New Propulsion Technology Could Send Spaceships to Mars in a Month – OilPrice.com
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The Trump administration is seeking…Europe is pushing back against…There is an inherent risk…Felicity BradstockFelicity Bradstock is a freelance writer specialising in Energy and Finance. She has a Master’s in International Development from the University of Birmingham, UK.More InfoRussia may have unlocked the technology needed to make travel to Mars viable. The limitations of existing propulsion systems mean that astronauts must travel for up to a year to reach Mars. However, Russia’s state atomic energy corporation Rosatom has developed a plasma electric rocket engine that it believes could send spacecraft to Mars in just 30 to 60 days. Rosatom’s propulsion system uses a magnetic plasma accelerator, which it hopes will reduce space travel time. Mars is 140 million miles from Earth, meaning a 30-day journey would require an immense average speed of 195,000 miles per hour. In addition to improving efficiency, a faster travel time to Mars would decrease exposure to cosmic radiation for astronauts.The innovative plasma engine requires the acceleration of particles between two electrodes under high voltage. The interaction between the electric current and the generated magnetic field expels the particles from the engine, providing continuous thrust. The system has an average power of 300 kW and is expected to help spacecraft achieve far higher speeds than conventional propulsion systems.
“A plasma rocket motor is a type of electric motor. It is based on two electrodes. Charged particles are passed between them, and at the same time a high voltage is applied to the electrodes,” Egor Biriulin, a junior researcher at Rosatom’s scientific institute stated. “As a result, the current creates a magnetic field that pushes the particles out of the engine. Thus, the plasma receives directional motion and creates thrust,” Biriulin added. The engine is powered using hydrogen. As plasma does not need to be heated to a high temperature to function, it reduces the risk of temperature overload. The scientists expect the engine to have a thrust of around 6 Newtons, which is far higher than other existing mechanisms and is expected to contribute to smooth acceleration and deceleration between planets. A laboratory prototype of the engine has been developed at Rosatom’s Troitsk Institute, which will undergo ground testing to develop a flight model by 2030. The team of scientists constructed an experimental stand to mimic the conditions of space to test the engine. The chamber, which is four-metres by 14-metres is equipped with advanced sensors, vacuum pumping mechanisms and heat removal technology. Testing will also provide a better idea of the scope and cost of the project. The team plans to use conventional chemical rocket technology to launch the spacecraft into orbit and once it’s in its designated orbit, the plasma engine will be activated. If successful, the technology could be used to increase the efficiency of other space missions.Russia is not the only country investing in the development of alternative propulsion systems. In Italy, a team of researchers led by the University of Bologna is exploring the potential of a propulsion system that uses water as fuel to make space travel more sustainable. The Water-based Electric Thrusters (WET) technology aims to transform water into plasma to generate thrust. “The WET project aims to exploit water as a propellant for space thrusters, transforming it into plasma and using the electrical energy produced to generate kinetic thrust,” explained the team. If the researchers can successfully use water as a fuel, it offers the potential to carry out in-space refuelling, meaning that spacecraft would need to carry less fuel. This would reduce weight, as well as make it possible to complete longer missions. The team believes they may be able to collect water in space from celestial bodies such as the moon or asteroids. In addition, using water instead of conventional jet fuel would be far more environmentally friendly, helping to begin decarbonising space travel.
Meanwhile, the EU is developing a variety of propulsion technologies. The RocketRoll project was run by leading aerospace and nuclear stakeholders led by the consortium Tractebel, which includes representatives from the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA), ArianeGroup, Airbus and Frazer Nash. The team explored the potential for using electric nuclear propulsion (NEP), using a nuclear power reactor to power electric ion thrusters – ionising a gas and accelerating the ions produced, which are then ejected to generate thrust. If successful, this system would have greater fuel efficiency than traditional systems and increase speed, cutting the travel time to Mars by around 60 percent. The team developed an NEP technology roadmap with the potential for a demonstrator spacecraft to be built that could flight-test NEP systems for space missions by 2035. While new space propulsion systems show great promise, most innovative technologies are still in the testing phase, meaning it will likely take several years before we see the results. However, greater research and development in the sector make it more likely that we will see vast improvements in efficiency and safety in space travel in the coming decades. By Felicity Bradstock for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.comBack to homepagePrevious PostEurope’s Automakers Shift Gears Towards Affordable EVsNext PostIraq Reiterates OPEC+ Pledge Ahead of Restart of Kurdistan Oil Exports
Felicity Bradstock is a freelance writer specialising in Energy and Finance. She has a Master’s in International Development from the University of Birmingham, UK. U.S. Intelligence Reports Heightened Risk of Israeli Strike on IranChina’s Tariffs Hit U.S. Coal, Oil, and LNG ExportsCanada Revives Old Oil Pipeline Ideas Amid U.S. Trade SpatNew Propulsion Technology Could Send Spaceships to Mars in a MonthNatural Gas Prices Surge As Arctic Blast Fuels DemandADVERTISEMENT
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