NASA Tests Advanced Lithium-Fed Thruster for Future Mars Missions
NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory successfully tested a lithium-fed magnetoplasmadynamic (MPD) thruster, achieving power levels of 120 kilowatts. This milestone marks a significant advancement in electric propulsion technology, critical for future crewed missions to Mars.
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On February 24, 2026, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) conducted a successful test of a lithium-fed magnetoplasmadynamic (MPD) thruster, reaching power levels of 120 kilowatts. This is over 25 times the power of current electric thrusters used on NASA's Psyche spacecraft.
The test utilized JPL's condensable metal propellant (CoMeT) vacuum facility, where the thruster's tungsten electrode exceeded 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit (2,800 degrees Celsius) during five ignitions. The MPD thruster, which has been in development for 2.5 years, aims to achieve higher power outputs between 500 kilowatts and 1 megawatt.
Challenges remain, including thermal management for prolonged operations required for human Mars missions, which may necessitate 2 to 4 megawatts of power. The project is funded under NASA's Space Nuclear Propulsion initiative, supporting future deep-space exploration.
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