Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California tested a prototype lithium-fed magnetoplasmadynamic (MPD) thruster on February 24, 2026. The thruster reached up to 120 kilowatts, surpassing the power of current NASA spacecraft electric thrusters.
Unlike current electric propulsion systems that accelerate propellants with solar power, the MPD thruster uses electromagnetic forces generated by high currents and magnetic fields to accelerate lithium metal vapor plasma. This approach has been studied since the 1960s but has not been used operationally until now.
During five ignitions, the central tungsten electrode exceeded 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit (2,800 degrees Celsius). The tests took place in a specialized vacuum facility designed for high-power metal vapor thrusters.
Electric propulsion thrusters generally use up to 90% less propellant than chemical rockets. NASA’s Psyche mission currently operates electric thrusters at around 5 kilowatts, propelling the spacecraft to about 124,000 mph over time. The lithium MPD thruster outperforms Psyche’s thrusters by more than 25 times in power.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman stated that the test marks significant progress toward human Mars missions and highlights strategic investments in high-power electric propulsion technologies.