Russia boasts plasma engine capable of reaching Mars in months

Russian scientists have announced the development of a plasma-powered rocket engine that could potentially reach Mars within a few months.

According to the Russian news outlet Izvestia, this innovative propulsion system uses a plasma accelerator to drastically cut down space travel time.

"A plasma rocket motor is a type of electric engine. It operates using two electrodes, between which charged particles pass while a high voltage is applied," explained Egor Biriulin, a junior researcher at Rosatom’s scientific institute in Troitsk.

"As a result, the current generates a magnetic field that expels the particles from the engine, giving the plasma a directional motion and creating thrust," he added.

This breakthrough could significantly shorten interplanetary journeys while better protecting astronauts from cosmic radiation.

The prototype still requires extensive testing before the development of a flight-ready model, which could be completed by 2030.