In a major new development, NASA scientists at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama have begun testing a new propulsion system that will radically decrease the time it takes for spacecraft to reach interstellar space. Researchers say this could bring spacecraft to the heliopause in just 10 years – a feat that took the Voyager craft 35 years.

Named as Heliopause Electrostatic Rapid Transport System (HERTS), the new propulsion system would comprise of 10 -20 electrically charged, exposed aluminum wires emanating from the focal point of a rocket to shape around the E-Sail. The special arrangement of wires would electrostatically repulse the quick moving protons of the sun-oriented wind, with the energy delivered making the shuttle push.

Each wire would be just one millimetre thick but extend roughly 12 and a half miles in length, almost the equivalent of 219 football fields.

The Sun discharges protons and electrons into the wind at high speeds – 400 to 750 kilometers per second. Positively charged wires would repel the protons, creating the thrust and achieve unprecedented speeds.

NASA scientists are testing deflections of protons from the energised wire and how it can be used for future development of the E-Sail technology. The results obtained will also enable researchers to design an electron gun which will emit excess electron to maintain the positive voltage bias of the wire.

The interstellar test mission pushed by an E-Sail could reach the edge of our solar system, the heliopause, in just 10 years, researchers estimate. According to scientists, this could change the exploratory returns of these sorts of missions. However, the E-Sail could be utilized for shorter spacecraft missions as well.

NASA has also released a video to demonstrate the concept. Watch the Video Here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntMDcWD7-jQ