New details emerging on the “impossible” microwave space drive are very promising. A “conservative” scaled-up version within current findings suggests that a developed thrust of 800 newtons — our current ion drives do about half a newton — is feasible, producing an example mission profile of an eight-month round trip to Mars that includes 70 days on the ground. Another projection states that the drive could be ramped up to the point where Mars is 28 days away. That makes the Moon into a day trip. If that, somewhat crazier projection holds water, then all our concerns about long-haul soaks in microgravity go away, and the solar system essentially becomes sailing-ship distances.

Most importantly, it means I can continue to lay plans to become Baron Mars.

 

Re-watching: Space Odyssey: Voyage to the Planets, w/dir. Joe Ahearne