Solar Electric Propulsion Systems are Just What we Need for Efficient Trips to Mars. There are many different ways to get to Mars, but there are always tradeoffs. Chemical propulsion, proven the most popular, can quickly get a spacecraft to the red planet.

Solar electric propulsion (SEP) is a type of propulsion that NASA is developing to make space travel to Mars more efficient and less expensive. SEP is said to provide a good balance of cost savings, efficiency, and power

SEP is so fuel efficient that it can reduce the amount of propellant needed for deep-space missions by up to 90%. This could make it possible for human-crewed missions to travel beyond low Earth orbit. 

The use of electric propulsion for Mars has been studied since the 1970s. Some studies have recommended electric propulsion as a lower-cost, lower-risk approach for robotic Mars sample return missions

Here are some propulsion systems for Mars missions: 

• Liquid fuel engine Used for orbit raising and insertion into Mars orbit. The Mars Orbiter Mission uses a liquid fuel engine with a thrust of 440 newtons (99 lbf). 
• Nuclear electric propulsion (NEP) Uses fission reactor power to ionize and accelerate xenon propellants to very high exhaust velocities. 
• Nuclear thermal propulsion Passes hydrogen through a nuclear reactor core. The hydrogen becomes very hot and provides rocket thrust. 
• Nuclear thermal rocket Has been proven to be a reliable propulsive technology for a Mars-Earth manned mission. 
• Ion thruster Uses static electricity or magnetism to accelerate ions (atoms with an electric charge) to very high speeds, and out of the thruster’s nozzle. Ion thrusters make very little thrust but are very efficient. 

A propulsion system is a machine that produces thrust to push an object forward. 

Yes, NASA is developing solar electric propulsion (SEP) to make space travel to Mars more efficient and less expensive

SEP uses solar arrays to collect energy from the sun and convert it into electric power. The electric power is then used to ionize inert gas propellants, such as krypton and xenon

SEP has a higher specific impulse than chemical rocket propulsion, which means it requires less propellant mass to be launched with a spacecraft. SEP can reduce the amount of propellant required by as much as 90%. 

SEP also allows deep-space missions to carry more cargo and use smaller launch vehicles. The Solar Electric Propulsion project has developed solar arrays that are lighter, stronger, more compact, and less expensive than those currently available. 

Benefits of SEP include: 

• Lower launch mass: Carrying less propellant enables reduced launch cost. 
• Reduced propellant mass: Enables additional payload capacity. 
• Extended satellite maneuvering and mission lifetimes: With the same quantity of propellant.

Solar electric propulsion allows deep-space missions to carry more cargo and use smaller launch vehicles while reducing mission costs. The Solar Electric Propulsion project has developed solar arrays that are lighter, stronger, more compact, and less expensive than those currently available

Solar Electric Propulsion (SEP) systems use less propellant than conventional chemical propulsion systems. SEP systems use electricity from on-board solar arrays to transfer satellites to their proper orbital locations and keep them on station

SEP systems can also allow deep-space missions to carry more cargo and use smaller launch vehicles while reducing mission costs. SEP systems can also be reused for multiple missions, which has the potential to save billions of US dollars in reduced launch cost. 

SEP systems use magnetism and electricity to push a ship through space. Electricity from the ship’s solar panels gives a positive electrical charge to atoms inside the chamber

By utilizing solar electric propulsion (SEP), the mass of the propulsion system and propellant can be reduced by up to 90 percent by augmenting the propellant with energy from the Sun. As a result, SEP is a cost-efficient method to transport cargo to the deepest reaches of space

Electric propulsion systems are well suited for long-duration interplanetary missions. They can also be used for orbit station keeping, orbit and attitude controlling, and multi-goal missions

Electric propulsion systems are also a good option for unmanned orbital transfer vehicles (OTVs). These vehicles can be used to transport cargo between Earth, lunar, and Mars orbit. 

Electric propulsion systems are also more suitable for smallsats because they have higher fuel efficiency. This means that less fuel and propellant storage is required

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