emirates7 - A research team from the Xi’an Aerospace Propulsion Institute in China announced on Monday that they have successfully achieved full-power operation of a space thruster.

As reported by *People’s Daily Online*, the tested thruster is a 100 kW high-thrust magnetoplasmadynamic engine, which is expected to play a significant role in the future of space exploration. Its potential applications include interstellar missions, interplanetary cargo transportation, and deep-space exploration.

This plasma propulsion system functions by ionizing a propellant to generate plasma, which is then accelerated through an electromagnetic field to produce a high-speed particle stream, thereby creating thrust, according to its developers at the Xi’an Aerospace Propulsion Institute.

The research team incorporated 3D-printed advanced materials and high-temperature superconducting magnet technology, allowing the propulsion system to achieve an effective input power exceeding 100 kilowatts. Currently, most engines of this type operate at power levels in the tens of kilowatts range.

This innovative propulsion system is expected to provide powerful and reliable thrust for China’s large and extra-large spacecraft, enhancing the country’s capabilities in space exploration.