Science Recorder | Kramer Phillips | Saturday, December 07, 2013
Scientists now say it may be possible to travel to Mars in just over a month, reducing the one-way six-month journey to just under three months. The advancement could have major implications for startups aiming to travel to Mars in the coming years, part of an increasingly competitive bid to put the first humans on Mars.
“VASIMR stands for Variable Specific Impulse Magnetoplasma Rocket, which makes use of argon gas (one of the most stable gasses known to man) and a renewable source of energy found in space, radio waves in the form of light.
The rocket will allow for a mission to Mars with a travel period of just 39 days, which is almost 6 times faster than current methods. With speeds estimated at 35 miles a second, the rocket system will make quick work of the distance between Earth and Mars. NASA rates a new system on a scale of one to ten based on its readiness to be deployed. The VASIMR system is at a six currently, which means that it is ready to be tested in space. It would seem that it won’t be much longer before the new rocket system is employed in all space missions.”
Read more: http://www.sciencerecorder.com/news/this-technology-could-reduce-the-travel-time-to-mars-to-just-39-days/#ixzz2moa6JM6S
