Limitations of Chemical Propulsion for Interstellar Escape from Habitable Zones around Low-Mass Stars

TL;DR

This paper discusses the significant challenges of chemical propulsion for interstellar travel from habitable zones around low-mass stars, highlighting the high fuel requirements due to elevated escape velocities.

Contribution

It analyzes the limitations of chemical rockets in achieving interstellar escape from planets orbiting low-mass stars, emphasizing the impact of higher escape speeds.

Findings

Chemical escape speeds around low-mass stars are several times higher than Earth's.

Fuel mass requirements for chemical rockets grow exponentially with escape speed.

Interstellar travel via chemical propulsion is likely impractical for planets around M-dwarfs.

Abstract

The habitable zones of low-mass stars are characterized by escape speeds that can be a few times higher than the Earth's orbit around the Sun. Owing to the exponential dependence of the required fuel mass on the terminal speed for chemical rockets, interstellar travel may not be easy for technological species inhabiting planets around M-dwarfs.