Meet Sunbird, Britain’s secret space nuke that could help us colonise Mars… or even take trips to the edge of the galaxy
A SECRET space nuke could help Britain colonise Mars and even travel to the other side of the Solar System.
The Sunbird is set to shake up space exploration as it promises to fly to Mars in half the usual time.
Bletchley-based start up Pulsar Fusion revealed it is developing the extraordinary rocket for interplanetary travel.
The groundbreaking craft would be fusion-powered and work by attaching to large space vehicles to tow them vast distances.
This would differ hugely to current space rockets which launch from a planet but the Sunbird will be stored in an orbital dock.
Incredible plans for the Sunbird include transporting 1000-2000 kg of commercial cargo to other planets.
This could include homes, rovers, and supplies to Mars’ orbit, before docking with a pre-launched site.
The incredible nuke could also promises to slash the journey from Earth to Mars by half, meaning it’ll take just six months to get to the red planet.
This soon-to-be nuke is even expected to fly to Pluto in just four years, which is half the usual 9.5 year trip.
The groundbreaking British company revealed it is planning in-orbit testing, with components set for demonstration later this year.
This rocket could even be ready for a space-based demonstration by 2027.
A Sunbird is set to be 30 meters long and could have an “alien-like design”.
Each craft could cost more than £70million to produce.
Pulsar Fusion’s CEO Richard Dinan revealed the Sunbird was developed in complete secrecy over the past decade.
He said: “I expect that, as of today, 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.”