Researchers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California have successfully tested a lithium vapor electromagnetic engine prototype, that will deliver astronauts to Mars. According to NASA information, the power of the new system reached 120 kW, that in 25 times higher than the systems of the Psyche spacecraft, which is now accelerating to speed in a vacuum 124 thousands of miles per hour.
During the five starts, the tungsten electrode in the center of the installation glowed bright white, and his temperature reached 2800 °C. The engine emitted a bright red plume inside an eight-meter water-cooled vacuum chamber. The new magnetoplasmodynamic drive is characterized by the use of high currents, which interact with the magnetic field to electromagnetically accelerate the lithium plasma. This technology has been studied since the 1960s, however, it has never been used in real space flights. The trial marks the first such case in the United States, when the electric propulsion system was operating at such high power levels. According to NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, management will continue to make strategic investments, which will contribute to this giant leap.
Work on the project has been going on for two and a half years. The research is funded by the Space Nuclear Propulsion Program and is being conducted jointly with Princeton University and the Glenn Research Center. Over time, scientists plan to reach indicators from 500 kilowatts to 1 the megawatt of one device. A manned mission to Mars will require from 2 to 4 megawatts of energy, therefore, there will be a need for several such installations with a resource of continuous operation over 23 thousands of hours.
Source: https://techno.nv.ua