Pulsar Fusion Rocket: The British Space Tech Might Win The Race To Mars

The UK might be getting the upper hand in the Mars exploration race with the new Pulsar Fusion rocket. This new rocket makes use of nuclear fusion power to run, and this technology might cut down the time to travel to Mars in half.

A Nuclear Fusion Rocket Technology Might Fuel Mars Exploration Goals

Pulsar Fusion is a British rocket engine manufacturer adding some spice to the development of rocket engines for use in space missions. According to official reports, this startup has two rocket engine propulsion systems that are currently operational and one engine propulsion system that is in development.

The systems in use are the rocket and electric propulsion systems, while the one in development is a nuclear fusion system. While fusion energy is gaining momentum in various industries, including the space industry, Pulsar Fusion believes that its use is in space.

Richard Dinan, the CEO of Pulsar Fusion, told CNN that using fusion on Earth is “very unnatural.” He adds that his firm has no interest in using fusion energy in our atmosphere, but “Space is a far more logical, sensible place to do fusion because that’s where it wants to happen anyway.”

The groundwork for this technology is still theoretical at this time, but Pulsar is looking to develop it to a workable phase. The UK startup is aiming to test this technology by 2027 if they are able to get the theoretical concept into a working design.

Once ready, the nuclear fusion rocket engine might be in use by various UK space agencies for interstellar missions. The three rockets from Pulsar Fusion are used in low Earth orbit (LEO) (rocket propulsion), geosynchronous orbit (electric propulsion), and interstellar space (fusion propulsion).

How Will The Pulsar Fusion Rocket Work?

Unlike other nuclear fusion systems that are currently in development around the world, the Pulsar Fusion rocket will operate differently. This rocket system will feature a nuclear exhaust, which will expel protons after burning the rocket’s helium-3 fuel.

The firm’s CEO says that after launching rockets into space, there will be charging stations where the nuclear fusion system can latch onto the rockets. So the regular engine will only be used for a small part of the journey, while the nuclear fusion engine will be in use for the rest of the journey.

So Dinan envisions a gas-station-like system that will supply rockets with his firm’s nuclear fusion engines. Once ready for use we might get to see the Pulsar Fusion rocket in use for deep space missions like Mars exploration.