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Elon Musk just released photos of a rocket engine that could take humans to Mars

To the Red planet, and beyond...

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A SpaceX Dragon rocket sits ready for takeoff.
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Futurist and creator of the world’s most desirable electric car Elon Musk is adamant about one thing--that humans can and should consider colonizing Mars. He has be very vocal on this subject, stating that such a step is even necessary for the survival of humanity, should a cataclysmic event ever occur.

To that end, on 27 September Musk, the founder of SpaceX, is expected to make some big announcements regarding details surrounding his far-reaching project. Among the primary components that will drive this mission are a very powerful rocket and a very large spacecraft that should be capable of ferrying a target of 100 tons of ‘useful payload’ to the red planet.

The key component here is the rocket engine that will be used to propel the spacecraft to Mars. Dubbed the Raptor engine, it is slated to be capable of generating half a million pounds of thrust at liftoff, according to Musk. Also unlike the kerosene-fired Merlin engines that are used to power the SpaceX Falcon 9 rockets, these engines will utilize liquid methane instead. The choice of propellant is largely attributed to the fact that this gas can be produced on the surface of Mars by utilizing subsurface ice and the carbon dioxide available in the atmosphere, enabling to rockets to effectively be refueled when they reach there.

Today Elon Musk Tweeted photos from tests they have been running on this new-generation rocket engine.

 

 

The company is sending an unmanned vehicle to Mars by 2018, and states that they should be able to transport humans to Mars as early as 2024.

Stay tuned for more information as Musk sheds more light on his interplanetary travel goals later this week.

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