Spaceflight from Super-Earths is difficult

Michael Hippke

doi:10.1017/s1473550418000198

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arXiv · 1804.04727

Spaceflight from Super-Earths is difficult

Michael Hippke

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Abstract

Many rocky exoplanets are heavier and larger than the Earth, and have higher surface gravity. This makes space-flight on these worlds very challenging, because the required fuel mass for a given payload is an exponential function of planetary surface gravity. We find that chemical rockets still allow for escape velocities on Super-Earths up to 10x Earth mass. More massive rocky worlds, if they exist, would require other means to leave the planet, such as nuclear propulsion.

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Michael Hippke. 2018-04-12. Spaceflight from Super-Earths is difficult. https://doi.org/10.1017/s1473550418000198

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