A new magnetoplasmadynamic (MPD) thruster that runs on lithium metal vapor. © NASA/JPL
A powerful new Lithium-Fed Thruster that could one day help carry humans to Mars has passed an important test at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
The experimental engine, called a magnetoplasmadynamic (MPD) thruster, uses lithium vapor as fuel and can produce far more power than current electric spacecraft engines.
In a recent test at JPL’s Electric Propulsion Lab, the thruster reached 120 kilowatts of power, more than 25 times stronger than the electric thrusters used on today’s NASA spacecraft.
NASA’s JPL team has spent the last 2½ years developing the technology as part of the agency’s Space Nuclear Propulsion project, led by Marshall Space Flight Center in Alabama. The latest test was completed on February 24, 2026, and the results will help guide future experiments.
The prototype thruster is enclosed in JPL’s condensable metal propellant (CoMeT) vacuum facility. Credit NASA/JPL-Caltech
Although the system still needs years of development before it can fly in space, the successful test is a major step toward nuclear electric propulsion that could shorten trips to Mars and make long missions safer for astronauts.
“This marks the first time in the United States that an electric propulsion system has operated at power levels this high, reaching up to 120 kilowatts.”
Why it matters:
More powerful electric propulsion could dramatically reduce travel time to Mars, lowering astronauts’ exposure to radiation and the physical risks of deep-space missions.
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