New cheaper, easier route identified for manned mission to Mars

Mathematicians have recently mapped out a new cheaper and easier route for manned mission to Mars, it has been reported.

It has solved the two big problems that have held humans back from getting there; the cost of the journey and the fact that it could only be done every two years, the Independent reported.

It requires lobbing the ship into an orbit like that of Mars so that it flies ahead of the planet, called ballistic capture. That was instead of the Hohmann transfer that's currently used, where the spaceship was aimed at a certain place in the Mars orbit and meets it there.

The two techniques cost the same at launch and while it cruises. But the expensive burn of fuel to slow down and aim when the ship reaches Mars would be reduced.

The 25 per cent less fuel used would reduce costs, and would make the ship lighter and therefore even cheaper to launch.

But the new route takes a few months longer, and even on the old route the journey takes six months.