NASA nuclear propulsion concept could reach Mars in just 45 days

[simonebrunozzi]

https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/nasa-nuclear-propulsion-concept-mars-45-days

[zeristor]

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

[a9h74j → zeristor]

> 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.

[zeristor → a9h74j]

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

[floxy → zeristor]

>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.

[zeristor → floxy]

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

https://youtu.be/_ECXWIxt0sQ

[metadat]

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.