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Research missions up to Jupiter will benefit, perhaps Saturn with a really big ass solar array. Other than that, station keeping for Earth orbit, so longer live
by baq 3y ago
Research missions up to Jupiter will benefit, perhaps Saturn with a really big ass solar array. Other than that, station keeping for Earth orbit, so longer lived birds translate to perhaps cheaper sat services.
- cryptonector 3y agoYou could run a propellant-cooled fission reactor to power the fusor to get the extra ISP. When you get to your destination and finish decelerating you toss the fission reactor overboard so you don't have to deal with its remaining heat.
- rbanffy 3y agoRemember you can replace solar panels with RTGs if you need consistent power further from the Sun.
- _joel 3y agoSure, most are when it's at that distance from the Sun. Looking forward to seeing Dragonfly sport it's RTG https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=DRAGONFLY https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id...