R&D. Rosatom researchers have developed a laboratory prototype for a plasma propulsion engine. It uses a magnetic plasma accelerator with improved parameters of thrust and specific impulse (min. 100 km/s). When operating in a pulse mode, the engine is capable of generating up to 300 kW of power. Such engines can accelerate a spacecraft in outer space to a speed that is unreachable by chemical engines, and also reduce the need for fuel by dozens of times. To compare, the flight to Mars would take almost a year one way with conventional engines, while a plasma engine could reduce the mission time to 30–60 days. A huge experimental stand is being installed at a research institute in Troitsk, Russia to test the plasma engine prototype and similar devices.