NTR and VASIMR: The Future of Manned Space Exploration

Discussion of possible rocket technologies/steps we need to take if we wish to effectively explore space.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Space
• Exploration
• Technologies
• SpaceX
• Astronomy
• Engineering
• Rocket
• Ship
• Propulsion
• Nuclear
• Thermal
• Reactor
• Plasma
• VASIMR
• Solar
• System
• Planets
• Mars
• Colonization
• Astronautics
• NTR
• Moon
• Apollo
• Astronaut

[serpentphoenix]

"Chemical rockets are not feasible"

Bullshit, you CAN go to mars via Chemical rockets using the Mars Direct approach. Nuclear rockets are great, and they DO work, but are not required.

The DRM 5.0 which had NTR propulsion, used at least 7 AresV launches. The Mars Direct approach would have used at least 2.

VASIMR needs nuclear reactors with alpha ratings that are not feasible for at least another 100 years.

[Drensworth]

@serpentphoenix Pretty sure I said you COULD use them to go to Mars, but it wouldn't be optimal and it wouldn't suffice for any exploration beyond Mars.

[Reticuli]

VASIMR is bogus and designed to distract us from real engineering solutions.

[Drensworth]

@Reticuli I do kind of agree, I threw VASIMR in there simply for the sake of mentioning all the options. Personally, I think the way it is going to is: Private Space companies make heavy payload cheap, allowing us to get to orbit much more economically and then we will be able to design the heavy rockets necessary to send us to Mars, either a bulky chemical combusion rocket or an NTR one. Vasimr is definitely doubtful.

[lukahead6]

Hey I see that you are poînting out all the flaws of rockets which I see too, so why not immitate Virgin Galactic by using a ship which takes off like an airplane, using lift. Once it reaches an altitude where the air is too thin to create lift for wings of that geometry, either a scramjet or a rocket is used to push the craft into orbit. It could save quite a bit of weight from fuel and other things.

[Drensworth]

@lukahead6 I've wondered about that as well, it seems like such a simple idea that there must be some reason we haven't done it yet, haha. Maybe because the size restrictions of a plane would be too small, or wasted mass on the wings that would also complicate re entry? Meh, I think it should be done anyway.

[STSWB5SG1FAN]

@evil00701 Actually they have already done studies on the long term effects and we've (meaning the collective 'we' not just the USA) had astronauts / cosmonauts manning the both Mir and ISS for prolonged periods. The best method discovered so far for keeping up bone density is vigorous exercise, difficult in a confined space. The ideal solution would probably be a form of centrifugal spin to create the sensation of gravity.

[evil00701]

Good work. You are right about what kind of rock we need as well as the other points you made, but an other factor is gravity.With out a system to make or copy gravity, you will be kill by the Earth's gravity if you stay in space for about a year and wont to come back.

[lukealization]

How old are you? Because from the sound of your age, you know much more than someone your age should. Awesome, Keep it up.

[Drensworth]

@lukahead6 Wow, this means a lot to me, thank you! I hope to go in your field some day. Perhaps the simplicity of the explanation stems from my basic understanding, since at the time (and still now) this was new knowledge to me. I'm glad you enjoyed it!