NASA latest news

Nasa system could take man to mars on 1 tank of fuel

NASA engineers are testing the high-power solar electric propulsion systems that could soon push exploration missions further into deep space.

A stunning new image from the agency’s Glenn Research Center shows a Hall thruster ahead of ground testing in a vacuum chamber.

The device is said to have three times the power of existing systems,
and the experiments in the vacuum chamber will put it to the test of a simulated space environment, allowing engineers to see how it performs.The robotic component of the ARM will demonstrate the world's most advanced and most efficient solar electric propulsion system as it travels to a near-Earth asteroid (NEA).

NEAs are asteroids that are fewer than 121 million miles (1.3 AU) from the sun at the closest point in their orbit.

ARM is a two-part mission that will integrate robotic and crewed spacecraft operations in the proving ground of deep space to demonstrate key capabilities needed for Nasa's journey to Mars.

t is estimated to cost about $1.4 billion (£1.12 billion) not including launch costs and is targeted for lift-off in December 2021.

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