Field
Space
Horizon
ζ Zeta · 2042 →
Lead center
Space Systems
Maturity
Long-horizon — largely theoretical today
Why it matters
Its efficiency makes it ideal for deep-space missions, cargo transport, and station-keeping, extending how far spacecraft can go on limited fuel.
Where it stands
Ion and Hall thrusters are proven and widely used; higher-power plasma drives for crewed missions are in development.
How ASIZ approaches it
The discovery loop, applied.
Through the Space Systems center, ASIZ aims the discovery loop at plasma propulsion: frontier models survey the literature and simulate the possibilities, rank the experiments most likely to resolve the open questions, and partner labs run the decisive ones — with results shared openly.