Hi Guys

I really wonder whether science reporters just make sh*t up to grab attention. A flight Mars in "a day or two" via a fusion rocket sounds just a bit ridiculous. Sure you could do it if you could accelerate at 1 G to Mars at its closest approach BUT no one has the faintest idea about how to build a 1 G fusion drive.

The power requirements would be pretty incredible. About 5 terawatts top output for a 100 ton Shuttle to do the trip [100 ton ship, 400 tons of fuel initially.] But we have no technology that would come close to producing that sort of power for a realistic weight.

With aneutronic fusion reactors [a colliding particle beam fusor that converts fusion particle energy direct into electricity] then all sorts of high-performance missions are possible BUT 1.0 gee, or even 0.1 gee won't be likely for a very long time. Terawatt power levels are beyond us by a big margin currently.

But who needs it??? A 200 megawatt VASIMR could do the trip to Mars in 39 days and the reactor need not be ultra-massive like a fission reactor would need to be for that power if current estimates for colliding beam systems are correct.

Just need some funding diverted from the ISS or maybe the Missile Shield for a much bigger pay-off in the end. Or the cosmetic surgery industry...

Adam