Mars Academy

Propulsion

Once the main technological obstacles to be overcome to make space exploration a reality (in the early days of the space program few were confident that man would ever develop a booster capable of propelling a human being into Earth orbit, much less to get him to the Moon), the propulsion system to be utilized becomes once more a major determinant in a manned mission to Mars.

The enormous distances involved, the need to reduce the mission duration as much as possible for medical reasons, the weight constraints imposed by the existence of a manned crew and its life support system all make this choice a crucial one, a "go-no go" decision in terms of design.

•  Defining the problem : Mars Direct vs. Earth Orbit
  Propulsion efficiency of an engine
   Different types of rocket engines 
•  Nuclear Propulsion 
  Pay-Offs of nuclear propulsion systems
  Nuclear engines 
•  Electric Propulsion
  Ion Engine
  The Workings of an Electrical Engine