Study suggests faster Mars route using asteroid 2001 CA21 path
Updated
Updated · VICE · May 3
Study suggests faster Mars route using asteroid 2001 CA21 path
7 articles · Updated · VICE · May 3
Brazilian cosmologist Marcelo de Oliveira Souza says a 2031 launch window could enable a 153-day round trip, with some modelled trajectories taking just over a month.
The Acta Astronautica study mirrors the asteroid's slightly tilted orbit, which crosses both Earth and Mars, to shorten journeys that currently take about seven to 10 months one way.
The proposal remains theoretical, with fuel, spacecraft mass, crew survival and return timing still unresolved, though shorter travel could reduce risks for future human Mars missions.
This asteroid 'highway' promises a 33-day Mars trip, but do we have the rocket power to actually make the journey?
A faster Mars journey reduces radiation, but can the human body withstand the brutal G-forces of such a rapid flight?
Will an asteroid's path or a nuclear rocket be the ultimate key that finally unlocks human travel to Mars?
Ultra-Fast 153-Day Mars Mission Enabled by Near-Earth Asteroid Orbital Geometry
Overview
In April 2026, Marcelo de Oliveira Souza proposed a groundbreaking 153-day crewed Mars round-trip mission using the unique orbit of asteroid 2001 CA21 as a geometric guide. This asteroid's highly elliptical path crosses both Earth and Mars orbits and aligns closely with Earth's orbital plane, enabling spacecraft trajectories that reduce travel time from the usual 18-24 months to just 5-7.5 months. The mission, planned for 2031, includes a 33-day trip to Mars, a 30-day surface stay, and a 90-day return. While this approach cuts radiation exposure and mission costs, it faces challenges like refining asteroid data, developing advanced propulsion such as Nuclear Thermal Propulsion, and managing astronaut health risks. Experts recognize this concept as a paradigm shift, urging further research and international collaboration to make rapid Mars travel feasible.