Imperial PhD student wins best paper award for breakthrough in plasma propulsion

Imperial College London PhD student Hamda Al-Ali won the Best PhD Paper Award at the 2026 Space Propulsion Conference for pioneering research on a Spherical Tokamak Thruster. Her work demonstrates the first experimental plasma formation and current drive in this fusion-inspired, electrodeless system, which could greatly improve spacecraft efficiency, lifespan, and speed, enabling faster and more advanced deep space missions.

A PhD student from Imperial College London has won the Best PhD Paper Award at the 10th Space Propulsion Conference 2026 for research that could transform how spacecraft travel through deep space.

Hamda Al-Ali, from the Department of Aeronautics, received the award for her paper First Experimental Results of Plasma Formation and Current Drive in the Spherical Tokamak Thruster, recognising outstanding early career research in space propulsion science.

The conference is a leading international forum for researchers, industry and space agencies working at the forefront of spacecraft propulsion technologies.

A fusion-inspired approach to space travel

Al-Ali’s research focuses on the development of a novel propulsion concept known as the Spherical Tokamak Thruster (STT), being developed at Imperial’s Plasma Propulsion Laboratory under the supervision of Dr. Aaron Knoll.

Inspired by magnetic confinement fusion devices, the STT uses powerful magnetic fields to heat and control plasma, creating thrust without the need for traditional electrodes. This electrodeless design removes a key limitation of existing electric propulsion systems, where electrode erosion reduces efficiency and lifetime.

The thruster is designed as a high power, pulsed system, with the potential to achieve a specific impulse greater than 12,000 seconds. This is more than an order of magnitude higher than current electric propulsion technologies, offering the possibility of faster journeys and more ambitious space missions.

First experimental validation

The award-winning study presents the first experimental evidence of plasma formation and early-stage current drive in a spherical tokamak-based thruster.

Using argon gas, Al-Ali successfully demonstrated controlled plasma breakdown inside the thruster and established a reliable method to trigger plasma formation. She also showed that the central solenoid could drive current in the plasma, providing initial heating through resistive processes.

These experiments represent a critical step in moving the STT concept from theory to practical demonstration.

Al-Ali said: “I’m very honoured to receive this award. This work represents an important milestone in advancing the development of this novel fusion-inspired propulsion concept, and it would not have been possible without the support of my supervisor and colleagues at Imperial.”

Enabling next-generation missions

The STT concept offers a number of advantages over existing propulsion systems. Its electrodeless design reduces wear and extends operational lifetime, while its compatibility with multiple propellants opens the door to using locally available resources in space.

Its pulsed operation also allows precise control of thrust, which could be particularly valuable for complex manoeuvres and long-duration missions.

Together, these features could enable new classes of space missions, including faster interplanetary travel and more efficient transport of cargo and crew.

Dr Aaron Knoll, Reader in Spacecraft Engineering and co-author of the paper, said: “This is an exciting and significant result. Hamda’s work provides the first experimental validation of a completely new propulsion concept with the potential to reshape high power space propulsion.”

Next steps

Building on these initial results, Al-Ali is now working to improve plasma control and confinement, introduce additional heating methods, and measure the performance of the plasma exhaust.

Future work will focus on demonstrating sustained operation and quantifying thrust, key steps towards assessing the technology’s readiness for real-world space applications.

The findings strengthen Imperial’s position as a global leader in advanced propulsion research and highlight the role of innovative engineering in shaping the future of space exploration.