this is me sitting next to the Saturn 5 rocket at the NASA Johnson Space Center
rocket at the NASA Johnson Space Center
rocket at the NASA Johnson Space Center now I don’t think this picture does the
now I don’t think this picture does the
now I don’t think this picture does the Saturn 5 justice because you can’t see
Saturn 5 justice because you can’t see
Saturn 5 justice because you can’t see all the amazing things that it’s
all the amazing things that it’s
all the amazing things that it’s accomplished
accomplished
accomplished the Saturn 5 was the only rocket to have
the Saturn 5 was the only rocket to have
the Saturn 5 was the only rocket to have ever gotten humans to the moon and it
ever gotten humans to the moon and it
ever gotten humans to the moon and it still holds a record as being the most
still holds a record as being the most
still holds a record as being the most powerful rocket ever built
powerful rocket ever built
powerful rocket ever built well it really amazed me was how large
well it really amazed me was how large
well it really amazed me was how large this rocket really was in person I mean
this rocket really was in person I mean
this rocket really was in person I mean literally took up this entire hangar the
literally took up this entire hangar the
literally took up this entire hangar the size of a football field but Rockets
size of a football field but Rockets
size of a football field but Rockets weren’t always this big here’s a look at
weren’t always this big here’s a look at
weren’t always this big here’s a look at a few rockets from the past with the
a few rockets from the past with the
a few rockets from the past with the Statue of Liberty there to give you a
Statue of Liberty there to give you a
Statue of Liberty there to give you a scale for how large Rockets really are
scale for how large Rockets really are
scale for how large Rockets really are now the smallest rocket here was
now the smallest rocket here was
now the smallest rocket here was actually the very first to get us into
actually the very first to get us into
actually the very first to get us into space but just getting the space wasn’t
space but just getting the space wasn’t
space but just getting the space wasn’t enough for us we want to travel further
enough for us we want to travel further
enough for us we want to travel further from the edges of the atmosphere to the
from the edges of the atmosphere to the
from the edges of the atmosphere to the moon and beyond and then we want to send
moon and beyond and then we want to send
moon and beyond and then we want to send heavier cargo like humans or even space
heavier cargo like humans or even space
heavier cargo like humans or even space stations so to meet all these challenges
stations so to meet all these challenges
stations so to meet all these challenges we to build these Rockets bigger and
we to build these Rockets bigger and
we to build these Rockets bigger and stronger over time until eventually we
stronger over time until eventually we
stronger over time until eventually we got to the Saturn 5 a rock is so big we
got to the Saturn 5 a rock is so big we
got to the Saturn 5 a rock is so big we get humans to the moon and back now
get humans to the moon and back now
get humans to the moon and back now today we’re looking beyond the moon to
today we’re looking beyond the moon to
today we’re looking beyond the moon to an even more ambitious goal sending
an even more ambitious goal sending
an even more ambitious goal sending humans to Mars Mars is over 200 times
humans to Mars Mars is over 200 times
humans to Mars Mars is over 200 times further away than the moon so humans
further away than the moon so humans
further away than the moon so humans will need a massive amount of cargo if
will need a massive amount of cargo if
will need a massive amount of cargo if they want to survive the journey there
they want to survive the journey there
they want to survive the journey there and back so NASA is now building an even
and back so NASA is now building an even
and back so NASA is now building an even larger rocket called the Space Launch
larger rocket called the Space Launch
larger rocket called the Space Launch System or SLS for short the SLS delivers
System or SLS for short the SLS delivers
System or SLS for short the SLS delivers a second rocket into space which is what
a second rocket into space which is what
a second rocket into space which is what ultimately takes you and your cargo to
ultimately takes you and your cargo to
ultimately takes you and your cargo to Mars now I hope that you can see that
Mars now I hope that you can see that
Mars now I hope that you can see that throughout history we’ve just made
throughout history we’ve just made
throughout history we’ve just made Rockets bigger and stronger to solve all
Rockets bigger and stronger to solve all
Rockets bigger and stronger to solve all our problems and it’s worked out pretty
our problems and it’s worked out pretty
our problems and it’s worked out pretty well for us so far we’ve even landed
well for us so far we’ve even landed
well for us so far we’ve even landed humans on the moon but today we finally
humans on the moon but today we finally
humans on the moon but today we finally hit a ceiling even the gigantic SLS
hit a ceiling even the gigantic SLS
hit a ceiling even the gigantic SLS won’t be able to deliver the massive
won’t be able to deliver the massive
won’t be able to deliver the massive amount of cargo that we need for getting
amount of cargo that we need for getting
amount of cargo that we need for getting means to Mars and it’s just not feasible
means to Mars and it’s just not feasible
means to Mars and it’s just not feasible to build a rocket even larger than this
to build a rocket even larger than this
to build a rocket even larger than this so what we need to do is think of a
so what we need to do is think of a
so what we need to do is think of a different approach and that’s the focus
different approach and that’s the focus
different approach and that’s the focus of my talk today I want to share with
of my talk today I want to share with
of my talk today I want to share with you a new rocket technology that’s
you a new rocket technology that’s
you a new rocket technology that’s revolutionising the way we travel in
revolutionising the way we travel in
revolutionising the way we travel in space for the past three years at the
space for the past three years at the
space for the past three years at the UCLA plasma and space propulsion lab
UCLA plasma and space propulsion lab
UCLA plasma and space propulsion lab I’ve been researching thousand Rockets
I’ve been researching thousand Rockets
I’ve been researching thousand Rockets plasma rockets are fundamentally
plasma rockets are fundamentally
plasma rockets are fundamentally different than the conventional ones
different than the conventional ones
different than the conventional ones that we’ve been talking about which are
that we’ve been talking about which are
that we’ve been talking about which are known as chemical rockets because
known as chemical rockets because
known as chemical rockets because instead of creating chemical explosions
instead of creating chemical explosions
instead of creating chemical explosions they create plasmas which are basically
they create plasmas which are basically
they create plasmas which are basically gasses compose the positively charged
gasses compose the positively charged
gasses compose the positively charged particles called ions and negatively
particles called ions and negatively
particles called ions and negatively charged particles called electrons by
charged particles called electrons by
charged particles called electrons by shooting these ions out the back your
shooting these ions out the back your
shooting these ions out the back your rocket can move forward very efficiently
rocket can move forward very efficiently
rocket can move forward very efficiently now the main downside to this technology
now the main downside to this technology
now the main downside to this technology is that plasma rockets are extremely
is that plasma rockets are extremely
is that plasma rockets are extremely weak now they’re barely strong enough to
weak now they’re barely strong enough to
weak now they’re barely strong enough to even lift up a single piece of paper and
even lift up a single piece of paper and
even lift up a single piece of paper and that’s just seemed bizarre to you
that’s just seemed bizarre to you
that’s just seemed bizarre to you because you typically associate rockets
because you typically associate rockets
because you typically associate rockets with being explosive and powerful
with being explosive and powerful
with being explosive and powerful well plasma rockets are exactly the
well plasma rockets are exactly the
well plasma rockets are exactly the opposite they’re so weak they can’t even
opposite they’re so weak they can’t even
opposite they’re so weak they can’t even lift themselves off the surface of the
lift themselves off the surface of the
lift themselves off the surface of the earth and that means they can only be
earth and that means they can only be
earth and that means they can only be used in space that also means we still
used in space that also means we still
used in space that also means we still need the old chemical rockets for
need the old chemical rockets for
need the old chemical rockets for launching off the earth so with this in
launching off the earth so with this in
launching off the earth so with this in mind how can Rockets this week even be
mind how can Rockets this week even be
mind how can Rockets this week even be useful to us well plasma rockets have
useful to us well plasma rockets have
useful to us well plasma rockets have one big thing going for them they can be
one big thing going for them they can be
one big thing going for them they can be as much as 10 times more fuel efficient
as much as 10 times more fuel efficient
as much as 10 times more fuel efficient than traditional chemical rockets so
than traditional chemical rockets so
than traditional chemical rockets so let’s take a second to understand what
let’s take a second to understand what
let’s take a second to understand what fuel efficiency really means I’m sure
fuel efficiency really means I’m sure
fuel efficiency really means I’m sure that most of you already know that a
that most of you already know that a
that most of you already know that a Prius is much more fuel efficient than a
Prius is much more fuel efficient than a
Prius is much more fuel efficient than a big rig well plasma rockets are
big rig well plasma rockets are
big rig well plasma rockets are basically the Priuses of space
basically the Priuses of space
basically the Priuses of space while these chemical rockets are your
while these chemical rockets are your
while these chemical rockets are your big rigs but what does this have to do
big rigs but what does this have to do
big rigs but what does this have to do with sending cargo to Mars
with sending cargo to Mars
with sending cargo to Mars well let’s compare these two Rockets
well let’s compare these two Rockets
well let’s compare these two Rockets assume that they’re about the same size
assume that they’re about the same size
assume that they’re about the same size and mass and for simplicity composed of
and mass and for simplicity composed of
and mass and for simplicity composed of only cargo and fuel the chemical rocket
only cargo and fuel the chemical rocket
only cargo and fuel the chemical rocket requires an enormous amount of fuel to
requires an enormous amount of fuel to
requires an enormous amount of fuel to deliver a relatively small amount of
deliver a relatively small amount of
deliver a relatively small amount of cargo I told you in the beginning that
cargo I told you in the beginning that
cargo I told you in the beginning that this amount wasn’t enough now the plasma
this amount wasn’t enough now the plasma
this amount wasn’t enough now the plasma rocket on the other hand requires less
rocket on the other hand requires less
rocket on the other hand requires less fuel allowing to take significantly more
fuel allowing to take significantly more
fuel allowing to take significantly more cargo and that bonus cargo is exactly
cargo and that bonus cargo is exactly
cargo and that bonus cargo is exactly what you need if you want to get humans
what you need if you want to get humans
what you need if you want to get humans to Mars so somehow a weak plasma rocket
to Mars so somehow a weak plasma rocket
to Mars so somehow a weak plasma rocket can deliver more cargo than a powerful
can deliver more cargo than a powerful
can deliver more cargo than a powerful chemical rocket how does that make sense
chemical rocket how does that make sense
chemical rocket how does that make sense you don’t only see people moving cargo
you don’t only see people moving cargo
you don’t only see people moving cargo with Priuses right well that’s because
with Priuses right well that’s because
with Priuses right well that’s because transportation in space is very
transportation in space is very
transportation in space is very different from transportation here on
different from transportation here on
different from transportation here on earth in space you’re not chained to the
earth in space you’re not chained to the
earth in space you’re not chained to the ground by gravity you’re basically
ground by gravity you’re basically
ground by gravity you’re basically floating so plasma rocket can be weak
floating so plasma rocket can be weak
floating so plasma rocket can be weak and still move very heavy objects and
and still move very heavy objects and
and still move very heavy objects and that’s why the plasma rockets fuel
that’s why the plasma rockets fuel
that’s why the plasma rockets fuel efficiency is the deciding factor for
efficiency is the deciding factor for
efficiency is the deciding factor for moving heavier cargo to Mars
moving heavier cargo to Mars
moving heavier cargo to Mars now moving cargo to Mars isn’t the only
now moving cargo to Mars isn’t the only
now moving cargo to Mars isn’t the only thing that plows are kids can do of
thing that plows are kids can do of
thing that plows are kids can do of course they can even get you to Mars
course they can even get you to Mars
course they can even get you to Mars faster than a chemical rocket now how
faster than a chemical rocket now how
faster than a chemical rocket now how does that make sense because how does a
does that make sense because how does a
does that make sense because how does a weaker rocket beat a more powerful one
weaker rocket beat a more powerful one
weaker rocket beat a more powerful one in a race or in other words how does the
in a race or in other words how does the
in a race or in other words how does the space tortoise beat the hare let’s all
space tortoise beat the hare let’s all
space tortoise beat the hare let’s all goes back to the original idea of fuel
goes back to the original idea of fuel
goes back to the original idea of fuel efficiency the chemical rocket requires
efficiency the chemical rocket requires
efficiency the chemical rocket requires use up its fuel very quickly so it can
use up its fuel very quickly so it can
use up its fuel very quickly so it can give a spacecraft one explosive push to
give a spacecraft one explosive push to
give a spacecraft one explosive push to send it to Mars and this one push does
send it to Mars and this one push does
send it to Mars and this one push does give it the speed that it needs to get
give it the speed that it needs to get
give it the speed that it needs to get there but the problem is after you run
there but the problem is after you run
there but the problem is after you run out of fuel you still have to cruise
out of fuel you still have to cruise
out of fuel you still have to cruise through space for at least six months
through space for at least six months
through space for at least six months before arriving and that’s a pretty long
before arriving and that’s a pretty long
before arriving and that’s a pretty long time
time
time now these plasma rockets on the other
now these plasma rockets on the other
now these plasma rockets on the other hand don’t have the same limitations
hand don’t have the same limitations
hand don’t have the same limitations because they’re more fuel-efficient they
because they’re more fuel-efficient they
because they’re more fuel-efficient they can slowly and steadily push you for a
can slowly and steadily push you for a
can slowly and steadily push you for a longer period of time and you can
longer period of time and you can
longer period of time and you can imagine that if you speed up fast enough
imagine that if you speed up fast enough
imagine that if you speed up fast enough you can actually pass the chemical
you can actually pass the chemical
you can actually pass the chemical rocket and get there even quicker
rocket and get there even quicker
rocket and get there even quicker studies have already shown that future
studies have already shown that future
studies have already shown that future plasma rockets could get you there and
plasma rockets could get you there and
plasma rockets could get you there and as little as a few weeks and we’re well
as little as a few weeks and we’re well
as little as a few weeks and we’re well on our way to getting to that point but
on our way to getting to that point but
on our way to getting to that point but the main idea here is that these
the main idea here is that these
the main idea here is that these chemical rockets that we’re using today
chemical rockets that we’re using today
chemical rockets that we’re using today have this hard sealing of a six-month
have this hard sealing of a six-month
have this hard sealing of a six-month travel time that’s the best we can do
travel time that’s the best we can do
travel time that’s the best we can do while these plasma rockets have the
while these plasma rockets have the
while these plasma rockets have the potential to break through that ceiling
potential to break through that ceiling
potential to break through that ceiling and get there significantly faster and
and get there significantly faster and
and get there significantly faster and this means everything for astronauts and
this means everything for astronauts and
this means everything for astronauts and future passengers like you or me
future passengers like you or me
future passengers like you or me but my otherwise died of radiation
but my otherwise died of radiation
but my otherwise died of radiation poisoning or even extreme boredom paws
poisoning or even extreme boredom paws
poisoning or even extreme boredom paws and rocket technology is only improving
and rocket technology is only improving
and rocket technology is only improving with time one day we’ll be able to send
with time one day we’ll be able to send
with time one day we’ll be able to send heavier spacecraft anywhere in the solar
heavier spacecraft anywhere in the solar
heavier spacecraft anywhere in the solar system and get them there faster so you
system and get them there faster so you
system and get them there faster so you can just imagine the possibilities we
can just imagine the possibilities we
can just imagine the possibilities we can have an interplanetary taxi chilling
can have an interplanetary taxi chilling
can have an interplanetary taxi chilling humans between the Earth and Mars in
humans between the Earth and Mars in
humans between the Earth and Mars in just a few weeks or even send Space
just a few weeks or even send Space
just a few weeks or even send Space Station’s to orbit around the moons of
Station’s to orbit around the moons of
Station’s to orbit around the moons of Jupiter when NASA thinks there might be
Jupiter when NASA thinks there might be
Jupiter when NASA thinks there might be life and this is just not possible with
life and this is just not possible with
life and this is just not possible with the chemical rockets we have today so
the chemical rockets we have today so
the chemical rockets we have today so you can already see that plasma rockets
you can already see that plasma rockets
you can already see that plasma rockets are just beginning to revolutionize the
are just beginning to revolutionize the
are just beginning to revolutionize the way we travel in space and now I want
way we travel in space and now I want
way we travel in space and now I want take a step back so we can look at the
take a step back so we can look at the
take a step back so we can look at the bigger picture because they’re more fuel
bigger picture because they’re more fuel
bigger picture because they’re more fuel efficient a weak plasma rocket can
efficient a weak plasma rocket can
efficient a weak plasma rocket can deliver more cargo than a powerful
deliver more cargo than a powerful
deliver more cargo than a powerful chemical rocket and as a bonus I can
chemical rocket and as a bonus I can
chemical rocket and as a bonus I can even get you to Mars faster so I hope
even get you to Mars faster so I hope
even get you to Mars faster so I hope that this shows you that a weak rocket
that this shows you that a weak rocket
that this shows you that a weak rocket can do incredibly useful things in space
can do incredibly useful things in space
can do incredibly useful things in space and none of this would have been
and none of this would have been
and none of this would have been possible without a major change in
possible without a major change in
possible without a major change in perspective maybe bigger and stronger is
perspective maybe bigger and stronger is
perspective maybe bigger and stronger is not always better because in the right
not always better because in the right
not always better because in the right situations sometimes something weak can
situations sometimes something weak can
situations sometimes something weak can do unexpectedly powerful things it could
do unexpectedly powerful things it could
do unexpectedly powerful things it could even bring us to Mars
even bring us to Mars
even bring us to Mars [Applause]
”
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