China reaches Mars in just 39 days

China reaches Mars in just 39 days

China reaches Mars in just 39 days

China is using a breakthrough propulsion technology that will reduce the duration of the trip to Mars from 8 months to 39 days, as it uses new propulsion engines called "ions".

Engines use ion propulsion technology that uses electricity to accelerate ions and use them as a form of propulsion.

On the Chinese space station, the central unit called Tianhe, launched in late April 2021, contains four ion drives that use electricity to accelerate ions and use them as a form of propulsion. Thus, Tianhe may soon become the first spacecraft in history to transport humans using this technology.

And ion propulsion is already more efficient than chemical propulsion. To keep the International Space Station in orbit for a year, conventional propulsion engines use four tons of rocket fuel, while ion engines only take 400 kilograms to stay in orbit for the same period of time, according to the Chinese Academy of Sciences, which could cut the time of the trip to Mars from eight. months to 39 days only.