Spaceflight from Super-Earths is difficult

TL;DR

This paper examines the challenges of spaceflight from Super-Earths, finding chemical rockets feasible up to 10 times Earth's mass, but larger planets may need alternative propulsion methods.

Contribution

It quantifies the limitations of chemical propulsion on Super-Earths and suggests nuclear propulsion as a potential solution for more massive rocky planets.

Findings

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

Escape velocity requirements grow exponentially with planetary gravity.

Larger Super-Earths may require nuclear propulsion or other advanced methods.

Abstract

Many rocky exoplanets are heavier and larger than the Earth, and have higher surface gravity. This makes space-flight on these worlds very challenging, because the required fuel mass for a given payload is an exponential function of planetary surface gravity. We find that chemical rockets still allow for escape velocities on Super-Earths up to 10x Earth mass. More massive rocky worlds, if they exist, would require other means to leave the planet, such as nuclear propulsion.