SMRTR Science & EngineeringMay 5, 2026Live Science

'I was not looking for this': Scientist accidentally finds shortcut to Mars that could slash travel time in half

SMRTR summary

A Brazilian scientist accidentally discovered a potential shortcut to Mars while studying asteroid trajectories, finding geometric clues that could cut round-trip travel from three years to just five months. A 2031 Mars opposition offers the best opportunity, requiring a spacecraft departure speed comparable to NASA's New Horizons probe.

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