Astronaut Franklin Chang-Diaz founded Ad Astra Rocket Co. a few years ago to develop and manufacture a ground breaking new rocket engine: the Variable Specific Impulse Magnetoplasma Rocket (VASIMR) which is essentially an electro-magnetic thruster for spacecraft propulsion.

It uses radio waves to ionize a propellant and magnetic fields to accelerate the resulting plasms to generate thrust. This all came out of research in nuclear fusion.

Testing is to begin in space in 2012 according to NOVA Science Now. The amazing technology is the breakthrough needed for the exploration of Mars. Instead of a 9 month to 1 year trip the the red planet, the VASMIR can get you there in only 39 days by traveling over 120,000 mph. That is moving on.

In my opinon, without this technology I don't think manned missions to Mars will be practical for hundreds of years. The short duration of the trip will drastically lessen the radiation exposure to the astronauts. Radiation exposure may be one of the most technically challenging factors in a very long trip. This is about as close as any of us will come to 'warp drive' in out lifetimes. Lets hope it becomes a huge success.