Russian researchers are testing a new plasma propulsion system that could accelerate future missions to Mars, cutting travel times from several months to just one or two months. The developed engine is Troitsk Institute in Rosatomis currently being tested on the ground and could be ready for space deployment by 2030.

The system uses electromagnetic fields to accelerate hydrogen particles and represents a departure from traditional chemical propulsion. If it goes as planned, it could revolutionize interplanetary mission planning in both the civilian and defense sectors.

Russia’s development efforts coincide with a growing global movement to advance electric propulsion systems for deep space. Plasma-based engines are a priority for future exploration architectures due to their potential to shorten mission duration while reducing fuel mass.

Ground test aimed at responding to deep space

The prototype is being tested in a 14-meter vacuum chamber designed to simulate space conditions. Business hours 300kwthe engine is Pulse period mode It has already proven its service life. 2,400 hoursas outlined in a technical breakdown by Izvestia. This period is sufficient for a complete Mars mission, including an acceleration and deceleration phase.

The propulsion system accelerates charged hydrogen particles (protons and electrons) to maximum velocity. 100 kilometers per secondconfirmed Alexei VoronovFirst Deputy Director for Science at the Institute. Their speeds far exceed current chemical rockets, and typically have a maximum speed of about 4.5 kilometers per second.

This unit is not intended for surface launch. Instead, a chemical rocket will carry the spacecraft into low Earth orbit. plasma engine It operates for continuous propulsion through deep space. Officials say it also space tagto transport cargo and modules between planetary orbits.

Hydrogen fuel and nuclear power increase efficiency

The engine depends on hydrogen fuel and Onboard nuclear reactor To generate sustainable power. Egor BiliulinA junior scientist working on the project said hydrogen’s lighter atomic weight allows faster acceleration with lower fuel consumption. The abundance of hydrogen in space may also enable future in-situ refueling strategies.

Biliulin also noted that the engine uses two high-voltage electrodes to generate directional plasma motion. Charged particles pass between them, creating a magnetic field that releases plasma and generates thrust. This configuration eliminates the need to heat the plasma to extreme temperatures, limits component wear, and improves energy efficiency.

The expected thrust is 6 newtonsBased on our findings, it is the best of the current plasma propulsion prototypes. Rosatom technical documentation. This force requires long periods of acceleration and deceleration, suggesting that future spacecraft will be designed around slow, sustained propulsion rather than short, high-thrust burns.

Plasma thruster track record

Plasma propulsion is already used in orbit, including on several satellites and missions launched in the past decade. Support for Russian systems OneWeb Satellite It was then integrated into NASA’s Psyche asteroid mission, which was launched in 2023.

Modern plasma thrusters typically operate at the following speeds: 30 kilometers and 50 kilometers per second. The new engine doubles its range and is far superior to other systems being developed in the United States, Europe and China. No peer-reviewed performance data has been published and the system has not yet been tested in space.

Russian developers emphasize the difference in performance compared to traditional systems. “In conventional power units, the maximum speed of the material flow is about 4.5 kilometers per second… In our engine, the working body is a charged particle accelerated by an electromagnetic field,” Voronov told Izvestia.

Implementation challenges and regulatory risks

Space certified nuclear spacecraft Rare due to safety concerns and regulatory oversight. The Rosatom system’s reactor design has not been made public, and the handling of nuclear material during launch may require approval from the International Space Agency or a monitoring agency.

Integrating such propulsion systems into manned spacecraft also requires significant redesign. Thermal management, radiation shielding, and power distribution at sustained high powers are areas where engineering challenges remain unresolved.

Despite its potential, this engine is still years away from deployment. Officials expect the following Flight-ready version by 2030However, the timeline is dependent on successful testing, continuity of funding, and external validation.