You are here:

Astronomy/manned flight to mars

Advertisement

Expert: - 2/27/2006


Question
With our current technology how long would it take to get to mars, from the closest position mars gets to earth?

Answer
Hello.

With our *current propulsion technology* (e.g. no major breakthroughs in ionic or other designs for the foreseeable future) one can expect approximately 6 months to reach Mars.

This is true even from the "closest position" (which typically occurs when Mars is at opposition, e.g. aligned on the opposite side of the Earth from the Sun).

Bear in mind that any trip to Mars will follow a long arcing trajectory, multiples greater than the least distance (and not a straight line course or plot) because of the differing orbital dynamics of each planet.  

Astronomy

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

Philip Stahl

Expertise

I have forty years of experience in Astronomy, specifically solar and space physics. My specialties include the physics of solar flares, sunspots, including their effects on Earth and statistics as applied to astronomical investigations.

Experience

Astronomy: more than forty years experience starting with construction of my own simple telescopes. Worked at university observatory in college, doing astrographic measurements. M.Phil. degree in Physics/Solar Physics and more than ten years as researcher.

Organizations
American Astronomical Society (Solar Physics and Dynamical Astronomy divisions), American Mathematical Society, American Geophysical Union

Publications
Solar Physics (journal), The Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, The Proceedings of the Meudon Solar Flare Workshop (1986), The Proceedings of the Caribbean Physics Conference (1985). Books: 'Selected Analyses in Solar Flare Plasma Dynamics', 'Physics Notes for Advanced Level'.

Education/Credentials
B.A. Astronomy, M. Phil. Physics

Awards and Honors
American Astronomical Society Studentship Award (1984), Barbados Government Award for Solar Research

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.