Cooper_2010abstr
Copyright © 2010
by Miguel Cooper. Published by the
Mars Society with permission.
MARS MANNED MISSION A CONCEPTUAL DESIGN
Miguel Cooper
Postal Address: Cerrada de
Rufino Tamayo 425 Col. Paraiso,
Coatzacoalcos,
Veracruz 96535 Mˇxico
Phone: 52 921 1562326
Abstract
This Conceptual design
considers using the ISS as a departure/ arrival port and assembly station. The
Modules and crew that should be taken from Earth to LEO by a Space
Transportation System are not covered here.
The Mission includes an
unmanned structure to arrive on Mars Before the Crew, and the manned
Components, some components are redundant for safety reasons. Both structures
will be assembled in EarthÕs Orbit with modules similar to the ones of the ISS,
a central structure and solar panels, besides a propulsion system that could be
an stage of a Rocket with LOX an LH to control the firing, and special modules
to land on Mars.
Before a crew and landing
modules are sent to the surface, the Landing evaluation probe will be sent to
gather data on environmental variables, the data send by this probe will be
used to determine if landing conditions are acceptable and also with its data
to feed the landing sequence for the landing modules.
While a crew is exploring the
surface, the members of the crew that will stay in orbit performing
observations of Mars from Orbit, will approach to the return to Earth
components and dock with them for the return to Earth Journey.
The Lander will lift off from
the surface on Mars, and will rendezvous with the Orbital Spaceship, once
docked the Spaceship will continue in Mars Orbit for about 16 months performing
experiments and perhaps a second visit to the surface of the planet. The return
to Earth will begin by firing the rocket that will make it leave the Orbit of
Mars; in a moment where the Earth is approaching so it can follow a return
trajectory to intercept the EarthÕs orbit.
The Spaceship will approach to the ISS, it will be kept in a safe
orbit before it docks to the ISS. The Material brought from Mars, and the crew
will remain in a quarantine module for the time defined by scientists, to avoid
any possible contamination to the ISS the Mars Crew will receive supplies
through a Progress or ATV unmanned spacecrafts.