Getting to Mars today takes about seven months — a grueling journey that exposes astronauts to radiation, bone loss, and psychological stress. A new electromagnetic thruster tested at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory could cut that time dramatically.
The experimental engine uses lithium vapor as fuel, heated to extreme temperatures and accelerated by intense magnetic fields. The result: a propulsion system far more efficient than conventional chemical rockets.
The lithium advantage
Unlike chemical rockets that burn through fuel in minutes, electromagnetic thrusters can run continuously for months. The lithium vapor design tested at JPL achieved:
- A specific impulse (efficiency metric) 10 times higher than chemical rockets
- Sustained operation at high power levels
- No moving parts except the magnetic field generator
«This isn’t science fiction. We’re looking at propulsion that could get humans to Mars in under three months,» said a JPL engineer.
Shorter transit times would reduce astronaut radiation exposure by more than half and minimize the muscle and bone deterioration that occurs in microgravity. The thruster could also enable faster missions to the outer solar system.
Based on NASA JPL research, published May 2026.
