[Space, Spaceships] Total ΔV for Interplanetary Travel

[Anthony]

Originally Posted by DaltonS

Mars Ve is 3.1 mps making Vo = 2.19, so ΔV = sqrt(3.1^2 + 1.6^2) - 2.19 = 1.3 mps. That makes the total ΔV for the trip = 2.27 + 0.6 + 1.3 = 4.17 mps, which according to my ΔV calculator spreadsheet would take 10 tanks of fuel with a TL8 NTR.

Note that the thrust of a TL 8 NTR is low enough that the limit case approximation isn't correct. I'm not aware of a simple solution for the moderate thrust case.