2 ms·
Right, I don't think it makes sense to have our long distance transit vehicle be the same one that needs to decelerate/aerobrake - I'm assuming we'd do somethin
by ericd 2mo ago
Right, I don't think it makes sense to have our long distance transit vehicle be the same one that needs to decelerate/aerobrake - I'm assuming we'd do something like an Aldrin Cycler for transit between Earth/Mars, where we have taxis that go to/from the cyclers.
In KSR's Mars Trilogy, they had an emergency shelter, seems reasonable if the bulk of the radiation exposure is predictable. But I'd personally feel better being shielded the entire time, given cosmic radiation.
- dredmorbius 2mo agoThat long-distance transit vehicle has to change trajectory somehow. Orbital transfers may be cheap but they're not free, unless you're talking about a free-return trajectory in which case your specific transits are limited, and often fairly slow. Though yes, that does make the option of providing a radiation-hardened shelter available with less concern as to total mass.
- dgently7 2mo agoI thought i read somewhere that the soil on mars is probably pretty toxic to humans, so maybe getting there safely isn't as concerning as what you'd do once you are there...
- ericd 2mo agoIf you mean the perchlorate concentration, it's water soluble, I think we just rinse it off as part of going inside.