New Delhi: Sending astronauts to Mars might soon be possible with a new NASA funded rocket system that could make the trip in just two months. Right now, it would take nearly two years to travel to Mars and back using current technology. However, the Pulsed Plasma Rocket (PPR), developed by Howe Industries, aims to shorten this journey to a couple of months
The PPR is a new type of propulsion system that is much more efficient than the ones we use now. It can generate up to 100,000 N of thrust with a specific impulse (Isp) of 5,000 seconds. NASA says this technology could make trips to Mars much faster and more efficient.
NASA mentioned that the PPR’s high efficiency could allow astronauts to reach Mars in just two months. Additionally, the PPR can carry heavier spacecraft equipped with shielding against Galactic Cosmic Rays, reducing radiation exposure for the crew and making space travel safer.
The project has moved to Phase II of the NASA Innovative Advanced Concept (NIAC) study. In Phase I, the team designed a large, shielded ship for transporting humans and cargo to build a base on Mars. They studied the system’s safety, designed the spacecraft and its power system, analyzed the magnetic nozzle, and planned the best paths to Mars.
In Phase II, the developers will improve the engine design to make it lighter and more efficient. They will also test important parts of the system and complete the design of a shielded ship for human missions to Mars.
