Joshua Connolly
08 August 2015
NCAS2015FALL
Evolvable Mars Campaign Essay Question # 4
The question of how to effectively plan a mission to Mars is multi-faceted. To convey the idea of the best mission, every portion of the mission must be discussed. The spacecraft must be designed to meet all mission and safety specifications. The testing must recreate possible scenarios encountered for the duration of the mission. The actual spaceflight plan must account for every action the mission is to take. With regard to these three things coupled with the capability driven framework outlined in the Evolvable Mars Campaign abstract, a solid basis for a mission to Mars can be created.
Designing the spacecraft is contingent upon the unavailability of the …show more content…
A habitation module, which would act as a surface lander, would be attached and be able to undock from the command module. The command module would be equipped with a SEP system to get the crew to and from the Martian system. The lander/ habitation module would have a LOX-methane propulsion system capable of returning it to Martian orbit to rendezvous with the command module.
Testing of the spacecraft design includes several phases. The first testing phase is the terrestrial phase. Each component of the spacecraft will undergo strenuous tests on the ground.
After being certified, the components will be assembled and retested until the final product is created. The second testing phase is the near earth phase. The delivery and reentry vehicle, which will be pre-staged at the International Space Station during the mission to Mars, will be tested for reentry capabilities. Heat shields and parachutes will undergo strenuous testing during this phase.
The third phase is an extended low Earth orbit test to make sure life support systems are …show more content…
The SEP engines will also be tested at this stage. The sixth phase is the lunar phase. This phase tests the entire package in lunar orbit while the lander/ habitation module makes a lunar landing. This testing ensures the lander is fully operational, and the habitation module can sustain life for extended periods of time. After all testing phases are complete, the spacecraft will be certified for a flight to Mars. Before the actual mission takes place, two of the four crew members for the mission to Mars will dock the spacecraft with the
International Space Station.
The launch for the mission to Mars will occur in reference to the perihelic opposition occurring on September 15th, 2035. This will give the crew the quickest flight time to Mars. The remaining 2 crew members will use the delivery and reentry vehicle aboard a rocket yet to be determined to reach the International Space Station where the spacecraft for the mission to Mars will be docked. Once the crew boards the spacecraft, they will undock from the International
Space Station and the spacecraft will use a Hohmann transfer to perform a trans-Mars injection.
During the flight to Mars, the crew will monitor and maintain the spacecraft and make sure
08 August 2015
NCAS2015FALL
Evolvable Mars Campaign Essay Question # 4
The question of how to effectively plan a mission to Mars is multi-faceted. To convey the idea of the best mission, every portion of the mission must be discussed. The spacecraft must be designed to meet all mission and safety specifications. The testing must recreate possible scenarios encountered for the duration of the mission. The actual spaceflight plan must account for every action the mission is to take. With regard to these three things coupled with the capability driven framework outlined in the Evolvable Mars Campaign abstract, a solid basis for a mission to Mars can be created.
Designing the spacecraft is contingent upon the unavailability of the …show more content…
A habitation module, which would act as a surface lander, would be attached and be able to undock from the command module. The command module would be equipped with a SEP system to get the crew to and from the Martian system. The lander/ habitation module would have a LOX-methane propulsion system capable of returning it to Martian orbit to rendezvous with the command module.
Testing of the spacecraft design includes several phases. The first testing phase is the terrestrial phase. Each component of the spacecraft will undergo strenuous tests on the ground.
After being certified, the components will be assembled and retested until the final product is created. The second testing phase is the near earth phase. The delivery and reentry vehicle, which will be pre-staged at the International Space Station during the mission to Mars, will be tested for reentry capabilities. Heat shields and parachutes will undergo strenuous testing during this phase.
The third phase is an extended low Earth orbit test to make sure life support systems are …show more content…
The SEP engines will also be tested at this stage. The sixth phase is the lunar phase. This phase tests the entire package in lunar orbit while the lander/ habitation module makes a lunar landing. This testing ensures the lander is fully operational, and the habitation module can sustain life for extended periods of time. After all testing phases are complete, the spacecraft will be certified for a flight to Mars. Before the actual mission takes place, two of the four crew members for the mission to Mars will dock the spacecraft with the
International Space Station.
The launch for the mission to Mars will occur in reference to the perihelic opposition occurring on September 15th, 2035. This will give the crew the quickest flight time to Mars. The remaining 2 crew members will use the delivery and reentry vehicle aboard a rocket yet to be determined to reach the International Space Station where the spacecraft for the mission to Mars will be docked. Once the crew boards the spacecraft, they will undock from the International
Space Station and the spacecraft will use a Hohmann transfer to perform a trans-Mars injection.
During the flight to Mars, the crew will monitor and maintain the spacecraft and make sure