Nuclear fusion space propulsion

In September 2020, we asked for your ideas for future space missions. Our goal was to tap into the insight, expertise and creativity of European citizens, companies and academia to help us plan for the future. Based on over 200 ideas, ESA Discovery & Preparation is now launching 11 new activities over the course of the coming year, that will together shape the future of space.

A fusion space propulsion system for powering humans to Mars and beyond, one of the 47 ideas selected from over 200 submitted. This mission concept would be the first nuclear fusion propulsion system in space; it would take only two months to fly to Mars.