You are not logged in.
Many of the immediate problems with starting human exploration of Mars vanish if the requirement to return crew is seriously relaxed. A series of single Ares V/EDS vehicles would be used to deliver standard landers directly to the surface of Mars. These landers transport habitation, power and cargo modules that enable a basic infrastructure to be quickly established. Once the initial modules have been checked out, the first crew would arrive using a lander with a crew module. There would be no time limit on their stay. Given the constraints of the Ares V, the crew module might be limited to four people. Every 26 months additional crew would arrive expanding human presence. A steady stream of slower cargo modules would support and expand the outpost. Eventually a return infrastructure would be established, probably based on ISRU to fuel surface to orbit and Earth return vehicles for those wishing to die on their homeworld.
Potential show stoppers:
o Biological limits to survival on Mars
o Lander technology, lander modules would need to accurately deliver 10+ mT to the surface
o Lack of nerve and money (but far less than short stay missions)
[color=darkred]Let's go to Mars and far beyond - triple NASA's budget ![/color] [url=irc://freenode#space] #space channel !! [/url] [url=http://www.youtube.com/user/c1cl0ps] - videos !!![/url]
Offline
Like button can go here