Are We There Yet? Getting To Mars In 30 Days
By John Oncea, Editor
The creation of a laboratory prototype of a plasma electric rocket engine based on a magnetic plasma accelerator serves as a monumental step in reducing the time it will take to travel to Mars.
Mars is the seventh-largest planet in our solar system. Dry, rocky, and bitterly cold, the Red Planet is the fourth planet from the Sun and, along with Venus, one of Earth’s closest planetary neighbors. It’s also one of the easiest planets to spot in the night sky as it looks like a bright red point of light.
NASA has five active missions on Mars which, like our Moon, is a rich destination for scientific discovery and the only other place we know in the solar system where life may have existed. Exploring Mars is important because the secrets it holds will tell us more about our Earth’s past and future and may help answer whether life exists beyond our home planet.
NASA hopes to send humans to Mars in the 2030s and getting there will take about nine months, according to Space.com. The voyage would be mere child’s play compared to the estimated three-year-long return trip.
Some think a fission-powered trip to Mars could cut the travel time to as few as 45 days and, according to NASA, DARPA, contractors such as Lockheed Martin, and the space agency itself are working to revive 70-year-old nuclear thermal technology research to start testing a nuclear-powered rocket in space as soon as 2027.
Still, 45 days is about two weeks too long, isn’t it? If only there were a way to cut a one-way trip to Mars to 30 days …
Getting To Mars In 30 Days
State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom, commonly referred to as Rosatom, is a Russian state corporation headquartered in Moscow that specializes in nuclear energy, nuclear non-energy goods, and high-tech products. It was established in 2007 and comprises more than 350 enterprises, including scientific research organizations, a nuclear weapons complex, and the world’s only nuclear icebreaker fleet.
In addition to all this, Rosatom employs a group of scientists who recently developed a laboratory prototype of a plasma electric rocket engine based on a magnetic plasma accelerator that could slash travel time to Mars. Rosatom’s first deputy director general for science, Alexey Voronov, told World Nuclear News, “Currently, a flight to Mars using conventional engines can take almost a year one way, which is dangerous for astronauts due to cosmic radiation and radiation exposure. Using plasma engines can shorten the mission to 30 to 60 days.”
According to World Nuclear News, “The average power of the engine, operating in pulse-periodic mode, reaches 300kW making it possible to accelerate the spacecraft to much higher speeds than conventional engines,” adding, “A large-scale experimental stand is being assembled to test the prototype, featuring a 14-metre-long/4-metre-diameter vacuum chamber to simulate the conditions of outer space for the tests.”
Traveling At 195,000 Miles Per Hour
Chemical rocket spacecraft can typically reach speeds of around 17,000 miles per hour (depending on the specific design and propellant used), with the exhaust velocity of the rocket engine usually falling between 5,600 and 10,100 miles per hour.
Reducing the travel time to Mars – located about 140 million miles from Earth – to 30 days would require a spacecraft to maintain an average speed of approximately 195,000 miles per hour, writes Above The Norm News. The need to travel this fast underscores why alternative propulsion technologies, including plasma, are being explored.
“Plasma propulsion does not rely on combustion but instead uses electrical energy to generate thrust,” Above The Norm News writes. “Unlike traditional engines that consume large amounts of fuel, plasma engines require only a small fraction of propellant while delivering continuous thrust over extended periods.”
Rosatom’s plasma engine works by ionizing gas to create a high-energy plasma, which is then directed through a magnetic field. This process accelerates charged particles and expels them at high speeds, generating thrust. Unlike chemical rockets, which provide an immediate burst of speed, plasma engines gradually build up velocity. This allows spacecraft to achieve much higher speeds over time.
Initial plans indicate that spacecraft using plasma propulsion will still need traditional rockets to launch but, once in space, the plasma engine will take over, steadily increasing the spacecraft’s speed as it travels toward Mars. Rosatom aims to develop a flight-ready version of this technology by 2030, although this timeline depends on successful testing and further technological advancements.
Additional Benefits Of Plasma Propulsion
Fuel efficiency is one of the biggest challenges in space travel, as chemical rockets require large amounts of fuel, most of which is consumed during launch. The need to carry heavy fuel loads limits mission flexibility. In contrast, plasma propulsion requires only small amounts of gases such as xenon or argon, which are ionized and accelerated electrically. This significantly reduces fuel requirements, allowing for lighter spacecraft and longer missions.
Beyond Mars exploration, plasma propulsion has the potential to support deep-space missions. If sustained high speeds can be achieved, spacecraft could reach destinations that were previously considered impractical. Researchers are exploring whether this technology could be used for missions to the outer planets or even beyond the solar system.
Shorter travel times would provide additional benefits, including lower overall mission costs, as spacecraft would require fewer onboard supplies. The ability to transport equipment and scientific instruments more quickly would also enable more frequent research missions. If plasma propulsion is successfully developed, it could play a major role in supporting long-term space exploration efforts.
Challenges And Obstacles
Russian scientists are refining their plasma propulsion prototype and preparing for extensive testing. A new vacuum chamber will help assess its performance under simulated space conditions. If successful, the next step will be scaling up for full-scale spacecraft use.
While multiple agencies and companies have explored plasma propulsion, no system has yet achieved the speeds needed for rapid interplanetary travel. Rosatom’s prototype shows progress, but challenges remain, including generating sufficient power for sustained high-speed travel and ensuring long-term reliability.
Radiation exposure is another major concern for Mars missions. Shorter travel times would help, but additional shielding will be necessary. Efficient power generation is also critical, requiring advancements in solar or nuclear energy to support high-powered propulsion.
What The Future Holds For Plasma Propulsion
Rosatom aims to develop a flight-ready plasma propulsion model by 2030, but further testing and funding are needed. Moving this technology from the lab to space will require long-term investment.
If successful, plasma propulsion could revolutionize space travel by reducing Mars mission times and enabling new exploration possibilities. Researchers are also exploring integration with nuclear thermal propulsion for greater efficiency.
Other propulsion technologies, including nuclear thermal and fusion-based systems, are under study. Future missions may combine these methods for optimal speed and reliability. Russian scientists continue refining the prototype, with upcoming tests determining its viability for interplanetary travel.