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200 points speckx | 1 comments | | HN request time: 0.207s | source
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pavel_lishin ◴[] No.44434403[source]
> Sedna is expected to pass through the perihelion of its orbit in 2075--2076 and then move again away from the Sun. Considering the distances involved, a mission targeting the object would need to be launched "relatively" soon, especially if using conventional propulsion systems, which could require up to 30 years of deep-space travel.

Sedna's perihelion is ~76 AU - more than twice as far as Pluto, which took New Horizons nearly a decade to reach.

Sedna's apehelion is over 500 AU.

> The Direct Fusion Drive rocket engine is under development at Princeton University Plasma Physics Laboratory

Is it ... is it actually working? How close are they? And even if they get it to work next year, will it be something well-engineered & reliable enough to send it into space for 10 years and expect it to work?

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wombatpm ◴[] No.44436120[source]
So 75-76 for closest approach. How far away will it be in 2100? Given that orbit size I think we have some slack in the launch date.
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1. spartanatreyu ◴[] No.44442443[source]
You have to launch before 75-76 otherwise you're going to be chasing it for a long time before you make it there