Image via flickr / J.Gabás Esteban

Researchers and scientists from the University of Washington and MSNW, a small space propulsion and plasma physics company based in Washington working on creating a safe fuel from nuclear fusion, have revealed that they are close to accomplishing the task. The project is in part funded by NASA and would produce a fuel powerful enough to significantly reduce travel time to other planets.

Nuclear fusion is the same process of releasing energy through the combination of the nuclei of atoms that is behind powering hydrogen bombs. However, to create a safe fuel, a more controlled nuclear fusion process is required. The fuel created from this process would be significantly more powerful than existing rocket fuels and could make 30 day trips to Mars a reality. Until now, NASA studies have estimated such at trip would take two years.

The process for nuclear fusion propulsion is one with many steps, including “compressing a specially developed type of plasma to high pressure with a magnetic field,” resulting in a material from which a “grain-sized” piece could produce “the same amount of energy as current rocket fuel.” According to head University of Washing researcher and President of MSNW John Slough, it is a relatively straightforward process. Tests on the process’s individual steps have been completed by the team, who’s next move is to combine the various parts “into a final experiment that produces fusion.”

This is good news for anyone who was hoping to travel to Mars but just couldn’t commit their rest of their natural lives to the trip.

[via Mashable]

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Eva Voinigescu is an intern at Toronto Standard. Follow her on Twitter @EvaVoinigescu.

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