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NASA is making a powerful new ion engine to send astronauts to Mars

A prototype ion engine that uses lithium vapor as a propellant has aced its first tests, achieving 25 times more power than ...
Science Daily

NASA just tested a powerful new thruster that could send humans to Mars

A powerful new electromagnetic thruster has taken a major step forward after a successful high-energy test at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Fueled by lithium vapor and driven by intense magnetic ...
Earth.com

NASA tests electromagnetic thruster that may power Mars missions

Earlier this year, rocket scientists at NASA fired up an electromagnetic thruster powered by lithium metal vapor.

NASA's lithium-fed electric thruster could carry humans to Mars and beyond

Inside a long vacuum chamber in Southern California, a spacecraft engine glowed white-hot as it pushed toward a level of ...
Interesting Engineering on MSN

First-of-its-kind NASA lithium MPD thruster hits 120 kW in ground test

NASA has successfully ignited a prototype magnetoplasmadynamic thruster powered by lithium metal vapor, reaching ...

NASA’s Lithium-Fed Nuclear Thruster Flares to Life in First of Its Kind Test

NASA fired up a prototype of its electromagnetic thruster inside a vacuum chamber, reaching power levels of up to 120 ...

NASA tests lithium thruster: Milestone for manned Mars missions?

NASA has successfully tested a magnetoplasmadynamic thruster with lithium propellant. The technology is considered key for ...