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NASA fires up lithium-fed electric thruster, pushing toward megawatt-scale Mars propulsion

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Source: Gizmodo
NASA fires up lithium-fed electric thruster, pushing toward megawatt-scale Mars propulsion
Photo: Gizmodo
TL;DR

NASA successfully tested a lithium-fed magnetoplasmadynamic (MPD) thruster at up to 120 kilowatts—the highest power achieved in U.S. electric propulsion tests—demonstrating the thruster’s viability and laying groundwork for megawatt-class, potentially nuclear-powered propulsion to enable crewed Mars missions; future tests aim to reach 500 kW–1 MW per thruster with multiple units operating for extended durations.

Topics:technologyspace#electric-propulsion#lithium-propellant#magnetoplasmadynamic#nasa#space#spaceflight
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  1. NASA’s Lithium-Fed Nuclear Thruster Flares to Life in First of Its Kind Test  Gizmodo
  2. New Lithium-Plasma Engine Passes Key Mars Propulsion Test  Universe Today
  3. NASA Tests Prototype ‘Magnetoplasmadynamic’ Electric Propulsion Thruster Designed to Power Future Trips to Mars  The Debrief
  4. NASA fires up a lithium plasma engine 25 times more powerful than any electric thruster ever used in space. The technology needs to operate for 23,000 hours non-stop at infernal temperatures, and if successful, will put the first human on Mars.  CPG Click Petróleo e Gás
  5. NASA tests high-powered thruster that could send humans to Mars  AOL.com

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