| MARS CLIPPERS |
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| This is a Mars Clipper. It consists of six ETs and four centrifuges. It is powered by a vapor core reactor and has nuclear electric propulsion in the form of pulsed inductive thrusters with magnesium for reaction mass. It can acclerate to escape velocity from GEO in a week or two and continue thrusting to reach high speeds. Electrodeless PITs are very efficient and will not burn up during long periods of operation. Departure from GEO avoids the Van Allen Belts. It could also leave the L1 space station nexus with a 290 m/s burst from an Al and LUNOX booster and flyby the Earth for gravitational assist and free velocity. The ship is lightweight for speed, consisting of lithium/aluminum alloy and graphite composites and used primarily for transporting colonists to Mars, hence it is called a Mars Clipper. It could also reach Venus, Mercury or the Main Belt asteroids. |
| Electric drives typically use hydrogen, xenon, mercury, lithium or cesium vapor. All these are very rare on the Moon, our source of propellant resources. Lunar sodium has been suggested for ion drives. Magnesium is much more abundant. Magnesium boils at 2000 degrees F. and sodium boils at 1600 F. Lithium boils at 2400 F. Generating magnesium vapors for pulsed inductive thruster drive units will not be difficult. Waste heat from thrusters is used to generate electricity for increased efficiency. |
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| above: isometric drawing by Dennis Martin below: interior of a Mars Clipper |
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| Hindenburg, 747, Titanic, Mars Clipper sizes compared. |
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