Fusion rocket could cut Mars trips in half and reach Pluto in four years

Forward-looking: British startup Pulsar Fusion has unveiled its ambitious nuclear fusion rocket concept, Sunbird, designed to dramatically shorten interplanetary travel times. Developed in secret over the past decade, the project aims to cut the journey to Mars in half and reach Pluto in just four years. With ground testing scheduled for 2025 and an orbital demonstration planned for 2027, Sunbird could mark a bold leap forward in next-generation propulsion technology. Unlike conventional chemical rockets, Sunbird relies on nuclear fusion – a process that replicates the energy production at the core of stars – to propel spacecraft. Rather than operating independently, these fusion-powered vehicles are designed to attach to larger spacecraft, towing payloads efficiently across vast interplanetary distances. Fusion propulsion builds on Pulsar Fusion's prior collaborations with major academic institutions. In 2023, the company partnered with the Universities of Southampton and Cambridge ... Read full article.