NASA Successfully Tests High-Power Lithium-Fed Electromagnetic Thruster for Mars Missions
By
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
3d ago· 4 min readenNews
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Summary
NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory successfully tested a powerful lithium-fed electromagnetic thruster on February 24, achieving power levels exceeding any previous electric thruster test in the United States. The prototype, which runs on lithium metal vapor, could potentially propel crewed missions to Mars and robotic spacecraft throughout the solar system. Data from this initial firing will inform an upcoming series of tests as the technology undergoes further development.
Key quotes
· 4 pulledA technology that could propel crewed missions to Mars and robotic spacecraft throughout the solar system was recently put to the test at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California.
On Feb. 24, for the first time in years and at power levels exceeding any previous test in the United States, a team fired up an electromagnetic thruster that runs on lithium metal vapor.
This prototype achieved power levels beyond the highest-power electric thrusters on any of the agency's current spacecraft.
Valuable data from the first firing of this thruster will help inform an upcoming series of tests.
A novel electromagnetic thruster passed an initial test in a specialized chamber at JPL. With further development, these thrusters could support human missions to the Red Planet.
