article_snippet: MailOnline studied different types of propulsion that could get humans to Mars (shown).
article_snippet: Dr André Guerra and Dr Paulo Gil, carried out a study comparing different space propulsion methods for a manned mission to Mars.
article_snippet: Various forms of propulsion have been touted for a mission to Mars, including chemical, ion (electric) and nuclear.
article_snippet: Shown is an illustration of a concept Mars Transfer Vehicle .
article_snippet: In their study, the researchers looked at other methods of propulsion to see if there was any way to make a Mars mission more feasible in the near future.
article_snippet: Shown is a graph of the different types of propulsion for a mission to Mars, how much their would weigh and their travel time.
article_snippet: In fact, the best way to reach Mars was a combination of chemical and ion engines - the former to reach orbit, on a rocket, and the latter for the cruise to Mars.
article_snippet: According to Dr Bertolami and Dr Bertolami team, the best way to reach Mars was a combination of chemical and ion (shown) engines - the former to reach orbit, on a rocket, and the latter for the cruise to Mars .
article_snippet: Chemical propulsion is currently the only way to get from Earth into orbit, so any mission to Mars will have to still rely on Chemical propulsion.
article_snippet: Nasa's Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, illustrated, for example will use a combination of liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen to take a Mars-bound spacecraft into orbit .
highlights_snippet: MailOnline studied different types of propulsion that could get humans to Mars .
  