NASA lithium-fed MPD thruster passes first test at 120 kilowatts
Updated
Updated · Space.com · May 5
NASA lithium-fed MPD thruster passes first test at 120 kilowatts
10 articles · Updated · Space.com · May 5
The prototype fired five times on 24 February in JPL's 26-foot Comet vacuum chamber, with NASA saying it is the first US electric propulsion system to operate at that power.
Researchers say the engine uses lithium plasma and 90% less propellant than chemical rockets, potentially cutting spacecraft mass and launch costs while building thrust for high-speed deep-space travel.
NASA aims to scale the technology to 500 kilowatts to four megawatts and pair advanced ion propulsion with planned space nuclear power for future astronaut missions to Mars.
This thruster is 25 times more powerful, but how does it truly change the timeline for the first humans on Mars?
Can NASA's new thruster survive the 23,000-hour burn needed to finally get humans to Mars?
NASA's 2028 nuclear mission is a go, but what are the undisclosed risks of a radioactive accident above Earth?
Achieving 120 kW: NASA's Lithium Magnetoplasmadynamic Thruster Sets New Electric Propulsion Milestone
Overview
On February 24, 2026, NASA successfully tested a lithium-fed magnetoplasmadynamic thruster at 120 kW, setting a new U.S. benchmark for electric propulsion power. This thruster uses electromagnetic forces to accelerate lithium plasma, offering high efficiency, specific impulse, and thrust density far beyond current systems. These advantages enable up to 90% propellant savings and shorter transit times for deep space missions. NASA's Space Nuclear Propulsion program aims to scale this technology to 500 kW–1 MW thrusters to meet the 2–4 MW power needs of crewed Mars missions. However, scaling introduces challenges like electrode erosion and thermal management, driving ongoing research and a roadmap toward flight-ready systems.