Pulsar Fusion’s ‘Sunbird’ concept will halve missions to Mars (Image: Pulsar Fusion)
An incredible £50m nuclear fusion developed by British over the past decade has been unveiled for the very first time. Pulsar Fusion’s ‘Sunbird’ concept will halve the time it takes for missions to Mars from seven to eight months to just four months, redefining space travel as we know it and unlocking a new era of interplanetary travel.
Developed in secret, this alien-like rocket could reaffirm the UK’s position in advanced technology. Pulsar Fusion claims Sunbird can fly 1000–2000kg of commercial cargo to Mars. A video on Pulsar Fusion’s website offers a detailed sneak preview of Sunbird, showcasing its distinctive design and unique operational concept.
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Pulsar Fusion’s CEO Richard Dinan said: “I expect that, as of today, Sunbird is already being closely analysed by our global competitors. Pulsar has built a reputation in this industry for delivering real technology — not just talking about it.
“We’ve recently commissioned not one, but two of the largest space propulsion testing chambers in the UK, if not all of Europe.
“Pulsar is now an international space propulsion testing powerhouse, and we have ambitious plans to grow rapidly from here. We actively welcome visits from appropriate partners and prospective international clients, and I look forward to sharing more exciting developments we have in the pipeline.”
In the demonstration, Sunbirds are shown attaching to large space vehicles, towing them across vast distances towards Mars. Unlike traditional propulsion systems, these heavily shielded fusion craft would remain stationed in space, ready to deploy and assist missions for any international partners the UK chooses to support.
British scientists have been developing this incredible rocket in secret for a decade (Image: Pulsar Fusion)
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This fusion rocket has an alien-like design (Image: Pulsar Fusion)
The company claims it could propel a spacecraft with a mass of about 1,000kg (2,200lb) to Pluto in four years. In comparison NASA’s New Horizon spacecraft took roughly eight years to reach the distant planet.
Sunbird is powered by Pulsar Fusion’s in-development Duel Direct Fusion Drive (DDFD) which is a compact nuclear fusion engine that provides thrust and power. When fired up, it would temporarily become the hottest place in the solar system, producing exhaust speeds of more than 500,000mph (804,672km/h).
Now Pulsar Fusion, a UK-based start-up, has demonstrated two designs of prototype rocket engine and is rapidly advancing toward in-orbit testing, with components of the system’s power supply set for demonstration later this year.
The company has bold ambitions of achieving nuclear fusion in space as early as 2027, generating global interest.