A physicist has come up with a new rocket motor-thruster concept that could bring humans to Mars ten times faster.
The physicist in question, Fatima Ebrahimi, invented the concept and is part of the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) of the US Department of Energy (DOE).
Ebrahimi’s study was published in the Journal of Plasma Physics.
A motor propeller based on solar flares
One of the main differences between Ebrahimi’s new rocket propeller concept and other space-tested concepts is that hers uses magnetic fields to extract plasma particles from the rear of the rocket. So far, space proven to use electric fields to stimulate plasma.
Plasma is one of the four fundamental states of matter and consists of gas ions and free electrons. Our sun is a burning plasma ball that uses a fusion reaction, for example.
Current plasma thrusters that use electric fields to propel these particles only operate at low speed. However, Ebrahimi’s new plasma thruster concept was able to create exhaust gases at speeds of hundreds of kilometers per second – or ten times faster than current thrusters.
This means that when used, astronauts can reach outer planets much faster. The thrusters would significantly boost the start of the voyage, ultimately shortening the travel time of the entire voyage.
Ebrahimi pointed out that there are three major differences between her proposed rocket propeller concept and the current existing one. The former uses magnetic fields that provide more range in thrust. Second, the new concept creates movement by ejecting plasma particles and plasmoid; the latter adds extra power to the bow thruster. And finally, magnetic fields cause plasma in the thruster to consist of light or heavy atoms. This allows scientists to adjust the thrust for each mission.
“This work is inspired by past fusion work and this is the first time that plasmoids and reconnections have been proposed for space propulsion, “said Ebrahimi.” The next step is to build a prototype, ”she continued.