Date set for Mars sample mission.

[Notebook]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7500371.stm

That Mars Orbit Rendevous could be tricky...


N.

 

[tl8]

I use Lola MFD for my rendevous

 

[Notebook]

Anything that works:;

I wonder if any ATV rendevous/docking technology would be used?

N.

 

[Urwumpe]

Anything that works:;

I wonder if any ATV rendevous/docking technology would be used?

N.

At least the optical sensors could have good chances to be included, as they are, other than the remaining parts of the docking system, made in Europe.

A very ambitious project, especially when looking at the costs - that are the same costs that would be needed for making the ATV a complete manned spacecraft.

 

[Notebook]

Well, they could kill two birds with one stone, and incorporate the ATV as the Earth return vehicle, and if you do that, you may as well make it into a manned Mars mission...Just need a lander/ascender.

N.

 

[Kyle]

One thing, how will the Lander Enter into the Marstian Atmosphere?

 

[Notebook]

Hopefully not as this:-

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beagle_2

N.

 

[Kyle]

Someone make an Orbiter Addon for this

 

[silent_protagonist]

Hmm, I'm noticing a conspicuous lack of any mention of ISRU in the article. This is really unfortunate, since MSR was supposed to be the technology demonstrator to prove that ISRU was viable for manned exploration, not to mention making MSR itself a lot cheaper. (Assuming the BBC hasn't simply forgotten to mention one of the key aspects of the mission, which is entirely possible )