‘Nuclear’ invention cuts travel time to Mars in half

Following in the footsteps of the Alan Turing team’s code-cracking heroics at Bletchley, the company says Sunbird represents a significant leap in space propulsion technology. It will cut the journey time to Mars by half and is set to slash interplanetary travel times and continue to position the UK as a leader in space innovation and scientific excellence.

Sunbird was publicly unveiled for the first time at Space-Comm EXPO at ExCeL London on Tuesday.

Pulsar Fusion develops clean space propulsion systems and services through fusion. It says the Sunbird Migratory Transfer Vehicle, while halving travel time to Mars, will simultaneously offer a reusable, station-keeping capability for deep space operations. This entirely novel system, developed exclusively by Pulsar Fusion’s in-house team of scientists, showcases the company’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of nuclear fusion technology.

The company has a history of groundbreaking achievements in propulsion, including its 2023 UK Space Agency-funded work on integrated nuclear fission power systems for electric propulsion, developed in collaboration with leading institutions such as the Universities of Cambridge and Southampton.

With Sunbird, Pulsar is reaffirming Britain’s role as a global hub for advanced space technology. CEO Richard Dinan said: “I expect that, as of now, Sunbird is already being closely analysed by our global competitors. Pulsar has built a reputation for delivering real technology – not just concepts.

“We have 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 expand rapidly.

“We actively welcome visits from appropriate partners and prospective international clients and look forward to sharing more exciting developments we have in the pipeline.”

Pulsar Fusion is advancing towards in-orbit testing, with components of Sunbird’s power system set for demonstration later this year. The company aims to achieve nuclear fusion in space as early as 2027 – an ambitious milestone that underscores the growing global interest in fusion-based propulsion.

By maintaining a fleet of heavily shielded, fusion-powered spacecraft stationed in orbit, the Sunbird concept offers a scalable solution to support interplanetary missions for international partners.