🛰️ 06: (Thought Experiment) Imagining Future Planetary Explorers
―― TGF–M: Next-Generation Solar System Exploration Engine
@YomotsushikoX
(Please note: the text from here on is the work of a complete amateur who skimmed through information on the internet in his spare time and fantasized and interpreted a field about which he had no knowledge. If you feel stressed, please leave immediately. Also, This English version, in keeping with the uniformity of the universe, has been translated with the help of AI—resulting in a notably uniform and somewhat rigid tone. We apologize in advance for any stylistic inconsistencies.🤪)
One summer day, after stocking up on various snacks at the neighborhood discount supermarket, I was eating a Super BIG Chocolate bar in my car in the parking lot.
Lured by the price, I'd bought a ton of snacks, including cheap candy, but I chose the Super BIG Chocolate first and was devouring it.
Why? Well, obviously because it was Super BIG Chocolate.
Nothing more, nothing less.
Choosing the Super BIG Chocolate bar was an instinctive, effortless decision.
But as I ate it, the sheer physical bulk of the Super BIG Chocolate overwhelmed my esophagus and made my throat parched.
Glancing into my shopping bag, I spotted a “canned coffee” sold at a bargain price and an “instant cold noodle drink” sold at an ultra-bargain price.
In quantum mechanics, it's a well-known cosmic principle that “canned coffee” and “instant cold noodle drink” are non-commutative.
My thirst was urgent, demanding an immediate choice between the two.
While the standard understanding would favor the “canned coffee” as the conventional choice, I dared to trust the energy potential of the “drinkable cold noodle can.”
I gambled on the possibility that introducing the “drinkable cold noodle can” energy into the BIG chocolate field might trigger a phase transition in my throat, opening up a new world.
The result was a shock that hit me like plasma erupting on my taste buds.
And as my brain grasped why the “drinkable cold noodle can” was sold so cheaply, a revelation struck me: could this plasma-like impulse be harnessed as some kind of power source?
After that, well, things happened, and I started wondering, “Hey, maybe this could power a space probe engine?” and indulged in some wild speculation (a thought experiment).
Oh, and in the end, I opened the canned coffee and drank that too.
📡―― TGF–M: Next-Generation Solar System Exploration Engine
0. Introduction
This thought experiment asks: Could we create devices reminiscent of those found in science fiction worlds—completely disregarding engineering feasibility and theoretical limitations—by interpreting concepts currently discussed in theory?
The goal is to describe these ideas in a way that feels plausible, then simply enjoy the thrill of contemplating them.
This time, I imagined a future planetary probe.
For those unfamiliar with the concepts, I hope you'll still feel that sense of excitement.
For those who understand, I'd appreciate it if you'd read along with a gentle sense of humor.
1: An Engine That Eats Mars' Air to Fly Forever
Imagine this.
A drone that sucks in Mars' thin air (only 1% as dense as Earth's), converts it into plasma, and blasts it out at incredible force to keep flying.
Zero fuel tanks.
Powered only by solar cells and a small battery, it flies day and night, even through storms.
Moreover, it repairs damaged parts itself and returns to pristine condition in seconds, even when covered in dust.
Its name is TGF–M (Terrestrial Gas-Fed Magnetoplasma Rocket).
“Earth-type Atmosphere-Feeding Magnetoplasma Rocket” – shortened to the “Air-Eating Engine.”
2: How Does It Fly Using Only Air?
Sucking in Martian Air
A special air intake device called “Ionium” is mounted on the front of the craft.
It generates powerful yet safe static electricity, using an “ion wind” to continuously draw in CO₂ molecules.
Just like a vacuum cleaner sucks up dust, it draws in vast amounts of Mars' thin atmosphere.The “Plasma Forge”
The sucked-in CO₂ is thrown into the “Plasma Forge” using 13.56 MHz RF waves and 2.45 GHz microwaves.
Here, it instantly reaches thousands of degrees, electrons fly around like bullets, and the CO₂ is broken down into ions (positively charged particles).Acceleration Like a Two-Stage Rocket
First Stage: A voltage of 1–3 kV is applied to a nanoscale arched grid, accelerating the ions with a bang! (20–35 km/s).
Second Stage: A “magnetic nozzle” made of magnets further expands the plasma, adding an extra 5–15 km/s.
Theoretically, this achieves a total ejection velocity of 140,000 km/h (40 km/s!).
This is over ten times faster than chemical rockets and two to three times more efficient than conventional ion engines.Beam Neutralization and Completion
Finally, a “high-availability neutralizer (ECR+FEA hybrid)” injects an electron beam to precisely match positive ions with negative electrons.
This prevents the spacecraft from becoming charged and ensures no thrust is lost.
As a result, theoretically, for every kilogram of air ingested, a velocity of 40 km/s can be generated.
This means it can keep flying indefinitely without carrying any fuel.
3: How Impressive Is It?
To fly a 100kg probe on Mars, a conventional rocket would require several tons of fuel alone.
With TGF–M, you can achieve the same Δv (velocity change) with zero fuel.
4: Self-Healing Engine: Repairs Itself Even When Damaged
Even if the grid wears down → At night, a plasma spray of trace molybdenum and titanium compounds regenerates it to like-new condition in minutes.
Even if dust clogs it → Reverse the voltage for a “ZAP!” pulse → Dust flies away on its own, and the surface gets recoated with fluorine for a sparkling finish.
Even if the battery degrades → Apply a brief thermal pulse and chemical pulse overnight to melt dendrites (those tree-like villains) and flatten them back out.
It's almost like biological self-healing, isn't it?
5: How far can they go?
Mars: The “Phoenix Flyer,” a 50km-class aerial drone from the surface
Continuously flies even through dust storms, cleaning itself with reverse thrust, freely surveying from the poles to the equator.Venus: Gliding through thick CO₂ atmospheres and scorching clouds “Venus Glider”
Regenerates its surface even in acid rain, achieving perpetual hovering.Saturn/Jupiter: Achieves ultra-high Isp (100 km/s class) in hydrogen atmospheres, orbiting rings and moons.
Low Earth Orbit: Atmosphere**: Operates for over 10 years with zero fuel as a drag compensation satellite.
6: How much power is needed?
During the day, solar panels (8–20m²) provide 10–100kW.
At night, batteries + ISRU fuel cells cover the need.
On Mars, CO₂ is produced locally; on Jupiter, H₂ is produced locally. This fuel is chemically stored and used for power generation at night.
As a result, it can keep flying no matter how many days the night lasts.
To summarize...
TGF–M is an engine that “converts atmosphere into fuel,” “heals itself when damaged,” “can vary its specific impulse,” and “can fly almost indefinitely.”
It's no longer just a machine; it's no exaggeration to call it a living engine that breathes planetary atmospheres and heals its wounds while journeying through space.
If NASA, SpaceX, Blue Origin, or JAXA ever got serious about developing this, by around 205x we might see fuel-free drones flying over Mars and probes drifting eternally above Venus's clouds. (Super optimistic prediction)
Wouldn't that be a fun future?
Caution!
Beyond this point lies an area intended for those smarter than the author. It's for brilliant slackers with guts who'd read even an amateur's crazy pseudo-paper out of sheer curiosity. Please be advised in advance.
