NASA Tests High-Power Plasma Engine for Future Mars Missions
| Event | Details |
|---|---|
| Conducted by | NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Southern California |
| Propulsion System | Magnetoplasmadynamic (MPD) thruster |
| Power Achieved | 120 kilowatts (highest-power electric propulsion system tested in the U.S.) |
| Propellant Used | Lithium metal vapour |
| Key Feature | Electromagnetic acceleration |
| Purpose | Future crewed missions to Mars |
| Heat Management Challenge | Central tungsten electrode exceeded 5,000°F (2,800°C) |
| Nuclear Electric Propulsion | Continuous low-thrust propulsion using nuclear reactor-generated electricity |