The 11 year old, UK company, Pulsar has been mainly focused on fusion research. Pulsar started developing products that could bring in revenue while that research continues: a Hall-effect electric thruster for spacecraft and a second-stage hybrid rocket engine. The company was funded by the U.K. Space Agency in 2022 to develop a nuclear based propulsion system. They are working with the Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre and Cambridge University. Pulsar is building an eight-meter fusion chamber to bring plasma to ultra-hot temperatures and create exhaust speeds fast enough for interstellar travel. Pulsar is working with New Jersey-based Princeton Satellite Systems to use supercomputer simulations to better understand how the plasma will behave under electromagnetic confinement.

If they succeed in developing their nuclear fusion rocket it will go 500,000mph (805,000km/h) and reach Mars in 14-30 days. Later rockets would reduce flight time to Saturn from 8 years to 2 years and ultimately empower humanity to leave the solar system.

Modelling shows that this technology can potentially propel a spacecraft with a mass of about 1,000 kg (2,200 lb) to Pluto in 4 years.

Since DFD provides power as well as propulsion in one integrated device, it would also provide as much as 2 MW of power to the payloads upon arrival. Designers think that this technology can radically expand the science capability of planetary missions.