IAA Study Group 3.16: Alternatives for Human Mars Exploration Missions
- Paper number
IAC-15,A5,2,3,x28766
- Author
Prof. Giancarlo Genta, Politecnico di Torino, Italy
- Coauthor
Dr. Jean Marc Salotti, Laboratoire de Science Cognitive, France
- Coauthor
Dr. Alain Dupas, France
- Year
2015
- Abstract
The International Academy of Astronautics has set up a Study Group (SG 3.16) to produce a Cosmic Study dealing with human Mars missions. The first results of this work were summarized in a White Cosmic Study presented at the Heads of Space Agencies meeting in Washington D.C. (USA) in January 2014 and now the final draft is ready. The study, focused on a truly international mission, is not aimed to study in detail a ‘reference mission’ in alternative or to complete other studies performed in the past, but to discuss some important points which need to be clarified before embarking in a detailed mission design. Some alternatives remain open, and the present paper is focused on these points which were raised in the study. The following points are summarized in the paper: - What are the main risks for the crew? - What is the minimum number of people which must participate? - What is the best duration of the stay on Mars? - How is it possible to strike a trade-off between the scientific goals and the goals aimed to exploration and colonization? - Is it possible to define an affordable roadmap for a manned mission to Mars as soon as 2031? - What kind of propulsion (chemical, NTR, NEP, SEP) should be used for the interplanetary journey? In particular, the last tradeoff is still open and deserves a throughout discussion.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-15,A5,2,3,x28766.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
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