Super-Earths in need for Extremly Big Rockets

TL;DR

This paper explores the challenges of spaceflight from Super-Earths, analyzing the feasibility of chemical rockets for planets up to 10 times Earth's mass and discussing alternative launch methods for more massive worlds.

Contribution

It provides a quantitative analysis of rocket feasibility on Super-Earths and introduces considerations for launching from water worlds with advanced structures.

Findings

Chemical rockets can enable escape from Super-Earths up to 10x Earth's mass.

Heavier planets would require using most of the planet as fuel, making launch highly risky.

Launching from water worlds may need alien megastructures.

Abstract

Many rocky exoplanets are heavier and larger than Earth, so-called "Super-Earths". Some of these may be habitable, and a few may be inhabited by Super-Earthlings. Due to the higher surface gravity on these worlds, space-flight is much more challenging. We find that chemical rockets still allow for escape velocities on Super-Earths up to 10x Earth mass. Much heavier rocky worlds, if they exist, will require using up most of the planet as chemical fuel for the (one) launch, a rather risky undertaking. We also briefly discuss launching rockets from water worlds, which requires Alien megastructures.