Thanks to their characteristics and efficiency in outer space, marching plasma engines for open‑space spacecraft open up new horizons for humanity in the exploration and study of the Solar System, said Evgeny Stepin, director of the Cosmocenter Center for Space Research and Technologies at the National Research Nuclear University MEPhI, in a conversation with the newspaper «Izvestia».

“In a vacuum, their advantage becomes apparent — thanks to their high specific impulse and operational lifespan, these engines are much more efficient and economical than chemical engines in space, and they allow for significantly higher speeds, thereby substantially reducing the time required to reach the target object — a planet or an asteroid,” he explained.

First and foremost, according to the scientist, this could make it possible to reach the Moon, Mars, and Venus. Subsequently, the engines could also be used to study Jupiter’s moons and the asteroid belt.

At the same time, since space is a very hostile environment, a number of technical challenges must be overcome to carry out full‑scale manned space flights to other planets, such as protecting against radiation, organizing a life‑support system, and others, the expert warned.

“And to operate a marching plasma propulsion system, it is also necessary to provide it with electrical power, and compact nuclear power units are considered as a potential source of this power, which also raises the issue of removing excess heat from the spacecraft — a non‑trivial problem in space conditions,” the source added.

Today, Russia is developing several unique plasma engines at once. When the new developments are fully completed and successfully demonstrate their effectiveness in “combat” conditions, Russia will further strengthen its position in the race to explore near and deep outer space.