Comments on: Each New Frontier. https://scientificgamer.com/each-new-frontier/ Science, gaming, and all things in between. Wed, 01 Jul 2026 22:05:15 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=3.7.36 By: Dan https://scientificgamer.com/each-new-frontier/#comment-60991 Fri, 18 Feb 2022 04:11:21 +0000 http://scientificgamer.wordpress.com/?p=1351#comment-60991 Quick question, what movie is that photo from? The one that has the robot looking at the astronaut? I feel like that is the movie I have been looking forward to finding the name for years.

]]> By: Two Weeks. « The Scientific Gamer https://scientificgamer.com/each-new-frontier/#comment-519 Wed, 06 Jun 2012 11:04:35 +0000 http://scientificgamer.wordpress.com/?p=1351#comment-519 [...] to keep them alive during the trip. This is saying nothing of the fact that a trip to Mars would be acutely uncomfortable for astronauts trained to deal with the rigors of space travel; anyone shelling out half a million [...]

]]> By: hentzau https://scientificgamer.com/each-new-frontier/#comment-518 Tue, 15 May 2012 13:26:57 +0000 http://scientificgamer.wordpress.com/?p=1351#comment-518 Looking at that, it seems like VASIMR has a similar problem to rocketry: that of a thrust/weight ratio that, at the moment, is as efficient as it can be but which remains rather unforgiving. However, the fuel problem is a concrete barrier whereas packing electrical power generation capabilities into a smaller space might be feasible in the future. For me, VASIMR is a promising technology like ion drives which is certainly worth further research for providing the sort of sustained low-grade thrust that rapid interplanetary travel demands.

In other words, I’m not sure what the development horizon is on VASIMR specifically, but you’re right in saying that tech advances should hopefully cut the travel time — although 40 days seems somewhat optimistic to me.

]]> By: Joe https://scientificgamer.com/each-new-frontier/#comment-517 Mon, 14 May 2012 18:19:30 +0000 http://scientificgamer.wordpress.com/?p=1351#comment-517 Great article. Just had a quick comment. Are you familiar with the recent advances with VASIMR propulsion? (http://www.space.com/8009-rocket-engine-reach-mars-40-days.html) This would cut travel time between Earth and Mars to 40 days. IMO this is the real answer to the problems you discussed with the trip. 9-12 months is and unacceptably long time.

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