|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
By Category |
 |
|
|
| |
|
| |
| |
India On Media |
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
| Politics
News |
|
| Nuclear-powered rockets can take |
| Nuclear-powered rockets can take humans to Mars
|
| UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
, 5-April-2013
12:9:52 PM |
| Astronauts have inched closer to sending humans to Mars, our nearest planetary neighbour, through a unique manipulation of nuclear fusion - the same energy that powers the Sun and stars.
University of Washington researchers and scientists at a Redmond-based space-propulsion company are building components of a fusion-powered rocket aimed to clear many of the hurdles that block deep space travel, including long times in transit, exorbitant costs and health risks in a NASA funded project.
"Using existing rocket fuels, it's nearly impossible for humans to explore much beyond Earth," said lead researcher John Slough, professor of aeronautics and astronautics
We are hoping to give us a much more powerful source of energy in space that could eventually lead to making interplanetary travel commonplace," Slough said.
Last month at a symposium, Slough and his team presented their mission analysis for a trip to Mars, along with detailed computer modelling and initial experimental results.
NASA estimates a round-trip human expedition to Mars would take more than four years using current technology. The sheer amount of chemical rocket fuel needed in space would be extremely expensive - the launch costs alone would be more than 12 billion dollars.
Slough and his team have published papers calculating the potential for 30- and 90-day expeditions to Mars using a rocket powered by fusion, which would make the trip more practical and less costly.
They have demonstrated successful lab tests of all portions of the process. Now, the key will be combining each isolated test into a final experiment that produces fusion using this technology, Slough said in a university statement
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ADVERTISEMENTS
Free offer!!! Become an administrator for your zip home page, "Post" local news (local to your postcode)& pictures, "Post" advertisement banners from local companies. Make Extra money.
|
 |
 |
|
|
| |
|
