Nuclear rocket technology helps fly quickly to Mars

Pulsed Plasma Rocket technology allows flights to Mars to be completed in just 2 months, while the current time is about 9 months.

NASA announced on May 1 that American company Howe Industries is developing Pulsed Plasma Rocket (PPR) technology to meet the requirements of trips to Mars and beyond. Notably, the propulsion system will generate up to 100,000 N of thrust with a specific thrust impulse (Isp) of 5,000 seconds.

Illustration of a nuclear rocket flying above Mars. (Photo: NASA)

Current spacecraft require high speeds to fly long distances in space. This can be achieved by designing a propulsion system with strong thrust and high specific thrust impulse. However, such systems do not yet exist. PPR technology was developed to meet this requirement.

PPR is the evolution of Pulsed Fission Fusion (PuFF) technology . This is an advanced propulsion technology that exploits the power of nuclear energy to create thrust for spacecraft. At its core, PPR uses a nuclear power system based on fission , which derives energy from the controlled splitting of atomic nuclei. PPR is also smaller, simpler and less expensive than PuFF.

"PPR's excellent performance, combined with high Isp and high thrust, promises to revolutionize space exploration. High performance enables crewed missions to Mars to be completed in just within two months" , NASA said. Currently, a one-way flight from Earth to Mars takes about 9 months.

PPR technology can help propel much heavier spacecraft than traditional propulsion systems. The craft will be designed with a high-tech protective shield against Galactic Cosmic Rays (GCRs) - high-energy particles that pose risks to human health during long-term space travel.

PPR's advanced propulsion capabilities are suitable even for missions beyond Mars. For example, flight to the Asteroid Belt to mine resources could become possible with PPR.

Phase I of NASA's Innovative Advanced Concept (NIAC) study of PPR technology focuses on system neutron flux evaluation, spacecraft design, electrical systems and essential subsystems, and analysis capabilities of magnetic nozzles, trajectory determination, and benefits of PPR. Phase II could bring NASA closer to realizing the Mars dream with advanced engine designs, real-world testing and craft designs for a crewed mission to Mars.