Built and deployed in space, new plasma rockets that burn metals could power long-range spacecraft.

The Super Magdrive – a seminal technology and namesake of its British-based space tech startup, Magdrive, can use any metal, including iron, as a fuel source to power long-range spacecraft farther for longer. These new bullet-shaped thrusters can technically be infinitely refueled on the go by the metals from mining asteroids, comets, and other space resources.

The new thruster uses solar power to charge capacitors to ionize any metal feedstock used as a raw material, discharging at a rate of over 1,000 volts. According to Magdrive, this is "an order of magnitude higher than similarly sized electric propulsion systems."

The thruster generates a high-density, high-temperature stream of plasma "bullets," which, when fired using magnetic fields, propels the spacecraft forward.

A team at the University of Southampton led by Minkwan Kim has been tasked with lab-testing the propulsion system's thrust.

"Spacecraft have limited amounts of fuel because of the enormous cost and energy it takes to launch them into space. But these new thrusters are capable of being powered by any metal that can burn, such as iron, aluminium or copper," Kim said. "Once fitted, spacecraft could land on a comet or moon, rich in these minerals, and harvest what it needs before jetting off with a full tank. It could open up vast new frontiers and accelerate our understanding of the universe."

Kim, who created a plasma thruster design for the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched last year, said he hopes the tech can be used for future deep-space missions.

Unless constructed directly in space, conventional rockets using solid or chemical fuel would still need to overcome Earth's gravity to launch such a craft. Once out in the void, a Magdrive thruster has sufficient power to send a spacecraft on its way.

Magdrive thrusters are ideal for maneuverability. Abundant metals like iron and aluminum, when used as in-situ fuel sources with minimal processing, could revolutionize space travel.

"Spacecraft have limited amounts of fuel because of the enormous cost and energy it takes to launch them into space," Kim said. "But these new thrusters can be powered by any metal that can burn, such as iron, aluminum, or copper. Once fitted, spacecraft could land on a comet or moon, rich in these minerals, and harvest what it needs before jetting off with a full tank," he added.