Skip to main content
deleted 1 character in body
Source Link
Galerita
  • 1.2k
  • 2
  • 25

Yes it's possible, but there are some shattering implications - quite literally - that would make great plot elements. Let's see how Dr Verina von Braun will enable humankind to make its next great leap to becoming a starfaring species.

Let's assume she uses clever orbital mechanics to avoid brute force and "nudge" Hyperion into an unstable orbit that slingshots it via Saturn with just enough energy to get to a Mars transfer. This BTW is the solution to your SciFi problem - Hyperion (purple) has an chaotic orbit just outside of Titan's orbit (light blue) about Saturn (dark blue dot), in a 4:3 resonance lock with that large moon.

Chaotic orbit of Hyperion (purple) outside Titan (blue)

In principle a small delta-V is required, say a few m/s (no trivial effort given Hyperion's mass), to begin gravitational interactions with Titan, which after several orbits would start to involve Saturn. A few more orbits and you're on a Hohmann transfer orbit to Mars.

From Mars Transfer to the surface of Mars is where your real problem begins. MT to the surface of Mars is still a delta-V of 5.7 km/s, with 3.6 km/s from a 200 km orbit to the surface. No conceptual fusion rockets of 2100 could possible do thisslow Hyperion into any orbit around Mars. The minimum delta-V is 673 m/s. (See @Ingolif's answer.) Before proposing a solution, let's consider the effect of a direct impact with Mars.

Hyperion has a mass of 5.5E18 kg. Hyperion would have a kinetic energy of nearly 1E27 Joules when it hits Mars' surface. It takes 300 kJ to melt a kg of granite, or 3E8 Joules to melt a tonne, which would be at 1500 Celsius when molten. You just melted about 3E17 tonnes of rock, or 1E17 m^3. With a surface area of about 150 million km^2 or 1.5E14 m^2, you've melted a layer of Mars surface about 700 metres thick.

No doubt you've created several new moons, but it will take millennia for Mars to cool.

Not ideal, so the protagonist in this story, Dr Verina von Braun, a brilliant rocket engineer, has devised a solution. Without slowing Hyperion by a delta-V of 673 m/s, orbital insertion is impossible. Hyperion will just zoom past Mars into a solar orbit. Verina proposes crashing Hyperion into Phobos as a braking maneuver to achieve orbital insertion. Of course, asserts Verina, the two bodies will merge and form a highly elliptical orbit. Hyperion's foam-like structure is ideal for absorbing the impact of a smaller body. Verina insists there will be "no risk" to the tens-of-thousands of colonists on Mars, who, unsurprisingly, are desperate to stop Verina's madness. A major plot element!

Verina counters, that this is the only way to terraform Mars. It will be safe and she has done the calculations to prove it! Once in a (highly elliptical) Mars orbit the merged Hyprion-Phobos can be mined at leisure over hundreds of years to "gently" make Mars a habitable world. Verina; "I know that scientists occasionally do things that upset people, but there doesn't seem to be any alternative open to the human race if it is to survive."

Of course things go wrong. Verina humbly apologises, "I have very deep and sincere regret for the victims..."

So moving Hyperion to Mars with fusion rockets can be done "without much trouble" using fancy astrodynamics, but that's the least of your problems.

Yes it's possible, but there are some shattering implications - quite literally - that would make great plot elements. Let's see how Dr Verina von Braun will enable humankind to make its next great leap to becoming a starfaring species.

Let's assume she uses clever orbital mechanics to avoid brute force and "nudge" Hyperion into an unstable orbit that slingshots it via Saturn with just enough energy to get to a Mars transfer. This BTW is the solution to your SciFi problem - Hyperion (purple) has an chaotic orbit just outside of Titan's orbit (light blue) about Saturn (dark blue dot), in a 4:3 resonance lock with that large moon.

Chaotic orbit of Hyperion (purple) outside Titan (blue)

In principle a small delta-V is required, say a few m/s (no trivial effort given Hyperion's mass), to begin gravitational interactions with Titan, which after several orbits would start to involve Saturn. A few more orbits and you're on a Hohmann transfer orbit to Mars.

From Mars Transfer to the surface of Mars is where your real problem begins. MT to the surface of Mars is still a delta-V of 5.7 km/s, with 3.6 km/s from a 200 km orbit to the surface. No conceptual fusion rockets of 2100 could possible do this. (See @Ingolif's answer.) Before proposing a solution, let's consider the effect of a direct impact with Mars.

Hyperion has a mass of 5.5E18 kg. Hyperion would have a kinetic energy of nearly 1E27 Joules when it hits Mars' surface. It takes 300 kJ to melt a kg of granite, or 3E8 Joules to melt a tonne, which would be at 1500 Celsius when molten. You just melted about 3E17 tonnes of rock, or 1E17 m^3. With a surface area of about 150 million km^2 or 1.5E14 m^2, you've melted a layer of Mars surface about 700 metres thick.

No doubt you've created several new moons, but it will take millennia for Mars to cool.

Not ideal, so the protagonist in this story, Dr Verina von Braun, a brilliant rocket engineer, has devised a solution. Without slowing Hyperion by a delta-V of 673 m/s, orbital insertion is impossible. Hyperion will just zoom past Mars into a solar orbit. Verina proposes crashing Hyperion into Phobos as a braking maneuver to achieve orbital insertion. Of course, asserts Verina, the two bodies will merge and form a highly elliptical orbit. Hyperion's foam-like structure is ideal for absorbing the impact of a smaller body. Verina insists there will be "no risk" to the tens-of-thousands of colonists on Mars, who, unsurprisingly, are desperate to stop Verina's madness. A major plot element!

Verina counters, that this is the only way to terraform Mars. It will be safe and she has done the calculations to prove it! Once in a (highly elliptical) Mars orbit the merged Hyprion-Phobos can be mined at leisure over hundreds of years to "gently" make Mars a habitable world. Verina; "I know that scientists occasionally do things that upset people, but there doesn't seem to be any alternative open to the human race if it is to survive."

Of course things go wrong. Verina humbly apologises, "I have very deep and sincere regret for the victims..."

So moving Hyperion to Mars with fusion rockets can be done "without much trouble" using fancy astrodynamics, but that's the least of your problems.

Yes it's possible, but there are some shattering implications - quite literally - that would make great plot elements. Let's see how Dr Verina von Braun will enable humankind to make its next great leap to becoming a starfaring species.

Let's assume she uses clever orbital mechanics to avoid brute force and "nudge" Hyperion into an unstable orbit that slingshots it via Saturn with just enough energy to get to a Mars transfer. This BTW is the solution to your SciFi problem - Hyperion (purple) has an chaotic orbit just outside of Titan's orbit (light blue) about Saturn (dark blue dot), in a 4:3 resonance lock with that large moon.

Chaotic orbit of Hyperion (purple) outside Titan (blue)

In principle a small delta-V is required, say a few m/s (no trivial effort given Hyperion's mass), to begin gravitational interactions with Titan, which after several orbits would start to involve Saturn. A few more orbits and you're on a Hohmann transfer orbit to Mars.

From Mars Transfer to the surface of Mars is where your real problem begins. MT to the surface of Mars is still a delta-V of 5.7 km/s, with 3.6 km/s from a 200 km orbit to the surface. No conceptual fusion rockets of 2100 could possible slow Hyperion into any orbit around Mars. The minimum delta-V is 673 m/s. (See @Ingolif's answer.) Before proposing a solution, let's consider the effect of a direct impact with Mars.

Hyperion has a mass of 5.5E18 kg. Hyperion would have a kinetic energy of nearly 1E27 Joules when it hits Mars' surface. It takes 300 kJ to melt a kg of granite, or 3E8 Joules to melt a tonne, which would be at 1500 Celsius when molten. You just melted about 3E17 tonnes of rock, or 1E17 m^3. With a surface area of about 150 million km^2 or 1.5E14 m^2, you've melted a layer of Mars surface about 700 metres thick.

No doubt you've created several new moons, but it will take millennia for Mars to cool.

Not ideal, so the protagonist in this story, Dr Verina von Braun, a brilliant rocket engineer, has devised a solution. Without slowing Hyperion, orbital insertion is impossible. Hyperion will just zoom past Mars into a solar orbit. Verina proposes crashing Hyperion into Phobos as a braking maneuver to achieve orbital insertion. Of course, asserts Verina, the two bodies will merge and form a highly elliptical orbit. Hyperion's foam-like structure is ideal for absorbing the impact of a smaller body. Verina insists there will be "no risk" to the tens-of-thousands of colonists on Mars, who, unsurprisingly, are desperate to stop Verina's madness. A major plot element!

Verina counters, that this is the only way to terraform Mars. It will be safe and she has done the calculations to prove it! Once in a (highly elliptical) Mars orbit the merged Hyprion-Phobos can be mined at leisure over hundreds of years to "gently" make Mars a habitable world. Verina; "I know that scientists occasionally do things that upset people, but there doesn't seem to be any alternative open to the human race if it is to survive."

Of course things go wrong. Verina humbly apologises, "I have very deep and sincere regret for the victims..."

So moving Hyperion to Mars with fusion rockets can be done "without much trouble" using fancy astrodynamics, but that's the least of your problems.

deleted 1 character in body
Source Link
Galerita
  • 1.2k
  • 2
  • 25

Yes it's possible, but there are some shattering implications - quite literally - that would make great plot elements. Let's see how Dr Verina von Braun will enable humankind to make its next great leap to becoming a starfaring species.

Let's assume she uses clever orbital mechanics youto avoid brute force and "nudge" Hyperion into an unstable orbit that slingshots it via Saturn with just enough energy to get to a Mars transfer. This BTW is the solution to your SciFi problem - Hyperion (purple) has an chaotic orbit just outside of Titan's orbit (light blue) about Saturn (dark blue dot), in a 4:3 resonance lock with that large moon.

Chaotic orbit of Hyperion (purple) outside Titan (blue)

In principle a small delta-V is required, say a few m/s (no trivial effort given Hyperion's mass), to begin gravitational interactions with Titan, which after several orbits would start to involve Saturn. A few more orbits and you're on a Hohmann transfer orbit to Mars.

From Mars Transfer to the surface of Mars is where your real problem begins. MT to the surface of Mars is still a delta-V of 5.7 km/s, with 3.6 km/s from a 200 km orbit to the surface. No conceptual fusion rockets of 2100 could possible do this. (See @Ingolif's answer.) Before proposing a solution, let's consider the effect of a direct impact with Mars.

Hyperion has a mass of 5.5E18 kg. Hyperion would have a kinetic energy of nearly 1E27 Joules when it hits Mars' surface. It takes 300 kJ to melt a kg of granite, or 3E8 Joules to melt a tonne, which would be at 1500 Celsius when molten. You just melted about 3E17 tonnes of rock, or 1E17 m^3. With a surface area of about 150 million km^2 or 1.5E14 m^2, you've melted a layer of Mars surface about 700 metres thick.

No doubt you've created several new moons, but it will take millennia for Mars to cool.

Not ideal, so the protagonist in this story, Dr Verina von Braun, is a brilliant rocket engineer who, has devised a solution. Without slowing Hyperion by a delta-V of 673 m/s, orbital insertion is impossible. Hyperion will just zoom past Mars into a solar orbit. Verina proposes crashing Hyperion into Phobos as a braking maneuver to achieve orbital insertion. Of course, asserts Verina, the two bodies will merge and form a highly elliptical orbit. Hyperion's foam-like structure is ideal for absorbing the impact of a smaller body. Verina insists there will be "no risk" to the tens-of-thousands of colonists on Mars, who, unsurprisingly, are desperate to stop Verina's madness. A major plot element!

Verina counters, that this is the only way to terraform Mars. It will be safe and she has done the calculations to prove it! Once in a (highly elliptical) Mars orbit the merged Hyprion-Phobos can be mined at leisure over hundreds of years to "gently" make Mars a habitable world. Verina; "I know that scientists occasionally do things that upset people, but there doesn't seem to be any alternative open to the human race if it is to survive."

Of course things go wrong. Verina humbly apologises, "I have very deep and sincere regret for the victims..."

So moving Hyperion to Mars with fusion rockets can be done "without much trouble" using fancy astrodynamics, but that's the least of your problems.

Yes it's possible, but there are some shattering implications - quite literally - that would make great plot elements. Let's see how Dr Verina von Braun will enable humankind to make its next great leap to becoming a starfaring species.

Let's assume she uses clever orbital mechanics you avoid brute force and "nudge" Hyperion into an unstable orbit that slingshots it via Saturn with just enough energy to get to a Mars transfer. This BTW is the solution to your SciFi problem - Hyperion (purple) has an chaotic orbit just outside of Titan's orbit (light blue) about Saturn (dark blue dot), in a 4:3 resonance lock with that large moon.

Chaotic orbit of Hyperion (purple) outside Titan (blue)

In principle a small delta-V is required, say a few m/s (no trivial effort given Hyperion's mass), to begin gravitational interactions with Titan, which after several orbits would start to involve Saturn. A few more orbits and you're on a Hohmann transfer orbit to Mars.

From Mars Transfer to the surface of Mars is where your real problem begins. MT to the surface of Mars is still a delta-V of 5.7 km/s, with 3.6 km/s from a 200 km orbit to the surface. No conceptual fusion rockets of 2100 could possible do this. (See @Ingolif's answer.) Before proposing a solution, let's consider the effect of a direct impact with Mars.

Hyperion has a mass of 5.5E18 kg. Hyperion would have a kinetic energy of nearly 1E27 Joules when it hits Mars' surface. It takes 300 kJ to melt a kg of granite, or 3E8 Joules to melt a tonne, which would be at 1500 Celsius when molten. You just melted about 3E17 tonnes of rock, or 1E17 m^3. With a surface area of about 150 million km^2 or 1.5E14 m^2, you've melted a layer of Mars surface about 700 metres thick.

No doubt you've created several new moons, but it will take millennia for Mars to cool.

Not ideal, so the protagonist in this story, Dr Verina von Braun, is a brilliant rocket engineer who has devised a solution. Without slowing Hyperion by a delta-V of 673 m/s, orbital insertion is impossible. Hyperion will just zoom past Mars into a solar orbit. Verina proposes crashing Hyperion into Phobos as a braking maneuver to achieve orbital insertion. Of course, asserts Verina, the two bodies will merge and form a highly elliptical orbit. Hyperion's foam-like structure is ideal for absorbing the impact of a smaller body. Verina insists there will be "no risk" to the tens-of-thousands of colonists on Mars, who, unsurprisingly, are desperate to stop Verina's madness. A major plot element!

Verina counters, that this is the only way to terraform Mars. It will be safe and she has done the calculations to prove it! Once in a (highly elliptical) Mars orbit the merged Hyprion-Phobos can be mined at leisure over hundreds of years to "gently" make Mars a habitable world. Verina; "I know that scientists occasionally do things that upset people, but there doesn't seem to be any alternative open to the human race if it is to survive."

Of course things go wrong. Verina humbly apologises, "I have very deep and sincere regret for the victims..."

So moving Hyperion to Mars with fusion rockets can be done "without much trouble" using fancy astrodynamics, but that's the least of your problems.

Yes it's possible, but there are some shattering implications - quite literally - that would make great plot elements. Let's see how Dr Verina von Braun will enable humankind to make its next great leap to becoming a starfaring species.

Let's assume she uses clever orbital mechanics to avoid brute force and "nudge" Hyperion into an unstable orbit that slingshots it via Saturn with just enough energy to get to a Mars transfer. This BTW is the solution to your SciFi problem - Hyperion (purple) has an chaotic orbit just outside of Titan's orbit (light blue) about Saturn (dark blue dot), in a 4:3 resonance lock with that large moon.

Chaotic orbit of Hyperion (purple) outside Titan (blue)

In principle a small delta-V is required, say a few m/s (no trivial effort given Hyperion's mass), to begin gravitational interactions with Titan, which after several orbits would start to involve Saturn. A few more orbits and you're on a Hohmann transfer orbit to Mars.

From Mars Transfer to the surface of Mars is where your real problem begins. MT to the surface of Mars is still a delta-V of 5.7 km/s, with 3.6 km/s from a 200 km orbit to the surface. No conceptual fusion rockets of 2100 could possible do this. (See @Ingolif's answer.) Before proposing a solution, let's consider the effect of a direct impact with Mars.

Hyperion has a mass of 5.5E18 kg. Hyperion would have a kinetic energy of nearly 1E27 Joules when it hits Mars' surface. It takes 300 kJ to melt a kg of granite, or 3E8 Joules to melt a tonne, which would be at 1500 Celsius when molten. You just melted about 3E17 tonnes of rock, or 1E17 m^3. With a surface area of about 150 million km^2 or 1.5E14 m^2, you've melted a layer of Mars surface about 700 metres thick.

No doubt you've created several new moons, but it will take millennia for Mars to cool.

Not ideal, so the protagonist in this story, Dr Verina von Braun, a brilliant rocket engineer, has devised a solution. Without slowing Hyperion by a delta-V of 673 m/s, orbital insertion is impossible. Hyperion will just zoom past Mars into a solar orbit. Verina proposes crashing Hyperion into Phobos as a braking maneuver to achieve orbital insertion. Of course, asserts Verina, the two bodies will merge and form a highly elliptical orbit. Hyperion's foam-like structure is ideal for absorbing the impact of a smaller body. Verina insists there will be "no risk" to the tens-of-thousands of colonists on Mars, who, unsurprisingly, are desperate to stop Verina's madness. A major plot element!

Verina counters, that this is the only way to terraform Mars. It will be safe and she has done the calculations to prove it! Once in a (highly elliptical) Mars orbit the merged Hyprion-Phobos can be mined at leisure over hundreds of years to "gently" make Mars a habitable world. Verina; "I know that scientists occasionally do things that upset people, but there doesn't seem to be any alternative open to the human race if it is to survive."

Of course things go wrong. Verina humbly apologises, "I have very deep and sincere regret for the victims..."

So moving Hyperion to Mars with fusion rockets can be done "without much trouble" using fancy astrodynamics, but that's the least of your problems.

added 118 characters in body
Source Link
Galerita
  • 1.2k
  • 2
  • 25

Yes it's possible, but there are some shattering implications - quite literally - that would make great plot elements. Let's see how Dr Verina von Braun will enable humankind to make its next great leap to becoming a starfaring species.

Let's assume by someshe uses clever orbital mechanics you avoid brute force and "nudge" Hyperion into an unstable orbit that slingshots it via Saturn with just enough energy to get to a Mars transfer. This BTW is the solution to your SciFi problem - Hyperion (purple) has an chaotic orbit just outside of Titan's orbit (light blue) about Saturn (dark blue dot), in a 4:3 resonance lock with that large moon. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ad/Animation_of_Hyperion_orbit_around_Saturn.gif

Chaotic orbit of Hyperion (purple) outside Titan (blue)

In principle a small delta-V is required, say a few m/s (no trivial effort given Hyperion's mass), to begin gravitational interactions with Titan, which after several orbits would start to involve Saturn. A few more orbits and you're on a Hohmann transfer orbit to Mars.

From Mars Transfer to the surface of Mars is where your real problem begins. MT to the surface of Mars is still a delta-V of 5.7 km/s, with 3.6 km/s from a 200 km orbit to the surface. No conceptual fusion rockets of 2100 could possible do this. (See @Ingolif's answer.) Before proposing a solution, let's consider the effect of a direct impact with Mars.

Hyperion has a mass of 5.5E18 kg. Hyperion would have a kinetic energy of nearly 1E27 Joules when it hits Mars' surface. It takes 300 kJ to melt a kg of granite, or 3E8 Joules to melt a tonne, which would be at 1500 Celsius when molten. You just melted about 3E17 tonnes of rock, or 1E17 m^3. With a surface area of about 150 million km^2 or 1.5E14 m^2, you've melted a layer of Mars surface about 700 metres thick.

No doubt you've created several new moons, but it will take millennia for Mars to cool.

Not ideal, so the protagonist in this story, Dr Verina von Braun, is a brilliant rocket engineer who has devised a solution. Without slowing Hyperion by a delta-V of 673 m/s, orbital insertion is impossible. Hyperion will just zoom past Mars into a solar orbit. Verina proposes crashing Hyperion into Phobos as a braking maneuver to achieve orbital insertion. Of course, asserts Verina, the two bodies will merge and form a highly elliptical orbit. Hyperion's foam-like structure is ideal for absorbing the impact of a smaller body. Verina insists there will be "no risk" to the tens-of-thousands of colonists on Mars, who, unsurprisingly, are desperate to stop Verina's madness. A major plot element!

Verina counters, that this is the only way to terraform Mars. It will be safe and she has done the calculations to prove it! Once in a (highly elliptical) Mars orbit the merged Hyprion-Phobos can be mined at leisure over hundreds of years to "gently" make Mars a habitable world. Verina; "I know that scientists occasionally do things that upset people, but there doesn't seem to be any alternative open to the human race if it is to survive."

Of course things go wrong. Verina humbly apologises, "I have very deep and sincere regret for the victims..."

So moving Hyperion to Mars with fusion rockets can be done "without much trouble" using fancy astrodynamics, but that's the least of your problems.

Yes it's possible, but there are some shattering implications - quite literally - that would make great plot elements. Let's see how Dr Verina von Braun will enable humankind to make its next great leap to becoming a starfaring species.

Let's assume by some clever orbital mechanics you avoid brute force and "nudge" Hyperion into an unstable orbit that slingshots it via Saturn with just enough energy to get to a Mars transfer. This BTW is the solution to your SciFi problem - Hyperion has an chaotic orbit just outside of Titan's orbit, in a 4:3 resonance lock with that large moon. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ad/Animation_of_Hyperion_orbit_around_Saturn.gif

In principle a small delta-V is required, say a few m/s (no trivial effort given Hyperion's mass), to begin gravitational interactions with Titan, which after several orbits would start to involve Saturn. A few more orbits and you're on a Hohmann transfer orbit to Mars.

From Mars Transfer to the surface of Mars is where your real problem begins. MT to the surface of Mars is still a delta-V of 5.7 km/s, with 3.6 km/s from a 200 km orbit to the surface. No conceptual fusion rockets of 2100 could possible do this. (See @Ingolif's answer.) Before proposing a solution, let's consider the effect of a direct impact with Mars.

Hyperion has a mass of 5.5E18 kg. Hyperion would have a kinetic energy of nearly 1E27 Joules when it hits Mars' surface. It takes 300 kJ to melt a kg of granite, or 3E8 Joules to melt a tonne, which would be at 1500 Celsius when molten. You just melted about 3E17 tonnes of rock, or 1E17 m^3. With a surface area of about 150 million km^2 or 1.5E14 m^2, you've melted a layer of Mars surface about 700 metres thick.

No doubt you've created several new moons, but it will take millennia for Mars to cool.

Not ideal, so the protagonist in this story, Dr Verina von Braun, is a brilliant rocket engineer who has devised a solution. Without slowing Hyperion by a delta-V of 673 m/s, orbital insertion is impossible. Hyperion will just zoom past Mars into a solar orbit. Verina proposes crashing Hyperion into Phobos as a braking maneuver to achieve orbital insertion. Of course, asserts Verina, the two bodies will merge and form a highly elliptical orbit. Hyperion's foam-like structure is ideal for absorbing the impact of a smaller body. Verina insists there will be "no risk" to the tens-of-thousands of colonists on Mars, who, unsurprisingly, are desperate to stop Verina's madness. A major plot element!

Verina counters, that this is the only way to terraform Mars. It will be safe and she has done the calculations to prove it! Once in a (highly elliptical) Mars orbit the merged Hyprion-Phobos can be mined at leisure over hundreds of years to "gently" make Mars a habitable world. Verina; "I know that scientists occasionally do things that upset people, but there doesn't seem to be any alternative open to the human race if it is to survive."

Of course things go wrong. Verina humbly apologises, "I have very deep and sincere regret for the victims..."

So moving Hyperion to Mars with fusion rockets can be done "without much trouble" using fancy astrodynamics, but that's the least of your problems.

Yes it's possible, but there are some shattering implications - quite literally - that would make great plot elements. Let's see how Dr Verina von Braun will enable humankind to make its next great leap to becoming a starfaring species.

Let's assume she uses clever orbital mechanics you avoid brute force and "nudge" Hyperion into an unstable orbit that slingshots it via Saturn with just enough energy to get to a Mars transfer. This BTW is the solution to your SciFi problem - Hyperion (purple) has an chaotic orbit just outside of Titan's orbit (light blue) about Saturn (dark blue dot), in a 4:3 resonance lock with that large moon.

Chaotic orbit of Hyperion (purple) outside Titan (blue)

In principle a small delta-V is required, say a few m/s (no trivial effort given Hyperion's mass), to begin gravitational interactions with Titan, which after several orbits would start to involve Saturn. A few more orbits and you're on a Hohmann transfer orbit to Mars.

From Mars Transfer to the surface of Mars is where your real problem begins. MT to the surface of Mars is still a delta-V of 5.7 km/s, with 3.6 km/s from a 200 km orbit to the surface. No conceptual fusion rockets of 2100 could possible do this. (See @Ingolif's answer.) Before proposing a solution, let's consider the effect of a direct impact with Mars.

Hyperion has a mass of 5.5E18 kg. Hyperion would have a kinetic energy of nearly 1E27 Joules when it hits Mars' surface. It takes 300 kJ to melt a kg of granite, or 3E8 Joules to melt a tonne, which would be at 1500 Celsius when molten. You just melted about 3E17 tonnes of rock, or 1E17 m^3. With a surface area of about 150 million km^2 or 1.5E14 m^2, you've melted a layer of Mars surface about 700 metres thick.

No doubt you've created several new moons, but it will take millennia for Mars to cool.

Not ideal, so the protagonist in this story, Dr Verina von Braun, is a brilliant rocket engineer who has devised a solution. Without slowing Hyperion by a delta-V of 673 m/s, orbital insertion is impossible. Hyperion will just zoom past Mars into a solar orbit. Verina proposes crashing Hyperion into Phobos as a braking maneuver to achieve orbital insertion. Of course, asserts Verina, the two bodies will merge and form a highly elliptical orbit. Hyperion's foam-like structure is ideal for absorbing the impact of a smaller body. Verina insists there will be "no risk" to the tens-of-thousands of colonists on Mars, who, unsurprisingly, are desperate to stop Verina's madness. A major plot element!

Verina counters, that this is the only way to terraform Mars. It will be safe and she has done the calculations to prove it! Once in a (highly elliptical) Mars orbit the merged Hyprion-Phobos can be mined at leisure over hundreds of years to "gently" make Mars a habitable world. Verina; "I know that scientists occasionally do things that upset people, but there doesn't seem to be any alternative open to the human race if it is to survive."

Of course things go wrong. Verina humbly apologises, "I have very deep and sincere regret for the victims..."

So moving Hyperion to Mars with fusion rockets can be done "without much trouble" using fancy astrodynamics, but that's the least of your problems.

added 16 characters in body
Source Link
Galerita
  • 1.2k
  • 2
  • 25
Loading
added 28 characters in body
Source Link
Galerita
  • 1.2k
  • 2
  • 25
Loading
added 1576 characters in body
Source Link
Galerita
  • 1.2k
  • 2
  • 25
Loading
added 1576 characters in body
Source Link
Galerita
  • 1.2k
  • 2
  • 25
Loading
Source Link
Galerita
  • 1.2k
  • 2
  • 25
Loading