Manned Mars mission - Perspectives and options

Denver, CO, USA 80201 The astrodynamics of Mars mission launch opportunities set irreducible physical limits on transportation energetics, but many optional approaches are possible depending on flight times and use of Venus flyby gravity assists. Aerocapture and nuclear rocket propulsion technologies have large potential savings to the mission, but require careful strategies for implementation. Supporting human life while maintaining high performance under long-term isolation and the confining conditions of spaceborne and planetary surface environments will set important minimum limits on spacecraft size, configuration, mass, and power. Long-term missions will undoubtedly require serious engineering consideration of the special requirements for providing artificial gravity. Human performance and leisure activity planning will necessitate highly automated spacecraft operation during cruise modes. Autonomous performance will be particularly necessary during aerocapture maneuvers and planetary entry phases. Minimizing spacesuit weight for exploration in a Mars-gravity environment is a driving technology that previous missions in space and to the moon have not required. Earth-to-orbit transportation will require heavy lift launch vehicles as part of the Mars mission fleet.