🚀 NASA tests lithium thruster reaching 120 kW for Mars missions

NASA fired a lithium-fed electric thruster at 120 kW, the highest power level for this type of system in the US.

The prototype uses electromagnetic acceleration of lithium plasma and consumes up to 90% less propellant than chemical rockets. It produces steady thrust over time, suited for deep space travel.

The next goal is scaling to 500 kW to 1 MW per thruster. A human mission to Mars would need 2 to 4 MW and over 23,000 hours of operation.

The focus is shifting to high-power electric propulsion for long-duration spaceflight.

📊@tech