http://www.sciencealert.com/nasa-scientists-are-investigating-a-propulsion-system-that-could-reach-mars-in-3-dayshttp://livestream.com/viewnow/niac2015seattle/videos/105034354Could Philip Lubin's idea actually work?
Reaching Mars in 3 days using a giant laser 100 times the mass of the ISS, on LEO, sounds super swell!!only problem is STOPPING on Mars. Better start positioning 1 of these HUGE lasers on Mars orbit, so we can decelerate payloads or spaceships. That is, IF they use nuclear fusion power.If they are solar powered, we better position 2-3 of those huge lasers on Mars orbit, since they will get much less power from the Sun at that distance.
("regular" fusion wouldn't be better than a really good solar array, at least not in the inner solar system).
Quote from: Robotbeat on 02/26/2016 12:13 pm ("regular" fusion wouldn't be better than a really good solar array, at least not in the inner solar system).fusion-powered NEP, maybe not, but couldn't you do other forms of fusion propulsion that would have really high exhaust velocity and very high thrust? Something like a fusion only (no fissionables) "Orion" / nuclear pulse drive? I believe something like that was proposed for 'Project Daedalus' which was something like a 50 year Alpha Centauri flyby?
http://www.sciencealert.com/nasa-scientists-are-investigating-a-propulsion-system-that-could-reach-mars-in-3-days
Quote from: aceshigh on 02/24/2016 05:22 pmReaching Mars in 3 days using a giant laser 100 times the mass of the ISS, on LEO, sounds super swell!!only problem is STOPPING on Mars. Better start positioning 1 of these HUGE lasers on Mars orbit, so we can decelerate payloads or spaceships. That is, IF they use nuclear fusion power.If they are solar powered, we better position 2-3 of those huge lasers on Mars orbit, since they will get much less power from the Sun at that distance.Or use a bigger solar array.Solar power is beamed fusion.
Quote from: Robotbeat on 02/25/2016 01:29 amQuote from: aceshigh on 02/24/2016 05:22 pmReaching Mars in 3 days using a giant laser 100 times the mass of the ISS, on LEO, sounds super swell!!only problem is STOPPING on Mars. Better start positioning 1 of these HUGE lasers on Mars orbit, so we can decelerate payloads or spaceships. That is, IF they use nuclear fusion power.If they are solar powered, we better position 2-3 of those huge lasers on Mars orbit, since they will get much less power from the Sun at that distance.Or use a bigger solar array.Solar power is beamed fusion.Mars is twice the distance from the Sun as Earth. You'd need a solar array 4 times the size to gather the same amount of solar energy.