NASA has announced a series of science fiction-like projects and the most evocative is a new rocket system based on nuclear fusion and plasma explosions. It currently takes nine months to travel to Mars by shuttle, but with this new system you should see the red planet within two months.
The rocket system is one of the approved projects under NASA’s Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) program. It means they will receive additional funding and development time from the space agency and officially move into ‘Phase 2’ for follow-up research.
Train on the moon
John Nelson, leader of the NIAC program, himself admits on the NASA site that some ideas still sound like pure science fiction. For example, a train system for the lunar surface is being investigated as well as a space telescope with liquid lenses.
Plasma explosions
The new missile system sounds like the most practical of the new ideas. It is being developed by Howe Industries in Arizona and is based on nuclear fusion, which is also increasingly promising as an energy source. Howe Industries wants to use it to create a constant stream of plasma explosions. Below you can see a 3D render of the prototype. NASA is also looking into whether we can soon go sailing in space.
Smaller and more affordable
A rocket propelled by plasma explosions was previously developed by NASA in 2018, but the version for the NIAC program is smaller, simpler and much more affordable. These are good arguments considering we want to travel to Mars more regularly.
In Phase 2 of development, the team in Arizona will investigate how controllable a rocket with plasma explosions remains. The current design and energy consumption are also critically examined.
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