NASA-funded pulsed plasma rocket concept aims to send astronauts to Mars in 2 months
An innovative rocket system could revolutionize future deep space missions to Mars
The goal of landing humans on Mars has presented a myriad of challenges, including the need to quickly transport large payloads to and from the distant planet,
depending on the positions of Earth and Mars, would take almost two years for a round trip using current propulsion technology.
The Pulsed Plasma Rocket (PPR), under development by Howe Industries, is a propulsion system designed to be far more efficient than current methods of deep space propulsion
This technology could therefore enable astronauts and cargo to travel to and from Mars more efficiently and rapidly than existing spacecraft
Stemming from the Pulsed Fission Fusion concept, the PPR uses a fission-based nuclear power system
which obtains energy from the controlled splitting of atoms, to generate thrust for spacecraft propulsion. However, the PPR is smaller
In addition to enabling further range missions, the PPR could support much heavier spacecraft