NASA nuclear propulsion concept could reach Mars in just 45 days

interestingengineering.com

5 points·simonebrunozzi··6 comments

One day the engine won’t work, the retro burn won’t slow you down, and you’re flying into deep space.

That always worries me if I were to leave Earth orbit.

But, with Constellation it sets up a safe orbit that takes ages, but will return to Earth after waltzing around the Moon:

When Scott Manly says “Fly Safe”, he really means it:

https://youtu.be/XFIvKSVRtZ0

>One day the engine won’t work, the retro burn won’t slow you down, and you’re flying into deep space.

Sounds like an interesting setup for a sci-fi story/movie.

Do you mean a bit like this episode from Star Cops?

https://youtu.be/_ECXWIxt0sQ

> the retro burn won’t slow you down, and you’re flying into deep space.

Came here with the same question: But can it stop?

> if I were to leave Earth orbit

Tangential or off-topic, but there must be some potential to send semi-autonomous avatar robots, with on-Earth help with perceptual interpretation and executive control. Yet another counterfactual "if only the manned space budget had been spent on that" question.

Perhaps it could be guided by ChatGPT which just hallucinates the navigational trajectory burn?

How far does a $12,500 grant really go? That'll pay for approximately 4-6 weeks of one person's time and zero materials.

Count me intrigued.

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