S
serak_the_preparer
Guest
scottb50<br />(Member)<br />09/14/02 05:00 PM<br /><br />Three vehicles composed of multiple Modules, ferried to Earth orbit by a Shuttle based simplified vehicle that reaches a minimal orbit, transfers it's Modules to a Space Tug then returns for re-use. Modules are taken to a staging area and linked together in Earth orbit before being boosted to Mars using Space Tugs. Some Tugs return for normal duties and some stay with the vehicle for future use.The Vehicles are braked into Mars orbit, again using Tugs, then split up and reassembled into an orbital base and the surface Modules.<br /><br />Surface Modules are sent to the surface using expendable heat shields and a combination of steerable parachutes and airbags for landing. Once Surface Modules are safely on the surface a Landing Module, using parachutes and landing rockets takes down the first crew who use surface tugs, powered by Hydrogen/Oxygen fuel cells, to retrieve the Modules and assemble a base. Once the base is assembled surface exploration uses the tugs as rovers, actual walking surface missions in suits would be limited to reduce contamination to the station environment. Return would use the Landing Modules with solid boosters attached, brought down in Cargo Modules, to reach minimal Mars orbit where the Module would be recovered, by a Tug, and taken to the orbiting base. Multiple landings would be planned, rotating three or more crews throughout the mission.<br /><br />Fuel would be carried as water, lifted from Earth and used to shield the crew areas during flight. Solar cells produce Oxygen and Hydrogen as needed, for fuel cell operation, and cryogenically storing it using solar provided power for Tug use. On the surface solar panels break down landed water providing environmental Oxygen and powe