NASA tests lithium plasma thruster at record 120 kilowatts for Mars missions
Updated
Updated · SciTechDaily · May 8
NASA tests lithium plasma thruster at record 120 kilowatts for Mars missions
8 articles · Updated · SciTechDaily · May 8
The 24 February test at JPL in Southern California used a magnetoplasmadynamic engine in five ignitions inside a 26-foot vacuum chamber.
NASA said the prototype exceeded power levels of any electric thruster now flying on its spacecraft, while researchers target scaling each unit to 500 kilowatts to 1 megawatt.
The project, developed with Princeton University and NASA Glenn, is funded through NASA's Space Nuclear Propulsion programme for future nuclear-electric systems that could support long-duration human Mars missions.
This record-breaking thruster is powerful, but can its materials survive the 23,000-hour journey required for a Mars mission?
As China advances its own thrusters, can NASA's new engine secure America's lead in the race to Mars?
With a nuclear pathfinder mission set for 2028, how soon could this technology actually send astronauts to the Red Planet?
NASA’s 120 kW Lithium MPD Thruster Test: A Milestone Toward Megawatt-Class Mars Propulsion
Overview
On February 24, 2026, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory achieved a major milestone by successfully testing a lithium-fed magnetoplasmadynamic (MPD) thruster, reaching a record 120 kilowatts of power—the highest ever for an electric propulsion system in the United States. The test produced intense heat and a vivid red plasma plume, showcasing the thruster's powerful performance. This breakthrough marks a significant leap forward for electric propulsion, as lithium-fed MPD thrusters can operate at high power levels, use propellant efficiently, and deliver greater thrust. Although researched since the 1960s, MPD technology has not yet flown in space, making this achievement especially important for future missions.