MARS | Technology

Example Earth-Mars and Mars-Earth trajectories for a conjunction-class human Mars mission.
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Mission design options for human Mars missions

1Paul D. Wooster, 2Robert D. Braun, 1Jaemyung Ahn and 2Zachary R. Putnam

1Dept. of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
2School of Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA

Mars 3, 12-28, 2007 | doi:10.1555/mars.2007.0002
Received February 7, 2007 | Accepted May 24, 2007 | Published August 16, 2007

Trajectory options for conjunction-class human Mars missions are examined, including crewed Earth-Mars trajectories with the option for abort to Earth, with the intent of serving as a resource for mission designers. An analysis of the impact of Earth and Mars entry velocities on aeroassist systems is included, and constraints are suggested for interplanetary trajectories based upon aeroassist system capabilities.

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MARS | Technology

Mission design options for human Mars missions

1Paul D. Wooster, 2Robert D. Braun, 1Jaemyung Ahn and 2Zachary R. Putnam

1Dept. of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA 2School of Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA

1Dept. of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
2School of Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA