What Star Wars And Other Science Fiction Favorites Get Wrong About Space Travel : Short Wave : NPR
This artist concept shows NASA Dawn spacecraft arriving at the dwarf planet Ceres. Dawn travels through space using a technology called ion propulsion, with ions glowing with blue light are accelerated out of an engine, giving the spacecraft thrust.
NASA/JPL-Caltech
hide caption
toggle caption
This artist concept shows NASA Dawn spacecraft arriving at the dwarf planet Ceres. Dawn travels through space using a technology called ion propulsion, with ions glowing with blue light are accelerated out of an engine, giving the spacecraft thrust.
Contrary to sci-fi depictions in shows like Iron Man and Star Wars, getting from point A to point B in space is a tough engineering problem. NPR Science Correspondent Geoff Brumfiel, with help from scientist Naia Butler-Craig, explains how space propulsion actually works, and why some new technologies might be needed to get humans to Mars and beyond.
Follow Geoff Brumfiel and Short Wave co-host Emily Kwong on Twitter. Email the show at [email protected].
This episode was produced by Brit Hanson, fact-checked by Indi Khera and edited by Gisele Grayson.