4 ms·
Are there really that few launch windows? I assume it's because this ship is larger than the others we've been launching all this time?
by ngngngng 5y ago
Are there really that few launch windows? I assume it's because this ship is larger than the others we've been launching all this time?
- jacquesm 5y agoIt's all about the proximity of the planets. Not about the size of the ship.
- randallsquared 5y agoNo, it's because the transfer orbit with the largest payload for the thrust is only available in a specific configuration of Mars and Earth, which only happen every 26 months or so. Note the spacing for launches for Mars missions: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_missions_to_Mars https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_missions_to_Mars
- extrapickles 5y agoYes. When you leave is extremely important as its mostly about the relative alignment of the planets. You can trade a massive amount of fuel to get their faster, but waiting a month can sometimes shave 3 months off the travel time. If you left on August 25 2022, you will arrive in July 2023. If you waited 1 month to leave, and left on September 26 2022 you would arrive in May 2023, months before the people who left earlier. This is all according to: https://trajbrowser.arc.nasa.gov/traj_browser.php https://trajbrowser.arc.nasa.gov/traj_browser.php