Sustainable Mars Sample ReturnThe proposed Mars sample return mission will be completed using natural Martian resources for the majority of its operations. The system uses the following technologies: In-Situ Propellant Production (ISPP), a methane-oxygen propelled Mars Ascent Vehicle (MAV), a carbon dioxide powered hopper, and a hydrogen fueled balloon system (large balloons and small weather balloons). The ISPP system will produce the hydrogen, methane, and oxygen using a Sabatier reactor. a water electrolysis cell, water extracted from the Martian surface, and carbon dioxide extracted from the Martian atmosphere. Indigenous hydrogen will fuel the balloon systems and locally-derived methane and oxygen will fuel the MAV for the return of a 50 kg sample to Earth. The ISPP system will have a production cycle of 800 days and the estimated overall mission length is 1355 days from Earth departure to return to low Earth orbit. Combining these advanced technologies will enable the proposed sample return mission to be executed with reduced initial launch mass and thus be more cost efficient. The successful completion of this mission will serve as the next step in the advancement of Mars exploration technology.
Document ID
20110014952
Acquisition Source
Kennedy Space Center
Document Type
Other
Authors
Alston, Christie (Old Dominion Univ. Norfolk, VA, United States)
Hancock, Sean (Old Dominion Univ. Norfolk, VA, United States)
Laub, Joshua (Old Dominion Univ. Norfolk, VA, United States)
Perry, Christopher (Old Dominion Univ. Norfolk, VA, United States)
Ash, Robert (Old Dominion Univ. Norfolk, VA, United States)