Space Survival: What Would It Take to Descend from the Moon Using Diet Coke and Mentos?

Imagine yourself stranded in space with just a bottle of Diet Coke and Mentos. The question of how much of these items would be required to descend from the Moon to Earth arises naturally. Although such a scenario is purely hypothetical, it piques interest in the principles of space travel and the limitations of available resources in such an environment.

Why Diet Coke and Mentos Aren't Enough

Nelson Cunnington's answer to this question highlights the significant challenges involved in using Diet Coke and Mentos for any serious mission. Furthermore, the use of these particular items introduces a multitude of complications, such as the need for Mentos to catalyze the reaction, which is not a necessity with other carbonated beverages. This raises questions about the effectiveness of Diet Coke alone, even in a vacuum environment.

Physical Limitations and Thrust Calculations

Typically, Diet Coke and Mentos would produce a very small amount of thrust, as demonstrated in the 20 N figure provided. This is significantly insufficient for such a journey. For example, a 2-liter bottle of Diet Coke and Mentos would not be able to lift itself off the ground, let alone propel a rocket to the Moon. The thrust generated by such a reaction pales in comparison to modern rocket engines. A Saturn V rocket, the most powerful ever built, produced roughly 351,000 kN of thrust in its first stage, or nearly two million times more than a Diet Coke and Mentos reaction.

Theoretical and Practical Considerations

Even if the scenario were to ignore the physical limitations, there are still practical challenges. The thrust generated by the Diet Coke and Mentos reaction, along with the lack of a controlled release mechanism, would make it difficult to achieve the necessary orbit alterations. And once in orbit, the descent back to Earth would require a significant reduction in velocity, something that even the combined force of Diet Coke and Mentos might not achieve. The human body, unfortunately, would not survive such a descent due to the high impact velocity.

Why NASA Won't Test This Experiment

NASA, which is at the forefront of space exploration, does not conduct such experiments. The technology required to achieve any meaningful propulsion from carbonated drinks in space is far beyond what such an approach could offer. Testing this in a controlled environment at the International Space Station (ISS) would also be impractical and likely negate any benefits given the safety and functionality of modern rocket propulsion systems.

Conclusion: The Importance of Scientific Innovation

In the pursuit of space exploration and rescue scenarios, scientific innovation and engineering are crucial. The limitations of Diet Coke and Mentos highlight the need for robust and reliable technology that can handle the demands of space travel. The future of space travel lies in the development of efficient propulsion systems, which have already been proven through decades of research and practice.