Concept for a Manned Mars Flyby

A concept is presented for a three man crew to fly by the planet Mars. The ground rule for the study is to execute the mission as quickly as possible which dictates using late 1990's technologies and space infrastructure. The proposed mission described herein uses a preliminary concept for the agency's Manned Orbit Transfer Vehicle (MOTV) and proposed space station elements. The space vehicle will depart from the LEO space station and is delivered to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) by a future launch vehicle of a Shuttle Derived Launch Vehicle (SDV) class. The trajectory parameters are chosen such that the mission duration is on the order of one year, with a two and one-half hour period within ten planetary radii of Mars. If the issues of acceptable crew g loads and entry vehicle heat load can be resolved, then the returning vehicle can aerobrake at Earth into a space station compatible orbit. Otherwise, a propulsive maneuver will be required to reduce vehicle velocity prior to Earth entry interface. It is possible to execute a mission of reasonable capability at an initial LEO departure weight of 716,208 pounds for the aerobraked case of 1,350,000 pounds for the propulsive case.