To Mars and back on one tank of fuel

University of Sydney researchers have announced world-record results in rocket efficiency following the invention of new thruster technology. The technology has been described in the journal Applied Physics Letters and will soon be tested for real in space.

The technology was invented by former Sydney student Dr Patrick Neumann, who originally approached Professors Marcela Bilek and David McKenzie with his idea. Professor Bilek recounted, “Patrick came to our lab as an honours student with the idea of using our cathodic arc system, originally constructed for the deposition of nanostructured materials, as a thruster.”

The thruster works by accelerating ions from an intensely hot, very small plasma ball. A magnetic nozzle was used to further accelerate these ions to give them extremely high velocity. Research has further suggested that magnesium, used commonly as a light and strong alloy for space materials and prevalent in space junk orbiting the Earth, could be re-used to fuel the engine in space.

Diagram of the experimental set-up, with the configuration of the imposed magnetic field that forms the magnetic nozzle.

“Our modelling suggests that our pricing would be competitive with other ion drives currently on the market, as our system can be built from current, commercially available components and does not require expensive alloys or finely constructed fuel tanks,” Dr Neumann said.

“We also believe that our system can solve many issues in space propulsion, allowing small space vehicles to do more with less.”

The technology achieved a world record when tested in the lab, demonstrating more than 11,000 seconds of specific impulse (a measure of thrust efficiency, like litres per 100 km). Professor McKenzie said, “With this level of efficiency, it is possible to send missions to Mars, have them perform experiments in Mars orbit and then bring the spacecraft back to Earth orbit without needing to refuel the spacecraft.”

Dr Neumann has since set up his own company, Neumann Space, to commercially develop the new rocket engine. And business is already booming, with Airbus Defence & Space having just signed a contract to fly Dr Neumann’s payload for long-term testing on the International Space Station (ISS).

Dr Neumann working on the core of the experimental thruster after its removal from the vacuum chamber. Image credit: Horst Burkhardt.

“The testing of Neumann’s thruster technology needs to be prepared through the established processes to qualify a payload for flight to the ISS and for its operation on board the ISS,” Airbus Defence & Space said in a statement.

“This is currently in preparation and all parties are confident that we will be able to operate the Neumann propulsion system on board the ISS. The final confirmation for this will be, however, given by Airbus Defence and Space partners ESA and NASA.”

Top image credit: ©pandawild/Dollar Photo Club