RUSSIAN Plasma Engine Could Reach MARS in 30 DAYS, Dramatically Cutting Space Travel Time

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Rajawali Book - Russian scientists from Rosatom in Moscow have developed a prototype plasma rocket engine that could cut the travel time to Mars to just 30-60 days, much faster than traditional chemical engines that take half a year.

The engine works by accelerating charged particles using an electromagnetic field, reaching speeds of up to 100 km per second and producing a thrust of about 6 Newtons. The engine operates in a pulse-periodic mode with a power of 300 kW, with almost all of the electrical energy converted into motion.

The design ensures that the engine does not overheat, and can reduce the crew's exposure to cosmic radiation.

The prototype is currently being prepared for field testing, with plans for deployment in 2030.

Russian plasma engines have also been used in NASA's OneWeb satellite cluster and Psyche research module.

The development shows great potential for increasing the efficiency and time of interplanetary travel.