VASIMR Lunar Tug Trajectory

[LaughatNAZIs]

I thought 200Kw sounded very low, but if you can afford the high transit times, it's brilliant.

Obviously humans will need transit durations of days, not months, so I guess add more engines???

[valcan321]

@LaughatNAZIs Its ment for cargo.

Typicaly to get people/cargo to the moon a typical rocket carries about half as much cargo as it would if it was going to low earth orbit(LEO).

This would allow us to send alot up to LEO and have the tug take it to the moon on a slow trip while using far less fuel than a typical rocket would need.

Humans would go the typical route i figure.

[LaughatNAZIs]

That makes sense.

Bring on the beanstalk.

[begekim]

wow, this is a very interesting trajectory, what software is this?

[dajsinjo]

it is more efficient to accelerate at once !

[ytams1]

NASA is having money trouble at the moment. Sending a probe to Mars's moon Phobos could just be a useful low cost mission. Phobos has the advantage that a chemical lander is not needed because it has a very week gravity, so VASIMR spacecraft could dock there.