NASA Sets 120-Kilowatt U.S. Thruster Record for Mars Missions
Updated
Updated · SciTechDaily · May 26
NASA Sets 120-Kilowatt U.S. Thruster Record for Mars Missions
5 articles · Updated · SciTechDaily · May 26
120 kilowatts of power — about 25 times Psyche’s electric-thruster level — was reached in NASA tests of a next-generation propulsion system aimed at future Mars missions.
The engine uses lithium metal vapor instead of xenon and can cut fuel use by up to 90% versus chemical rockets while building speed continuously over long cruises.
2,800 degrees Celsius was sustained during testing, a key benchmark because a crewed Mars mission would need multiple thrusters operating for more than 23,000 hours.
NASA estimates human Mars flights will ultimately require 2 to 4 megawatts, leaving the new record as an early but important step toward faster, more efficient deep-space travel.
How much could this powerful new engine shorten the 2.6-year human journey to Mars?
What are the main challenges in scaling this 120-kilowatt thruster to the megawatts needed for deep space travel?
As NASA plans for nuclear-powered flight, what are the safety hurdles for launching reactors into space?
New U.S. Record: NASA’s 120-Kilowatt Lithium MPD Thruster Advances Deep Space Propulsion
Overview
On February 24, 2026, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory achieved a major milestone by successfully testing a lithium-fed magnetoplasmadynamic (MPD) thruster, which reached a record 120-kilowatt power output—over 25 times greater than current electric thrusters. This breakthrough set a new U.S. record for electric propulsion and marks a crucial step for NASA’s deep-space exploration goals. High-power electric propulsion like this is seen as essential for ambitious missions, including sending the first crewed mission to Mars. NASA is now focused on further testing and developing these advanced electromagnetic thrusters to support future space missions.