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Departure Energies, Trip Times and Entry Speeds for Human Mars MissionsThe study examines how the mission design variables departure energy, entry speed, and trip time vary for round-trip conjunction-class Mars missions. These three parameters must be balanced in order to produce a mission that is acceptable in terms of mass, cost, and risk. For the analysis, a simple, massless- planet trajectory program was employed. The premise of this work is that if the trans-Mars and trans-Earth injection stages are designed for the most stringent opportunity in the energy cycle, then there is extra energy capability in the "easier" opportunities which can be used to decrease the planetary entry speed, or shorten the trip time. Both of these effects are desirable for a human exploration program.
Document ID
19990032023
Acquisition Source
Langley Research Center
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Munk, Michelle M.
(NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA United States)
Date Acquired
August 19, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1999
Subject Category
Astronautics (General)
Report/Patent Number
AAS Paper 99-103
Meeting Information
Meeting: Space Flight Mechanics
Location: Breckenridge, CO
Country: United States
Start Date: February 7, 1999
End Date: February 10, 1999
Sponsors: American Inst. of Aeronautics and Astronautics, American Astronautical Society
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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