Ballistic Capture: New Method to Travel to Mars Cheaply, Easily and Safely (STA BREAKING NEWS and ARCHIVES)

by Theresa , Saturday, December 27, 2014, 08:37

Mathematicians have developed a new method called "ballistic capture," which could make future Mars travel cheaper, easier and safer than current options.

Exploring Mars has gained a lot of momentum in the last few decades. Many probes are already exploring the Martian surface while several spacecraft are hovering in the planet's orbit to know more about its atmosphere. It takes a lot of money and time to send spacecraft to Mars. Moreover, it has to be done only once within "launch windows" of 26 months, when the Earth and Mars are closest.

These two launch challenges could change if ballistic capture is made possible.

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