NASA has invested $725,000 into a new rocket system aimed at addressing the biggest challenge hindering human travel to Mars: the duration of the journey.
With current technology, a round trip to the “Red Planet” would take nearly two years. For people on Earth, this duration may seem excessively long. However, astronauts aboard the spacecraft would face numerous health issues and long-term consequences during that time.
Simulation image of a spacecraft equipped with PPR rocket engines. (Photo: Business Insider).
Prolonged exposure to space results in harmful effects on astronauts due to radiation from the sun and cosmic rays. Additionally, the extended period of weightlessness leads to muscle atrophy. Beyond physical impacts, long-term isolation in space can cause psychological trauma due to homesickness and missing loved ones.
Among the aforementioned dangers, cosmic radiation is arguably the greatest threat. According to NASA, each astronaut spending six months in space will be exposed to radiation equivalent to 1,000 chest X-rays. This exposure increases their risk of heart disease, cancer, neurological damage, and bone erosion.
Troy Howe, President of Howe Industries, a company specializing in space exploration technologies, shared with Business Insider that the best way to reduce radiation exposure and other harmful health effects is to shorten travel time in space. This is precisely why he is collaborating with NASA to develop a PPR rocket (Pulsed Plasma Rocket). The Pulsed Plasma Rocket technology enables flights to Mars in just two months, compared to the current duration of about nine months.
Notably, the propulsion system will generate thrust of up to 100,000 N with a specific impulse (Isp) of 5,000 seconds.
Illustration of a nuclear thermal rocket flying above Mars. (Photo: NASA)
Current spacecraft require high speeds to travel long distances in space. This can be achieved by designing propulsion systems with strong thrust and high specific impulse. However, such systems do not yet exist. The PPR technology has been developed to meet this requirement.
PPR is an evolution of the Pulsed Fission Fusion (PuFF) technology. This advanced propulsion technology harnesses the power of nuclear energy to generate thrust for spacecraft. At its core, PPR uses a nuclear fission-based power system, deriving energy from controlled nuclear fission reactions. PPR is also smaller, simpler, and more cost-effective compared to PuFF.
“The excellent performance of PPR, combined with high Isp and strong thrust, promises to revolutionize space exploration. High efficiency allows crewed missions to Mars to be completed in just two months,” NASA stated. Currently, a one-way flight from Earth to Mars takes about nine months.
PPR technology could enable spacecraft to carry much heavier loads compared to traditional propulsion systems. The spacecraft will be designed with a high-tech protective shield against Galactic Cosmic Rays (GCR)—high-energy particles that pose health risks during long-duration space travel.
The advanced thrust capability of PPR may also be suitable for missions beyond Mars. For instance, a flight to the asteroid belt for resource mining could become feasible with PPR.
Phase I of NASA’s Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) study on PPR technology focuses on evaluating the neutron flow of the system, spacecraft design, electrical systems, essential subsystems, analyzing the capabilities of magnetic nozzles, and determining trajectories and benefits of PPR. Phase II could bring NASA closer to realizing the dream of Mars with advanced engine designs, practical testing, and spacecraft design for crewed missions to Mars.
