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Latest Discussions»Culture Forums»Science»NASA Fires Up Powerful Li...»Reply #3
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Science

In reply to the discussion: NASA Fires Up Powerful Lithium-Fed Thruster for Trips to Mars [View all]

erronis

(24,502 posts)
3. Isn't lithium in somewhat short supply?
Reply to OKIsItJustMe (Original post)
Sat May 16, 2026, 10:14 AM
Yesterday

How much would be needed to power a manned space trip to Mars - and return?

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NASA Fires Up Powerful Lithium-Fed Thruster for Trips to Mars [View all] OKIsItJustMe Friday OP
Another fucking waste of money. 3Hotdogs Yesterday #1
Previous ion engines have favored very heavy atoms as propellant -- mercury or xenon. More atomic mass -- eppur_se_muova Yesterday #2
The NERVA engine used hydrogen, so (you know) lithium is heavier than that, but certainly lighter than mercury OKIsItJustMe Yesterday #4
Hydrogen is being used there as ejectable mass, nothing more. It's handled by mechanical pumps and pressure. eppur_se_muova Yesterday #5
Check out the NASA paper I added to the bottom of the reply OKIsItJustMe Yesterday #6
Thanks for the paper. I knew about the older nuclear interest. eppur_se_muova Yesterday #7
NERVA was not the same as Orion OKIsItJustMe 23 hrs ago #8
Yes, I know that, thank you. In fact you're just repeating things I've already said in my replies. nt eppur_se_muova 20 hrs ago #10
We both realize that (I was even repeating myself) OKIsItJustMe 20 hrs ago #12
Ah, OK ... writing for a larger audience ... eppur_se_muova 19 hrs ago #14
I've been watching "For All Mankind" on Apple TV OKIsItJustMe 18 hrs ago #15
Isn't lithium in somewhat short supply? erronis Yesterday #3
Meanwhile, at a grossly overspent under intellectual trump supported SpaceX 3825-87867 21 hrs ago #9
NASA is facing serious cuts OKIsItJustMe 20 hrs ago #11
More from the paper cited by OKIsItJustMe .... eppur_se_muova 19 hrs ago #13
"It must have been a real pleasure to work out the mathematics of MPD for the first time..." OKIsItJustMe 18 hrs ago #16
Latest Discussions»Culture Forums»Science»NASA Fires Up Powerful Li...»Reply #3
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