ALT The magnetoplasmadynamic thruster is firing during a test series at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. This straight-on view looks directly into the magnetoplasmadynamic thruster’s nozzle. The circular opening glows bright pink, with a lighter rim around the edge. At the center, a textured pattern of small, light-colored shapes is visible, surrounded by a deeper pink halo of plasma. The background is mostly dark, causing the bright nozzle and plasma to stand out. Credit: NASA JPL

ALT The magnetoplasmadynamic thruster is firing during a test series at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. This is a close-up side view of the magnetoplasmadynamic thruster during the test. A bright, circular nozzle glows in warm yellow tones, with a smooth transition into a vivid pink plume extending outward. The plume fills the right side of the image, creating a soft, diffused glow against a dark background. Credit: NASA JPL