/sci/ - Science & Math

>>15356175
InSight had a science payload of around 50kg, which required a cruise stage of 608kg to get it from interplanetary cruise to landed on the surface.

using kerosene (high density, 300s isp) would require a wet mass of
1.88e+519 Kg (universe has a mass of 1e+53 kg)

using electric propulsion (4000s isp)
3.31e+41 kg (about mass of milky way)

using fusion propulsion (400 km/s exhaust velocity)
~4000tons

this doesn't take into account the dry mass of the engines, so the actual values would be far higher. can't be bothered to rewrite the code though