Southampton developing advanced propulsion tech for Mars

The UK Space Agency (UKSA) recently highlighted a team from the University of Southampton who are developing nuclear electric propulsion technology to push humanity to Mars and Beyond.

With current technology it’s going take around six months to fly to Mars. With the technologies being created here, that could fall to just two months. This could reduce the total time taken getting to Mars, landing, exploring, and back again from three years to just two. Hugely reducing the amount of food, etc needed.

These advanced propolsion systems accelerate particles away from the spaceship, rather than the more traditional way of burning fuels and funnelling them outwards. The new engines are far more efficent so require vastly less fuel, which means a lighter spaceship, a faster speed, and potentially more room for the astronauts.

To find out more check out UKSA’s blog, or go directly te Southampton’s website:

• https://www.southampton.ac.uk/study/facilities/electric-propulsion-laboratory
• https://space.blog.gov.uk/2024/08/28/to-mars-and-beyond/

On to Mars!