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Interplanetary Mission Design Handbook: Earth-to-Mars Mission Opportunities and Mars-to-Earth Return Opportunities 2009-2024This paper provides information for trajectory designers and mission planners to determine Earth-Mars and Mars-Earth mission opportunities for the years 2009-2024. These studies were performed in support of a human Mars mission scenario that will consist of two cargo launches followed by a piloted mission during the next opportunity approximately 2 years later. "Porkchop" plots defining all of these mission opportunities are provided which include departure energy, departure excess speed, departure declination arrival excess speed, and arrival declinations for the mission space surrounding each opportunity. These plots are intended to be directly applicable for the human Mars mission scenario described briefly herein. In addition, specific trajectories and several alternate trajectories are recommended for each cargo and piloted opportunity. Finally, additional studies were performed to evaluate the effect of various thrust-to-weight ratios on gravity losses and total time-of-flight tradeoff, and the resultant propellant savings and are briefly summarized.
Document ID
19980210557
Acquisition Source
Marshall Space Flight Center
Document Type
Technical Memorandum (TM)
Authors
George, L. E. (Air Force Academy CO United States)
Kos, L. D. (NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL United States)
Date Acquired
September 6, 2013
Publication Date
July 1, 1998
Subject Category
Astrodynamics
Report/Patent Number
M-881
NAS 1.15:208533
NASA/TM-1998-208533
Report Number: M-881
Report Number: NAS 1.15:208533
Report Number: NASA/TM-1998-208533
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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