Aerospace & Defense

Hall Thrusters Could Be Key to Mars Exploration

With NASA’s renewed interest in returning to Mars, the need for advanced technologies has increased. Now, a team at U-M has discovered that Hall thrusters can generate more thrust at smaller sizes — making them a viable option to explore the Martian planet. Learn about the challenges and benefits of Hall thrusters with this video.

“People had previously thought that you could only push a certain amount of current through a thruster area, which in turn translates directly into how much force or thrust you can generate per unit area,” said Benjamin Jorns , U-M associate professor of aerospace engineering.