New Mars Forums

Official discussion forum of The Mars Society and MarsNews.com

You are not logged in.

Announcement

Announcement: This forum is accepting new registrations by emailing newmarsmember * gmail.com become a registered member. Read the Recruiting expertise for NewMars Forum topic in Meta New Mars for other information for this process.

#1 2023-01-23 22:22:54

tahanson43206
Moderator
Registered: 2018-04-27
Posts: 19,163

A Mars cycler (or Earth–Mars cycler) is a kind of space trajectory

For SpaceNut ... recently one of our members has been thinking about "cycler" spacecraft...

I wondered if we had a topic that contained the word "cycler" and discovered we did not have one.

A "cycler" does not stop anywhere ... it is in constant motion.  The Mars Cycler is designed to move between the Earth and Mars without stopping at either.

Google came up with a set of snippets that our readers can follow for additional information...

(th)

Offline

#2 2023-01-23 22:24:15

tahanson43206
Moderator
Registered: 2018-04-27
Posts: 19,163

Re: A Mars cycler (or Earth–Mars cycler) is a kind of space trajectory

Update 2024/10/14 ... link to Aldrin site: https://buzzaldrin.com/space-vision/roc … rs-cycler/

Per Google:

Mars cycler - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Mars_cycler

A Mars cycler (or Earth–Mars cycler) is a kind of spacecraft trajectory that encounters ... The Aldrin cycler is an example of a Mars cycler.
Physics · Proposed use · Notes

Mars cycler

View all

A Mars cycler is a kind of spacecraft trajectory that encounters Earth and Mars regularly. The term Mars cycler may also refer to a spacecraft on a Mars cycler trajectory. The Aldrin cycler is an example of a Mars cycler. Wikipedia

Aldrin Mars Cycler - Buzz Aldrin Astronaut Apollo 11, Gemini 12
buzzaldrin.com › space-vision › rocket_science › aldrin-mars-cycler
The Aldrin Cycler's design features a slow rotation of the spacecraft to create artificial gravity to avoid the bone and muscle loss hazard of weightlessness on ...

People also ask
What is the Aldrin cycle?
What is a cycler orbit?

[PDF] The Aldrin Cycler
www.astro.umd.edu › ~hamilton › Presentation › MacDonaldEthan_0
First proposed by Buzz Aldrin in 1985. • Two ballistic cyclers following mirroring trajectories. • Up and Down “Escalators” for transport to and from Mars.

The Aldrin Cycler: A Conveyor Belt To Mars | Answers With Joe
www.youtube.com › watch

May 10, 2021 · Go to http://www.mackweldon.com/joescott and enter promo code "JOESCOTT" at checkout to ...
Duration: 15:20
Posted: May 10, 2021

Aldrin cycler - Wiktionary
en.wiktionary.org › wiki › Aldrin_cycler
(astronautics) A spacecraft which cycles between the planet Earth and the planet Mars, in its own orbit which intercepts both their orbits at times when the ...
Florida Tech Researchers Explore Buzz Aldrin's Mars Cycler Concept

news.fit.edu › All News
Jul 24, 2020 · After the crew finishes its mission on Mars, the crew transfer vehicle and cycler will then be used in reverse order to get the crew back to ...
[PDF] A Low-Thrust Version of the Aldrin Cycler

engineering.purdue.edu › people › ConferencePapersPresentations › 2...
In this paper we seek a low-thrust version of a cycler orbit between Earth and Mars known as the Aldrin cycler. The principal goal is to design trajectories ...
The Martian Express - Damn Interesting

www.damninteresting.com › the-martian-express
As grand and simple as it all may seem, the Aldrin Cycler concept is not devoid of drawbacks. The Cyclers' construction would certainly require more upfront ...
What uses would the Aldrin-Cycler have?

space.stackexchange.com › questions › what-uses-would-the-aldrin-cycler-...
An Aldrin-Cycler is a vessel on an orbit on which it passes both Earth and Mars every few years without expending much fuel.
Why does the Buzz Aldrin Mars Cycler not play a larger role in ...

Aldrin cycler mission to Mars in MATLAB [closed]
What is the minimum transfer time for Earth/Mars cycler and still ...

More results from space.stackexchange.com
Tutorial: Earth-Moon Aldrin Cycler - Kerbal Space Program Wiki
wiki.kerbalspaceprogram.com › wiki › Tutorial:_Earth-Moon_Aldrin_Cycler

May 6, 2020 · Buzz Aldrin invented a class of orbits that allow a ship to continuously transit between two bodies with little or no orbit adjustments.

Related searches
Aldrin Cycler KSP
Lunar cycler
Aldrin cycler orbit
Mars cycler animation
Interstellar cycler
Earth-Moon cycler

(th)

Offline

#3 2023-01-25 07:35:48

tahanson43206
Moderator
Registered: 2018-04-27
Posts: 19,163

Re: A Mars cycler (or Earth–Mars cycler) is a kind of space trajectory

This post by Calliban was first delivered to a topic of Void...

Calliban wrote:

Using a cycler would actually increase the total dV requirements of a mission, given that a classic hohmann trajectory cannot be used.  But it could substantially reduce the mass requirements of human transfer between planets and would greatly improve comfort.  A small taxi can be used to transfer people from LEO to cycler and then cycler to LMO.  Freight would travel seperately on a more standard hohmann trajectory.

One problem with a classic cycler is that many years may pass between suitabe planetary encounters.  If you board the cycler close to Earth, it may be 4-6 years before reaching Mars. One way of improving the economic utility of a cycler is to use it to reach multiple targets.  If the apogee is greater than Mars semi major axis, then the cycler can also be used to access inner belt asteroids.  Its orbit will also cross the orbit of many Near Earth Asteroids.  A single cycler can facilitate access to many different end points.

A cycler crossing the orbit of Venus could facilitate manned missions to Mercury.  Such a vehicle would seem to be a neccesity for these missions, as astronauts will need protection from solar radiation during transit.

The whole point of a cycler is NOT to stop anywhere, but instead, to provide a safe, comfortable travel experience to persons headed to destinations in System.

There are NO gradations ... a cycler is either 100% on a cycler orbit, or it is not.

There is no such thing as a "partial" cycler.

On the other hand, there may be a term-of-art for a space vessel that plies the spaceways between Earth and another destination, such as Mars.

The term "ferry" is used on Earth, to describe a maritime vessel that shuttles between two (or more) points on the surface of the Earth according to a schedule.

Another term that might be used if service is not regular is "tramp", but that is just a guess on my part.

This topic is about "true" space cycler orbits.

Many thanks to Calliban to adding to the forum record on the benefits (and disadvantages) of the cycler orbit design.

(th)

Offline

#4 2023-01-25 08:17:21

Calliban
Member
From: Northern England, UK
Registered: 2019-08-18
Posts: 3,768

Re: A Mars cycler (or Earth–Mars cycler) is a kind of space trajectory

Ryugu would be an an excellent candidate for an Earth-Mars cycler.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/162173_Ryugu

It's orbit crosses the orbits of both Earth and Mars.  It also appears to be water and carbon rich.  Its mass is 450 million tonnes.  It therefore contains all of the elements needed to sustain a sizable human population.  It's mass is sufficient for ~100 Island One sized human settlements.

It is probably not coincidental that the Japanese space agency have shown special interest in this object.  It is interesting both as a cycler and as a target for asteroid mining intended to return materials to Earth orbit.  Colonising Ryugu would therefore assist in multiple space development goals such as: (1) An Earth-Mars cycler; (2) A cycler to other NEAs; (3) A destination in itself for long-term settlement; (4) A target for asteroid mining, intended to deliver water and other materials to industries in high Earth orbit.

Last edited by Calliban (2023-01-25 08:23:31)


"Plan and prepare for every possibility, and you will never act. It is nobler to have courage as we stumble into half the things we fear than to analyse every possible obstacle and begin nothing. Great things are achieved by embracing great dangers."

Offline

#5 2023-01-25 10:35:57

Void
Member
Registered: 2011-12-29
Posts: 7,731

Re: A Mars cycler (or Earth–Mars cycler) is a kind of space trajectory

Calliban said:

Ryugu would therefore assist in multiple space development goals such as: (1) An Earth-Mars cycler; (2) A cycler to other NEAs; (3) A destination in itself for long-term settlement; (4) A target for asteroid mining, intended to deliver water and other materials to industries in high Earth orbit.

All the points are good. #2 seems very interesting, as you could create "Spark" worlds that could basically "Ignite" activities in other asteroids.  If you are living in your own "Space House", then it may not matter that it takes a long time to alter orbit with the solar wind, but you can then do so.

Quote:

It's mass is sufficient for ~100 Island One sized human settlements.

So, really a potential chain reaction.  Send a stream of them out to intercept other asteroids.  A sort of Von Neuman machine but not strictly robotic, involving humans.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Von_Neuma … onstructor

I read an article recently that indicated that rubble piles may be very old.  We have the idea that they form from shattered solid asteroids, but it seems that they may catch materials even now.  They are a natural shock absorber.  And interesting idea would be if they can serve as mass driver receivers?  It would depend on lots of factors, but even if they blow apart to some extent, I think they can collect back together over a period of time.

Done.

Last edited by Void (2023-01-25 11:46:15)


End smile

Offline

#6 2023-01-25 21:05:47

SpaceNut
Administrator
From: New Hampshire
Registered: 2004-07-22
Posts: 29,428

Re: A Mars cycler (or Earth–Mars cycler) is a kind of space trajectory

The cycler while it fills the role it's still does not have gravity which is a very important health factor.

Offline

#7 2023-01-25 21:33:31

tahanson43206
Moderator
Registered: 2018-04-27
Posts: 19,163

Re: A Mars cycler (or Earth–Mars cycler) is a kind of space trajectory

For SpaceNut re #6

If you can find a minute or two, please go back to post #2 and read a few sentences down ... you'll find that gravity was planned for in the original Aldrin cycler.  There may be versions of the cycler that did not have gravity, but Aldrin's certainly did!

(th)

Offline

#8 2023-01-25 21:52:48

Void
Member
Registered: 2011-12-29
Posts: 7,731

Re: A Mars cycler (or Earth–Mars cycler) is a kind of space trajectory

It was an important question Spacenut, but (th) is correct by my thinking.

A cycler should offer things that a Starship may not so easily offer.

But the Falcon 9 is, I believe, 1/5th the cost that the Aldrin Cycler expected for launch capabilities.

But how much better do we hope that Starship will be than Falcon 9?

So, if that proves true, then we might want to have another look at cyclers, as if the Starship is successful, cyclers are also much more cost effective.

And then if electric rockets continue to develop, then those may deliver supplies from Starship LEO, to the cyclers.

And then if Nuclear Electric is developed, then that more to power the electric rockets that could supply a cycler with parts and other needed things.

A good cycler should have artificial gravity, very good radiation protection, and I would hope full recycling for life support.

It could be a really exciting thing. 

I want my version tough to be captured into Martian orbit periodically by Ballistic Capture method.  And then to be refilled with propellants and other supplies in Martian orbit.  Then to launch back out into a cycle that might intercept a world of utility, such as Earth.

Done.

Last edited by Void (2023-01-25 21:56:52)


End smile

Offline

#9 2023-01-26 06:03:33

kbd512
Administrator
Registered: 2015-01-02
Posts: 7,805

Re: A Mars cycler (or Earth–Mars cycler) is a kind of space trajectory

I feel as though the best use for a cycler is to deliver low-value cargo at a lower total cost, such as metals and chemicals.  If the payload fails to meet the cycler, then nobody dies and nothing of irreplaceable value is lost in space.  If we eventually gain enough experience using cyclers to assure docking and separation of payloads, then we can think about sending humans.  Beyond that, artificial "spin gravity", if done in one direction only, meaning no counter-rotation, will affect the orbit enough to put the vehicle out of position for the next rendezvous opportunity.

If we think about where the real tonnage is, for purposes of building a Mars colony from scratch, it's metals, petrochemicals, heavy machine tools (tunnel boring machines, lathes, hydraulic presses for metal stamping), tracked motorized vehicles, solar panels, batteries, nuclear fuels (Uranium and Thorium), concrete and steel to build landing pads / launch pads / transport cranes for Starships, cryogenic propellant storage tanks, and eventually a runway with arresting gear and catapults so that "normal" (for Mars) space planes can conduct regular flights without the dangers associated with vertical takeoff and landing.

We talked about potentially using nuclear-powered versions of NASA's crawler-transporter, a type of heavy duty "land train" if you will, that can be used as mobile bases to mine ice and metals and have unlimited global range, like a nuclear powered ship, albeit at very low speeds.  The Soviets developed and tested nuclear powered "land trains" (enormous tracked vehicles intended to traverse the vast Siberian tundra without burning fuel, which was not easy to transport).  The New York Times ran a story on it, August 31st, 1964.  It consisted of 4 tracked vehicles and weighed 350t.

The US Army tested LeTourneau land trains back in the late 1950s / early 1960s, IIRC, and they were thinking about a nuclear powered variant, but the reactor technology of the time was not sufficiently well-developed.  That is no longer the case today.  Our ability to turn nuclear heat into electricity has drastically improved since that time.

Almost all trains, including the land trains, and the crawler-transporter are diesel-electric machines.  There's no real reason why they can't be nuclear-electric on Mars, using modern reactor technology.

Offline

#10 2023-01-26 08:54:03

Void
Member
Registered: 2011-12-29
Posts: 7,731

Re: A Mars cycler (or Earth–Mars cycler) is a kind of space trajectory

I think that at this time electric propulsion, and Ballistic Capture would be the best way to get materials to Mars Orbits.

If it were necessary you could have a Cycling Spaceship that has counter rotation methods.

While I value the idea that a Cycling Spaceship can reuse some of its momentum, my notions are that such ships would have active propulsive methods.

As I have already a place to do my own version you may see my thinking here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotor_ship
A few posts back may do, if you want to.

Oops!  actually here are my thoughts:   http://newmars.com/forums/viewtopic.php … 68#p205468

As far as passenger danger, my notion is to Ballistically Capture to Mars to exchange passengers.  A flyby of Earth would be used to exchange passengers.  While that is dangerous, so is flying a Starship to Mars, except that one includes more trouble about radiation and perhaps lack of spin gravity.

Here I am trying to get a better grasp of what your concerns about spin are.

Done.

Last edited by Void (2023-01-26 09:59:58)


End smile

Offline

#11 2024-10-12 08:35:49

tahanson43206
Moderator
Registered: 2018-04-27
Posts: 19,163

Re: A Mars cycler (or Earth–Mars cycler) is a kind of space trajectory

Rather than start a new topic for navigation of an Aldrin Cycler, I decided to bring this topic back into  view.

The subject of cyclers has reappeared in October of 2024.

It has been known since papers were first published on this subject, that active management of the flight is required, due to the perturbations that will inevitably occur as the Sun, the Earth and Mars all pull on  the cycler as it follows it's path.

In a recent post in another topic, Void suggested use of solar panels and solar sails to help with navigation.

This topic is available if anyone in the active membership would care to investigate what it will take to keep an Aldrin Cycler on course.

It has been pointed out by Calliban that a cycler could be operated without active course management, but the result would be an orbit that has less and less value over time.

This topic is available if anyone would care to study navigation requirements for this particular orbit type.

(th)

Offline

#12 2024-10-12 08:45:58

tahanson43206
Moderator
Registered: 2018-04-27
Posts: 19,163

Re: A Mars cycler (or Earth–Mars cycler) is a kind of space trajectory

I asked Google about studies that might cover the Earth-Mars cycler concept, and it tossed in a NASA study about lunar cyclers.

https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/202 … istics.pdf

While this study is not about the Mars case,  it ** does ** show images of a variety of possible cycler patterns that might have value in the case of Lunar expeditions.

(th)

Offline

#13 2024-10-12 08:47:28

tahanson43206
Moderator
Registered: 2018-04-27
Posts: 19,163

Re: A Mars cycler (or Earth–Mars cycler) is a kind of space trajectory

Here is a set of snippets collected by Google when asked about Aldrin Cyclers...

Earth-Mars cyclers for a sustainable human exploration of ...

ScienceDirect.com
·
https://www.sciencedirect.com › science › article › abs › pii
by S Pelle · 2019 · Cited by 14 — One of the most important contributes was given by Buzz Aldrin, who theorized the use of particular kind of orbits, called cycler orbits, as baseline for an ...

Aldrin's Cyclers / Interplanetary transportation / New Mars ...

newmars.com
·
http://newmars.com › Index › Interplanetary transportation
Mar 25, 2005 — This orbit allows a return to Earth for about 1.6 km/sec (it takes about 5.4 km/sec to reach from the Martian surface). Since it has a very high ...

Aldrin Mars Cycler

Buzz Aldrin Ventures
·
https://buzzaldrin.com › space-vision › rocket_science › a...
Aldrin's system of cycling spacecraft makes travel to Mars possible using far less propellant than conventional means, with an expected five and a half month ...

(PDF) A Low-Thrust Version of the Aldrin Cycler

ResearchGate
·
https://www.researchgate.net › publication › 267241987...
In this paper we seek a low-thrust version of a cycler orbit between Earth and Mars known as the Aldrin cycler. The principal goal is to design trajectories ...

Earth-Mars cyclers for a sustainable human exploration of Mars

Politecnico di Torino
·
https://iris.polito.it › retrieve › handle
PDF
The most famous and studied class is 1L1 (i.e. Aldrin's cycler) and [3] presents a deep study on it. ... Aldrin, Cycler orbit between Earth and Mars, Journal of ...

A Low-Thrust Version of the Aldrin Cycler

Aerospace Research Central
·
https://arc.aiaa.org › doi › pdfplus
In this paper we seek a low-thrust version of a cycler orbit between Earth and Mars known as the Aldrin cycler. The principal goal is to design trajectories ...


The Martian Express

Damn Interesting
·
https://www.damninteresting.com › the-martian-express
In 1985, however, Dr Aldrin reasoned that there must be trajectories which swing by Earth and Mars every twenty-six months or so. This interval corresponds to ...

A Primer on Cislunar Space - Air Force Research Laboratory

Air Force Research Laboratory (.mil)
·
https://www.afrl.af.mil › Portals › Documents
PDF
Jun 22, 2021 — Cycler and horseshoe orbits are also possible and have been proposed for supply and other missions (see Figure 6) [19]. It should be noted that, ...

Mars cycler

Wikipedia
·
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Mars_cycler
The Aldrin cycler is an example of a Mars cycler. A Mars cycler is an elliptical orbit (green) that crosses the orbits of Earth (blue) and Mars (red), and ...

(th)

Offline

#14 2024-10-12 09:21:40

GW Johnson
Member
From: McGregor, Texas USA
Registered: 2011-12-04
Posts: 5,769
Website

Re: A Mars cycler (or Earth–Mars cycler) is a kind of space trajectory

I retrieved the Wikipedia article about Mars cyclers using the posted link.  Thanks.  I cannot yet say I understand how this works.  It does not look like much of a dV savings,  except that you don't have to launch the large cycler hab but once. The dV's to get on at Earth,  and particularly off at Mars,  look to be rather large,  but the vehicles for those functions can be much smaller. 

GW


GW Johnson
McGregor,  Texas

"There is nothing as expensive as a dead crew,  especially one dead from a bad management decision"

Offline

#15 2024-10-12 09:58:49

tahanson43206
Moderator
Registered: 2018-04-27
Posts: 19,163

Re: A Mars cycler (or Earth–Mars cycler) is a kind of space trajectory

For GW Johnson re #14

Thanks for pulling the Wikipedia article.

Something to keep in mind is that the cost of a trip to Mars will be paid by wealthy individuals (or by groups supporting individuals) by trading something of value for the safe and comfortable journey to and from Mars.

The company that arranges the trip is going to be looking for the least costly way to achieve the customer objectives, but at NO time will the customer be bothered with details of dV or propellant mass or any other details that are of great interest to this forum.

There will be more than one company engaged in this business activity, and each will achieve greater success than the others in some niche, but the customer will ultimately vote on the best experience.

I hereby invite RobertDyck, in particular, to adapt his rotating habitats to the Cycler trade.  If you decide to take up this opportunity, please forget about your hapless stowage class victims, and instead focus on the needs and expectations of the uber-wealthy who will pay for a ticket on one of these vessels.

(th)

Offline

#16 2024-10-13 00:31:46

Calliban
Member
From: Northern England, UK
Registered: 2019-08-18
Posts: 3,768

Re: A Mars cycler (or Earth–Mars cycler) is a kind of space trajectory

This asteroid has an orbit that could make it useful for cycler applications.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/(308635)_2005_YU55

A minimum ISRU use for these bodies (assuming we can mine them) would be to use raw regolith material as cosmic ray shielding.  If the material can be used to fill some kind of polymer bag around habitat modules, then we have a shielding solution.


"Plan and prepare for every possibility, and you will never act. It is nobler to have courage as we stumble into half the things we fear than to analyse every possible obstacle and begin nothing. Great things are achieved by embracing great dangers."

Offline

#17 2024-10-13 06:26:47

tahanson43206
Moderator
Registered: 2018-04-27
Posts: 19,163

Re: A Mars cycler (or Earth–Mars cycler) is a kind of space trajectory

For Calliban re #16

Thank you for finding and posting the article about 2005_YU55.

The Wikipedia article includes a section that explains why active management of the orbit of a cycler is needed.

The encounter with Venus in 2029 will determine how close the asteroid will come to Earth in 2041.

Void's suggestion of use of solar sails or solar panels to influence the orbit could be put into effect when the asteroid visits Earth in 2041.

***
Your over all suggestion (as I understand it) of harvesting material from an asteroid that already follows a path that a purpose-built cycler might follow sure does seem appropriate, since all of the material could be used to build the cycler, even if much of the material is used for radiation shielding.

(th)

Offline

#18 2024-10-13 09:52:48

tahanson43206
Moderator
Registered: 2018-04-27
Posts: 19,163

Re: A Mars cycler (or Earth–Mars cycler) is a kind of space trajectory

For all...

The animation at the link below was done in 2008.... it shows the 174 day flight between Earth and Mars.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCVfUlFZQ4U

I would expect that course adjustment burns will be needed at both Earth and Mars.

GW Johnson estimated (by email) that a dV change of 500 meters per second over no more than 48 hours would be needed to keep the cycler on track.

Perturbations will occur when the cycler passes by the planets, and the Sun's gravitational field needs to be factored into planning for course adjustments.

(th)

Offline

#19 2024-10-13 22:22:41

tahanson43206
Moderator
Registered: 2018-04-27
Posts: 19,163

Re: A Mars cycler (or Earth–Mars cycler) is a kind of space trajectory

This post is about the interesting problem of navigation of a cycler, as a follow on to Post #18

An influence on this post is input (via email) from GW Johnson, indicating that a velocity change of as much as 500 meters per second, spread over 48 hours, might be required at critical moments in the orbit of a cycler.

If the cycler is a massive vessel with two or more rotating habitats, power and propulsion components, life support features including supplies, and massive radiation protection  systems, then the propulsion system needed to deliver that 500 m/s dV must be massive as well.

In other topics, Void has reminded us of the value of solar panels to collect energy while the vessel is in extended flight between Earth/Mars transits.

The energy collected during those extended intervals can be expended for the all-important dV changes at encounters with the Earth and Mars.

A consideration for the Navigator is determining the course change needed as the vessel passes by the Earth or Mars.

The reference I am using for this part of the post is "Planetary Spacecraft Navigation" by James Miller.

In this book, Mr. Miller describes how navigators collected position data and movement data from spacecraft in far flung parts of the Solar System, in order to feed that data into the software that performed the actual computations to determine what course changes were needed.

From the numerous detailed history of various missions, I deduce that the expertise exists (or existed) to enable success, along with the radio ranging equipment and other observing equipment (optical) needed to allow precise knowledge of the current movement of each probe.

It seems to me that a cycler should contain within itself the radio and optical information collection equipment needed for precise navigation, because Earth based facilities may not be available when critical decisions must be made.

On the ** other ** hand, as long as Earth based facilities are available, I would expect the Cycler crew to take advantage of the opportunity to validate their computations.

(th)

Offline

#20 2024-10-13 23:42:17

kbd512
Administrator
Registered: 2015-01-02
Posts: 7,805

Re: A Mars cycler (or Earth–Mars cycler) is a kind of space trajectory

A Mars Cycler Architecture Utilizing Low-Thrust Propulsion - G. A. Rauwolf and A. L. Friedlander Science Applications International Corporation; K. T. Nock, Global Aerospace Corporation

The "Astrotel Architecture Scenario" hits up the Earth, Mars, Phobos, and the moon.

Cycler orbits are resonant or near resonant trajectories between celestial bodies. Cyclers can be designed to enable sustained human interplanetary transportation through regular encounters with Earth and the target planet or between Earth and the Moon. Mars cycler concepts were first presented in the 1960s. In particular, Hollister produced several papers discussing his “Castles in Space” concept and
resonant orbits between Earth and Mars. Several more interplanetary cycler orbit concepts have been developed over the last two decades to support sustained Mars operations. Niehoff’s Versatile International Station for Interplanetary Transport (VISIT) orbits, developed in the 1980s, offered a smaller cycling spaceships’ propellant requirement and relatively low planet encounter velocities, but had irregular encounter times and relatively long transit times. The Aldrin Cyclers (or Up and Down Escalator Orbits), which were also developed in the 1980s, offered regular encounters and short transit times at the expense of much higher planetary encounter velocities. The Semi-cyclers, which were developed recently, station the Castles in a “loose” orbit at Mars and offer regular encounters with about 6 month transit durations. However, the semi-cyclers require more cycling spaceships than the other options.

Cycler mass performance studies have been performed in the past. In 1986 a study performed by Hoffman, Friedlander, and Nock compared the mass performance of conjunction class Mars missions, Aldrin Cyclers, and VISIT cyclers. Two key findings from that study highlight the differences between these cycler orbits. The required encounter velocity magnitudes of the VISIT orbits were much closer to what is seen in conjunction class missions than the changes required for Aldrin orbits. Aldrin encounter velocity magnitudes are as large as 11.9 km/s. This greatly impacts the design and mass of the taxi vehicle that is required to transport crew between planetary spaceports and cycling spaceships. However, the Aldrin orbit’s greatest asset is the relatively common transit opportunities of short duration. Over a 15-year cycle, the Aldrin Cycler enables 7 complete transport opportunities while the VISIT Cycler only enables 3 transit opportunities and the conjunction class studied only offered 3.5 opportunities. Clearly, at some cost of additional propellant, the most reliable transport to and from Mars is the Aldrin Cycler.

A FREE-RETURN EARTH-MOON CYCLER ORBIT FOR AN INTERPLANETARY CRUISE SHIP - Anthony L. Genova and Buzz Aldrin

CIRCUMLUNAR FREE-RETURN CYCLER ORBITS FOR A MANNED EARTH-MOON SPACE STATION - Anthony L. Genova and Buzz Aldrin

Offline

#21 2024-10-15 07:39:04

tahanson43206
Moderator
Registered: 2018-04-27
Posts: 19,163

Re: A Mars cycler (or Earth–Mars cycler) is a kind of space trajectory

For kbd512 re 20

Thanks for the multiple links provided in #20

I brought the link below over to the topic, before realizing you may have already posted it.

It appears this paper is different from the ones posted in #20.

https://arc.aiaa.org/doi/abs/10.2514/6.2002-4421

The above is a study to see if a constant propulsion method might keep the cycler on course.

Another objective of the study was to see if the fly-by velocity might be reduced.

A Low-Thrust Version of the Aldrin Cycler
K Chen, T McConaghy, Masataka Okutsu and James Longuski
Session: ASC-1: Earth-Mars Cycler Trajectories
Published Online:25 Jun 2012https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2002-4421

( th)

Offline

Board footer

Powered by FluxBB