ROSATOM, prototype of a plasma rocket engine for deep space missions

In February 2025, ROSATOM unveiled a prototype plasma rocket engine developed for deep space missions. This engine, based on a magnetic plasma accelerator, was developed at the ROSATOM Research Institute in Troitsk, Russia, and has an enhanced thrust of at least 6 Newtons at a specific impulse of 100 km per second. Operating in pulsed-periodic mode, this engine can reach 300 kW of power, enabling the spacecraft to accelerate faster while consuming ten times less fuel than conventional chemical engines. The technology is part of Russia’s ‘New Nuclear and Energy Technologies’ initiative, the aim of which is to advance nuclear science and space propulsion. This plasma engine has been designed and developed to reduce space travel time, particularly for missions to Mars. It has been calculated that the journey time can be reduced from nearly a year to just 30-60 days, and that astronauts’ exposure to radiation can be minimised. This makes deep space exploration safer and more feasible. The prototype represents a significant milestone in Russia’s efforts to develop nuclear-powered spacecraft that have the potential to transform interplanetary space travel.