Flight Question Suitable Mars Launcher/Spacecraft?

[Relayer91]

Hi guys,

I'm planning to do a manned Mars mission, with a launch year of 2028. I'm trying to find some suitable vehicles with which to undertake this mission, taking into account the large amount of Δv required.

I've attached porkchop plots for my planned launch dates from Earth and Mars. I'd appreciate it if someone had a look at my plan and checked that it appears to be 'okay'.

TMI burn will be on MJD 62116 (11/12/2028), arriving at MJD 62338 (21/07/2029). C3 = 9.026 Km²/s².

TEI burn will take place on MJD 62806 (01/11/2030), arriving at MJD 63054 (07/07/2031). C3 = 5.788 Km²/s².

Earth - Mars Transfer


Mars - Earth Transfer


The mission objective will be to set down a lander, habitat module and rover on the surface of Mars (exact landing site TBD), operate for approx 1 year 3 months, and return to Earth.

I want to use relatively realistic (near future) technology, so no DGs, XRs, Arrows etc. So, I need - a spacecraft able to perform TMI and TEI burns without refueling, a lander, rover, and some form of hab module. And of course, a launch vehicle capable of getting all of that into LEO (If need be, I can launch the payload over multiple launches and RV them in LEO.)

 

[PhantomCruiser]

There is a "Mars for Less" addon at Orbithangar. I had it for Orbiter '06 and had fun with it. I haven't tried it out in O'10 though.

[ame="http://www.orbithangar.com/searchid.php?ID=3248"]Mars For Less V1.6[/ame]
and...
[ame="http://www.orbithangar.com/searchid.php?ID=3545"]Mars for Less extra[/ame]

Might be worth a shot?

 

[Capt_hensley]

So real, or near real, definitely does not exist right now. But there is the concept system that uses a Vasimr drive, See OHM

[ame="http://www.orbithangar.com/searchid.php?ID=2185"]VASIMR[/ame]
[ame="http://www.orbithangar.com/searchid.php?ID=3212"]USS Bekuo VASIMR v.1.01[/ame].

To the best of my research this is the nearest, "Real" tech we have. Nobody (other countries) comes close. Now this system and its mission is supposed to be <1.5 years long total, So if you really want to stay longer you should do more research. I'll bet the shorter the stay, the better the mission.

Of course I could be wrong, but I calculate it's a slim chance.

The predecessor to this mission is the Ares system with the now "MPCV" formerly CEV, and the canceled Altair lander to the moon, to develop the tech you're looking for to go to Mars.

I'm developing the Gateway station, which is supposed to provide for the construction of the MARS vehicles in GEO. However I have not fully developed the MARS vehicles for this add-on. I was hoping someone else would do just that, and have them compatible with my station and many other add-ons.

The LVs that are likely going to be used will be something like the Space-X Falcon XX, Ariane-6, and the ULA Heavy launchers from the Delta and Atlas lines. All of these are only proposal systems.

Edit: Interorbital systems has some interesting looking stuff for the Lunar X-Prize competition.
http://www.interorbital.com/Lunar Sample Return_1.htm
View this as remote potential only...

Edit 2: This LV is also proposed but has the potential for SHLV and assembly on orbit of MARS vessels. I don't like the smell of it because it's a NASA project and with the recent history of canceling the constellation project who knows how stable the project is. It remains only marginally funded.
[ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Launch_System"]Space Launch System - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame]