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Grimlock Posts: 205Joined: Wed Feb 25, 2009 5:49 pm
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Okay which of all the currently in development propulsion engines would have the ability to take us from low earth orbit to Pluto in a reasonable time?
From what i,´ve heard the Variable Specific Impulse Magnetoplasma Rocket might actually have the ability to do it, if it would be able to cut traveling time to Mars down to a month then maybe it could also take us into the outer solar system with a traveling time of a few years, but still.
But what do you think which of the current "in development" technologies might have the potential to sent us into the outer reaches of our solar system in reasonable time?
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Thu Sep 08, 2011 2:52 am |
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Loru Posts: 11Joined: Thu Jul 07, 2011 9:46 pmLocation: Poland
Gender: Male
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VASIMIR is quite good idea.
It has good ISP (specific impulse), and provides relatively high thrust.
I can investigate few different techniques during this weekend (VASIMIR, Ion drive, Orion-like nuclear pulse drive etc.)
Just gimme ammount of payload (in metric tons) you want to deliver from LEO to Pluto.
Also I need to know if it's manned mission or unmanned (I have to take into account consumables for crew)
 Home of virtual spaceflight ^^
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Thu Sep 08, 2011 9:10 pm |
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Grimlock Posts: 205Joined: Wed Feb 25, 2009 5:49 pm
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We,´re talking manned missions of course what,´s the fun in sending robots and satellites out there, we can do that now (more or less) no i would say if mankind is to spend the amount of money sending a ship to Pluto and beyond it should be manned.
Last edited by Grimlock on Sat Sep 10, 2011 7:11 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Fri Sep 09, 2011 3:44 am |
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Loru Posts: 11Joined: Thu Jul 07, 2011 9:46 pmLocation: Poland
Gender: Male
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Ok. So I got preliminary data and can start designing a mission. That will be a real heavy spacecraft. Probably something similar to this:
 Home of virtual spaceflight ^^
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Fri Sep 09, 2011 7:40 am |
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CommonEnlightenment Posts: 649Joined: Wed Sep 23, 2009 2:06 amLocation: Plato Crater
Gender: Time Lord
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How many people can you fit on that thing? I want to be one of the first on the list.
There is still light in the 'Earthly' darkness. Finding light in the darkness can be more satisfying than merely seeing the glaring light of our sun. It gives us a better understanding of light and a deeper understanding of our universe.
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Fri Sep 09, 2011 7:52 am |
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Loru Posts: 11Joined: Thu Jul 07, 2011 9:46 pmLocation: Poland
Gender: Male
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AFAIK it has 10 crew, but that image was for reference only. It has tootoo low ISP to reach Pluto and get back. When I have planning done (mass and dimensions of fuel tanks etc, I can come up with proper visualization mesh for actual simulation flight (also when I'm finished you'll be able to fly to pluto on your own.)
-----edit-----
I've done some numbers and come up with preliminary design.
empty mass: 5000 tons fuel mass: 30000 tons of either argon or liquid hydrogen ISP: 6120 s (60016.698 m/s effective exhaust velocity) total dV: 116 km/s - it's around 8 times more than New Horizons spacecraft currently enroute to Pluto
Powerplant: 2 military grade "enclosed" nuclear reactors ( 9th or 10th generation) giving ~400 MW of power.
Empty mass includes scientifc payload, powerplant, crew consumables for 10 people, small lander/habitat to actually land on Pluto and perform ground research and all that is needed for mission.
Now it's time to turn it into 3d model and place all elements in their positions.
 Home of virtual spaceflight ^^
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Fri Sep 09, 2011 9:50 am |
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Grimlock Posts: 205Joined: Wed Feb 25, 2009 5:49 pm
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So how long would a journey, with such a craft, are we talking about here.
How long from the craft sets of from earth till it reaches the outer planets and Pluto?
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Wed Sep 21, 2011 5:57 pm |
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There are no propulsion engine technologies that can get people to Pluto in a reasonable amount of time for any reasonable definition of reasonable, at least reasonably far into the future.
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Thu Sep 22, 2011 2:47 am |
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Grimlock Posts: 205Joined: Wed Feb 25, 2009 5:49 pm
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RigelKentaurusA wrote:There are no propulsion engine technologies that can get people to Pluto in a reasonable amount of time for any reasonable definition of reasonable, at least reasonably far into the future. I was referring to Loru,´s design.
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Thu Sep 22, 2011 7:05 am |
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I was replying the the original post.
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Thu Sep 22, 2011 11:57 pm |
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Loru Posts: 11Joined: Thu Jul 07, 2011 9:46 pmLocation: Poland
Gender: Male
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Haven't got the time to actually crate visual model but I've put those specs on generic model and flew the mission.
With specs I've come up with, I was able to get to Pluto and return in ~7 years. There was only one problem - I haven't leave fuel for deceleration so I've hit the atmosphere at 25 km/s. All crew died when G forces peaked at 100G
 Home of virtual spaceflight ^^
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Sun Sep 25, 2011 5:01 pm |
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nasher168 Posts: 2518Joined: Wed Feb 25, 2009 5:34 pmLocation: Derby, UK
Gender: Male
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Loru wrote:There was only one problem - I haven't leave fuel for deceleration so I've hit the atmosphere at 25 km/s. All crew died when G forces peaked at 100G Might put a bit of a damper on the welcome home celebrations... In reality, maybe the 7 years could be spent building another spacecraft to rendezvous with the craft and pick up the crew with enough fuel to reach Earth safely? Or else perhaps a fuel tank could be planted in an orbit for a rendezvous before the manned craft launches at all? So the manned craft can take the fuel it needs to make a safer landing. Of course, that would probably push up the budget massively...
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Mon Sep 26, 2011 10:17 pm |
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Grimlock Posts: 205Joined: Wed Feb 25, 2009 5:49 pm
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I think a Solar sail might help here.
Use it to pick up speed or decelerate might help save some of the fuel so you slow down enough to achieve orbit around Pluto.
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Sat Oct 01, 2011 2:41 am |
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