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Transportation-Driven Mars Surface Operations Supporting an Evolvable Mars CampaignThis paper describes the results of a study evaluating options for supporting a series of human missions to a single Mars surface destination. In this scenario the infrastructure emplaced during previous visits to this site is leveraged in following missions. The goal of this single site approach to Mars surface infrastructure is to enable "Steady State" operations by at least 4 crew for up to 500 sols at this site. These characteristics, along with the transportation system used to deliver crew and equipment to and from Mars, are collectively known as the Evolvable Mars Campaign (EMC). Information in this paper is presented in the sequence in which it was accomplished. First, a logical buildup sequence of surface infrastructure was developed to achieve the desired "Steady State" operations on the Mars surface. This was based on a concept of operations that met objectives of the EMC. Second, infrastructure capabilities were identified to carry out this concept of operations. Third, systems (in the form of conceptual elements) were identified to provide these capabilities. This included top-level mass, power and volume estimates for these elements. Fourth, the results were then used in analyses to evaluate three options (18t, 27t, and 40t landed mass) of Mars Lander delivery capability to the surface. Finally, Mars arrival mass estimates were generated based upon the entry, descent, and landing requirements for inclusion in separate assessments of in-space transportation capabilities for the EMC.
Document ID
20140016934
Acquisition Source
Johnson Space Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Toups, Larry
(NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Brown, Kendall
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Hoffman, Stephen J.
(Science Applications International Corp. Houston, TX, United States)
Date Acquired
December 3, 2014
Publication Date
January 1, 2015
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Science And Exploration
Report/Patent Number
JSC-CN-32268
Report Number: JSC-CN-32268
Meeting Information
Meeting: IEEE Aerospace Conference
Location: Big Sky, MT
Country: United States
Start Date: March 7, 2015
End Date: March 14, 2015
Sponsors: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, American Inst. of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Prognostics and Health Management Society (PHM)
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.
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