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Originally Posted by beepbeep
I have been following it for a while. Nothing hoax-y about it. Think of it as an ion-thruster on steroids, with RF added. But it needs a lot of power. Last time I checked it they worked on 100kW design, kinda north of what solar-panel could supply. But much bigger thrust and good ISP too. (100kW is nothing a small reactor couldn't fix though...)
The Mars Society article does sound fishy though. " couple of astronauts received 50REM dose (1% chance of cancer), and they didn't get cancer, so we don't need VASIMR and fast transit to MArs" is just one of interesting "proofs".
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The Mars society articles are 5+ years old. As far as fission nuclear reactors, Gen 4 gas cooled reactors could be made very light for the power produced. With a "standard" uranium load, 200 MW could be produced easily for 10 years without refueling.
I would like to also see a conventional design. Maybe as a "test", use an unmanned unit with a "backup" convention propulsion system good for a return only and put it in orbit around Mars first. This gives us a way home.
Long term, these ion propulsion drives are the only way to go. Hopefully with multiple "engine" capability, since crap breaks.