ScienceApr 29, 2026

NASA Fires Up Powerful Lithium-Fed Thruster for Trips to Mars

References

Story Brief

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.

A novel electromagnetic thruster passed an initial test in a specialized chamber at JPL.

NASA Fires Up Powerful Lithium-Fed Thruster for Trips to Mars.

Reference Details

JPL

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.

https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasa-fires-up-powerful-lithium-fed-thruster-for-trips-to-mars

X · NASA JPL

The prototype achieved power levels more than 25 times that of the highest-power electric thrusters on any current NASA spacecraft. Details on the test: https://t.co/Gf53yRQOvc

https://x.com/NASAJPL/status/2049197534263091595

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NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)