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What is the number of routes to Mars? Although NASA has been considering its next planetary destination for decades, we currently know there are none. However, the 225 million kilometers separating us from Mars is too enormous and prevents them from making any plans.
They are currently prepared to finally visit the red planet, which will take at least six to nine months. However, a new proposal approved by Jack Kingdon from the University of California promises to cut the transit time to just ninety days! How? What? You’ll learn the answer as you read on!
Finally getting to Mars
We don’t know how long NASA has been trying to reach the solar system’s crimson heart, but Kingdon has come to alter everything.
Kingdon asserts that ships like SpaceX’s Starship (yep, Musk’s) could travel the trip in a lot less time based on actual calculations and tools like the Lambert problem.Do you think an in-orbit refueling mechanism would be the key?
NASA continues to rely on the development of nuclear engines to reduce travel time, but this option is already causing controversy and with good reason—if successful, it might literally be the spark that ignites space flight!
Two crewed ships, how?
Jack Kingdon suggests an operation that consists of four cargo ships and two crewed ships that have all been refueled in Earth’s orbit. The Starship Superheavy system would require about 45 launches, or 15 refuelings per ship overall.
The logistical deployment of this operation would not be insurmountable if SpaceX achieves its target of carrying out up to a thousand launches year as planned, despite the fact that it may sound enormous.
What are they going to use?
The plan’s independence from experimental technology—that is, the elimination of the necessity to produce items like VASIMR thrusters or nuclear engines—is one of its advantages.
The entire strategy is predicated on systems that are either already in place or in a highly developed state. The plan is to employ in-situ resources, like CO2 and subterranean water, to create fuel on the return trip from Mars using electrolysis and Sabatier reactors. Although it might sound a little ambitious, isn’t it fantastic?
Less time in space, less exposure to risks
Shortening the journey will lessen the detrimental impacts of space on people, such as bone loss and an elevated risk of radiation-induced cancer. Additionally, it means less psychological pressure because, if you don’t get along with your mission companion, spending more than six months imprisoned in a ship is a long time!
NASA doesn t see it clearly
While some sectors have praised the plan, others argue that SpaceX has not yet demonstrated that it can sustain that launch rate and that the operating load is too high.
In order to maximize the trajectory, this new concept relies on optimizing existing means and also seeks to capitalize on the precise moment when Earth and Mars are closest.
However, NASA wants to keep placing bets on the advancement of nuclear propulsion systems since they believe that these technologies will be necessary for future, speedier trips.
A new way of looking at space
The idea that we don’t have to wait for the future to explore the universe—maybe we just need to use the instruments we now have differently—is perhaps the most significant aspect of Kingdon’s study, rather than the 90-day estimate (90 days to reach Mars, it just sounds too fantastic!).
The potential that humanity might at last dare to make the big leap to the red planet is on the table, along with the argument!
