NASA has introduced a revolutionary new propulsion system, the Pulsed Plasma Rocket (PPR), which could significantly reduce travel time to Mars and make deep space exploration safer and more efficient. Developed by Howe Industries with consultation from NASA, the PPR is capable of cutting down human-crewed missions to Mars by two months to less than two months, compared to the current round-trip journey time of two years.
The PPR employs a fission-driven nuclear propulsion system that produces a controlled jet of plasma, requiring less space and being technically less complex and cheaper than earlier models. This technology has impressive performance characteristics, with an impulsive level of up to 100,000 N within an impulse of 5000 seconds, resulting in high specific impulse and thrust.
The PPR’s potential benefits include increased crew protection from dangerous GCRs, enabling longer-term missions and human presence in deep space. The technology could also facilitate the shuttling of more substantial cargo and housed probes, paving the way for new missions and explorations.
Currently in the concept stage, the PPR has successfully completed Phase I of NASA’s NIAC program, with Phase II focused on refining the engine design, testing proof-of-concepts, and designing a suitable spacecraft for the Mars crewed mission. The technology’s potential applications extend beyond Martian missions to asteroid mining, deep space exploration, and interstellar probes.
As the PPR advances through the development process, it has the potential to redefine space travel and make human settlement on Mars a reality in the future. With its ability to dramatically change the course of history, the PPR could make humankind a spacefaring species with unprecedented opportunities to further scientific research into the cosmos beyond Earth.
Source: https://www.ecoticias.com/en/plasma-engine-cars-hydrogen/5243/