Startup Claims Fusion Rocket Halves Travel Time To Mars
British startup Pulsar Fusion is drawing global attention with its ambitious nuclear fusion rocket design. If successful, this concept could slash the time it takes to reach Mars by half. While the rocket, dubbed Sunbird, is still in its theoretical phase, the company believes space offers the perfect environment for fusion.
“It’s very unnatural to do fusion on Earth,” Pulsar CEO Richard Dinan told CNN. He argued that fusion inherently belongs in space, where stars already demonstrate the process on a massive scale. Earth-based attempts to harness fusion have faced consistent hurdles due to atmospheric interference and the challenge of creating stable plasma environments.
However, in orbit, where vacuum conditions are natural, Pulsar sees a significant advantage. The company plans to attempt the first fusion in space by 2027. Although it’s a moonshot goal, success could open the door to much faster space travel across the solar system.
The Sunbird Rocket and Its Power Source
Unlike traditional engines that rely on chemical combustion, fusion rockets combine atomic isotopes into heavier ones, releasing immense energy. The Sunbird rocket would use helium-3, a rare and expensive fuel, to produce thrust through a stream of high-speed protons.
This method avoids the inefficiencies and limitations of conventional propulsion. As a result, the fusion rocket could maintain higher exhaust speeds over longer distances — a crucial factor for interplanetary missions. Dinan described this approach as having a “nuclear exhaust,” potentially outperforming all known propulsion systems in space.
Each Sunbird is expected to measure around 100 feet and include armored plating to withstand cosmic hazards. The projected cost per rocket is upwards of $90 million, largely due to its unconventional fuel and advanced engineering.
Long-Term Vision: Fusion-Powered Space Travel Network
Looking ahead, Pulsar Fusion imagines a network of fusion-powered vehicles and orbital refueling stations. “Ideally, you’d have a station near Mars and one in low Earth orbit,” Dinan explained. This setup would allow spacecraft to switch from traditional engines to fusion power mid-journey, greatly increasing efficiency.
Although Pulsar’s roadmap is speculative, the company intends to run a fusion test in 2027 using a “linear fusion experiment.” If that test succeeds and funding continues, a working prototype could be developed within five years.
Ultimately, Dinan emphasized that fusion’s potential lies in its unmatched exhaust speed. “If we are going to be the species that actually gets to other planets,” he said, “fusion is king.”
