http://www.theregister.co...200_fullbore_efficiency/
So, the VASMIR prototype engine Ad Astra have been working on finally reached full operating power, and has reached it's system efficiency goals. Pump 20kW of electricity into it, to get 5N of thrust, and an exhaust gas velocity of about 50Km/sec.
A 40 day round trip to Mars is definitely feasible, what with Astronauts able to spend 6 months or so on the ISS quite happily. A month or so there, a month or two back (Depending on orbital position), a month scooting around on the planet doing cool stuff like digging out Spirit, picking up samples of Mars rocks, and leaving behind the first parts of a permanent Mars base.
Okay, so that's a gross simplification... but it's still tantalisingly close. As I recall, it took Columbus about 5 weeks to cross the Atlantic in 1492.
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--m(^0^)m-- Wot, no sig?
So, the VASMIR prototype engine Ad Astra have been working on finally reached full operating power, and has reached it's system efficiency goals. Pump 20kW of electricity into it, to get 5N of thrust, and an exhaust gas velocity of about 50Km/sec.
A 40 day round trip to Mars is definitely feasible, what with Astronauts able to spend 6 months or so on the ISS quite happily. A month or so there, a month or two back (Depending on orbital position), a month scooting around on the planet doing cool stuff like digging out Spirit, picking up samples of Mars rocks, and leaving behind the first parts of a permanent Mars base.
Okay, so that's a gross simplification... but it's still tantalisingly close. As I recall, it took Columbus about 5 weeks to cross the Atlantic in 1492.
________________________________
--m(^0^)m-- Wot, no sig?