Nuclear Fusion Rocket Could Send Humans to Mars in 30 to 90 Days
Human travel to Mars has long been the dangling carrot for the space program. Now, we could be a step closer to our nearest planetary neighbor through a unique manipulation of nuclear fusion -- the same energy that powers the sun and stars. University of Washington researchers and scientists are building components of a fusion-powered rocket that may clear many of the hurdles that block deep space travel, including long transit times, exorbitant costs, and health risks. Using current technology, a round-trip expedition to Mars would take more than four years. A rocket powered by fusion has the potential to send humans to Mars in 30 to 90 days.
Comments:
Venus is the nearest planet to Earth, not Mars. Of course, Mars is a bit more hospitable. Otherwise, an interesting article.
We've had the technology to do a 90-day Mars mission for at least forty years. It requires fission engines (Orion, NERVA, SNAP, etc.) and no one has the resolve to make it work. In 2001 Sean OKeefe (the NASA director under GWB) tried to shake things up and make it happen, but the Columbia disaster cut his tenure short. Since then NASA has been totally risk averse, a useless, bureaucratic agency good mainly for an occasional painting of a future concept and reminders of past glories.
I read the article and wondered what powered the powerful magnets, which create the magnetic field to contain the radioactive and hot materials used in fusion process Seems like a continuous process where if one chink in the "armor" breaks, the whole thing stops working. If the containment field system stops, the reaction stops and the process stops. The only backup power source is either batteries or solar panels and that probably couldn't stop the fuel from superheating when the containment field breaks down. Give these scientists and engineers credit for getting this done finally. Too many years of theories and hoping for a means of quick trips to the Planets and now it is a possibility. I thought "Ion-Drive" was the "flavor of the month" the last few years. <img class='' src='http://new.astromart.com/astromart/javascripts/sceditor/emoticons/grin.png' alt='grin' title='grin'/>
Funding Member
