Traveling to Mars with plasma rockets

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the feasibility and implications of using plasma-powered rockets for travel to Mars, focusing on travel time reduction, thrust limitations, and the challenges of entering orbit upon arrival. Participants explore theoretical and practical aspects of this technology, including aerobraking and the logistics of human spaceflight.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest that plasma-powered rockets could significantly reduce travel time to Mars, potentially by half.
  • Others argue that the low thrust of ion drives presents challenges for slowing down to enter orbit, questioning the practicality of this approach for human missions.
  • A participant points out that the original article may not accurately reflect the claims made about payload capacity and travel time, suggesting a misinterpretation of the content.
  • There is a discussion about aerobraking as a potential method for slowing down spacecraft upon arrival at Mars, though some express skepticism about its effectiveness for crewed missions due to the thin Martian atmosphere.
  • Concerns are raised about the increased size and weight of a crewed spacecraft necessary to support human life for extended periods, which could complicate the aerobraking strategy.
  • One participant notes that aerobraking is part of SpaceX's planned approach for Mars missions, indicating a divergence in opinions on its viability.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the feasibility of plasma rockets for Mars travel, the effectiveness of aerobraking, and the implications for crewed missions. No consensus is reached regarding the claims made in the original article or the practicality of the proposed technologies.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight limitations related to thrust capabilities, the need for additional equipment for human life support, and the potential misinterpretation of the original article's claims. The discussion reflects ongoing uncertainties in the application of plasma propulsion and aerobraking for human spaceflight.

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This look like an Ion drive which we already have put on a few satelites. The problem I see when you have low thrust is how do you slow down to get into orbit once you reach your destination? Unless you spend half the journy accelerating and half the journey stopping again.

What am I missing here, surely this just removes the problem of huge amounts of fuel required but not duration to get there and back.

In reality it will be a regular rockets that gets humans to Mars. Likely we will send the fuel required to get us back into Mars's orbit beforehand and refuel when we get there for the return journey.
 
The article doesn't even have a byline. Science journalism is in a sorry state (and Beth Daley, I'm looking at you). It is likely written by Dan Goebel, or at least he is the common thread in the citations.

Next, the article absolutely does not say what the OP claims it says. It says one could carry more payload. The OP has sent us on a wild goose chase. While more payload is a good thing, it's not what the OP said it was.
 
Vanadium 50 said:
The article doesn't even have a byline.
The author is Gary Li.
MikeeMiracle said:
This look like an Ion drive which we already have put on a few satelites. The problem I see when you have low thrust is how do you slow down to get into orbit once you reach your destination?
For Mars, at least, there is the possibility of aerobraking.
 
The Aerobraking is an interesting concept, I can see this slowing down a satelite sent to Mars. With the martian atmosphere being so thin though, I don't think this would work on a ship carrying people. Any ship capable of carrying people will need to do so for months on end to reach Mars, the amount of extra equipment needed to sustain human life for that duration will make the ship far bigger and heavier.
 
MikeeMiracle said:
The Aerobraking is an interesting concept, I can see this slowing down a satelite sent to Mars. With the martian atmosphere being so thin though, I don't think this would work on a ship carrying people. Any ship capable of carrying people will need to do so for months on end to reach Mars, the amount of extra equipment needed to sustain human life for that duration will make the ship far bigger and heavier.
You're right about such a ship being bigger and heavier. Especially interesting given the square-cube law. Yet, aerobraking is the plan of record for SpaceX.
 

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