[tompko]

> while this can only be useful where you still have atmosphere and oxygen

The planned SABRE engine can act as a rocket as well closing the intake and using stored liquid oxygen so it would be capable of operating without an atmosphere and oxygen and landing on Mars.

[stephengillie]

Can it take off from Mars? In another HN thread a month ago, we discussed how Mars' atmosphere is so thin that a Cessna would need 747 wings and near Mach 1 velocity to take off.

[wololo]

fyi: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4261806, https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4608595

[ricardobeat]

Rockets are propelled by their own exhaust.