Answer by C Stuart Hardwick, Award-Winning Scifi Author, on Quora:. Ion and plasma engines will likely have an increasing role in the future of space travel, but they are not a replacement for ...

Scientists have figured out how to create a new ion engine that uses 100 million times less fuel than a chemical rocket. Though the device is a lot less powerful, it could some day be a cost ...

However, a new ion plasma rocket being developed by another former astronaut, Franklin Chang-Diaz, could potentially reach Mars in just 39 days using a fraction of the fuel. SUBSCRIBE LOG IN ...

Ion engines have incredible fuel efficiency, ... However, at large thrust, the plasma density becomes large enough to distort the fields, ...

While plasma propulsion isn’t a new concept, the speeds claimed by Rosatom—100 km/s—are far beyond the capabilities of existing ion thrusters, which typically max out at 30-50 km/s.

In his new book, "To Mars and Beyond, Fast," seven-time Shuttle astronaut Franklin Chang Diaz explains the 40-days-to-Mars high concept in layman's terms. But will it work?

Over the last several months, we’ve been enjoying a front-row seat as [Jay Bowles] of Plasma Channel has been developing and perfecting his design for a high voltage multi-stage ionic thruste… ...

In the next few years, the VASIMR ion engine could be used to boost the space station's orbit (Illustration: Ad Astra Rocket Company) Rockets that would use charged particles to propel super-fast ...