Austere Human Missions to Mars
A scaled-down NASA Mars mission concept from 2009.
Austere Human Missions to Mars is a NASA concept from 2009 for a reduced-cost human mission to Mars. It proposes a modified version of Design Reference Architecture (DRA) 5.0, aiming to achieve similar exploration goals with a smaller crew and lower funding. As of 2015, the concept had not been adapted to the Space Launch System that replaced the Constellation program.
Quick Facts
- Year released
- 2009
- Agency
- NASA
- Crew size
- 4
- Launch cadence
- Every four years
- Surface habitat mass
- 52 metric tons
- Pressurized rover power
- 5 kilowatt Stirling radioisotope generator each
Facts from the source article.
Key measures
It uses standardized systems to launch a crew of four every four years, scaled down from DRA 5.0's crew of six. Cost savings come from avoiding high-risk or high-cost technology development and maximizing commonality: a blunt-body entry vehicle without deployable decelerators, aerobraking instead of aerocapture, no liquid hydrogen, standard bipropellant propulsion, radioisotope surface power, and multiple Ares V launchers.
Mission
The mission uses a Crew Exploration Vehicle (Orion class) to lift the crew to Earth orbit, where it docks with a Mars Transit Habitat (TransHab) that supports four crew for up to three years. A Mars descent/ascent vehicle (MDV/MAV) takes the crew from orbit to the surface and back, with a Contingency Consumables Module that can be jettisoned. A Mars surface habitat (SurfHab) and a Surface Power and Logistics Module are transferred in advance. A standardized LOX/LH2 propulsive stage sends the Descent/Ascent Vehicle (DAV), surface habitat, and cargo elements to Mars orbit uncrewed; the DAV aerocaptures into Mars orbit. The surface habitat and cargo likely perform direct entry. The combined DAV allows an abort to orbit. Technologies considered include supersonic retro-propulsion, but the design remains traditional with a large heat shield and retro rockets. The surface habitat may use an inflatable structure and its descent propellant tanks for waste storage. The Power/Logistics lander carries two pressurized rovers (each for two crew) powered by 5 kilowatt Stirling radioisotope generators, plus two mobile generators, consumables, and science equipment. The surface habitat has two 5 kilowatt radioisotope Stirling generators and an ISRU oxygen generator, but unlike DRA 5.0 or Mars Direct, ISRU does not produce propellant for ascent.
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