoms, to generate thrust for the propulsion of spacecraft. However, PPR is smaller, simpler and more affordable than previous concepts.
In addition to allowing longer range missions, the PPR could support much heavier spacecraft, meaning additional shielding could be installed to reduce crew exposure to harmful high energy particlescalled galactic cosmic rays, suffered during long-duration space flights.
“The PPR enables an entirely new era in space exploration,” NASA officials said.
“The exceptional performance of the PPR, which combines high Isp and high thrust, has the potential to revolutionize space exploration,” the statement reads. “The high efficiency of the system allows manned missions to Mars to be completed in just two months.”
The PPR concept is now moving into Phase II of the NASA Innovative Advanced Concept (NIAC) study, having completed Phase I, which focused on propulsion system neutronics, designing the spacecraft, power system and necessary subsystems, analyzing the capabilities of the magnetic nozzle and determining trajectories and benefits, according to the release.
During Phase II, developers will build on Phase I evaluations to optimize engine design, conduct proof-of-concept experiments, and design a spacecraft concept to better protect human flights to Mars. Currently visited only by robotic explorers, the PPR could one day bring NASA closer to establishing a permanent base on mars.
Leave feedback about this