(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2007-06)
Thompson, Robert W.; Cliatt, Larry; Gruber, Chris; Steinfeldt, Bradley A.; Sebastin, Tommy; Wilson, Jamie
Long-term human missions to Mars will require the
supply of consumables such as food, water, and oxygen.
A sustained campaign of Mars exploration, in which
astronauts are on the surface for months to years at a
time, may require regular supply missions.
In this paper, a systems study for an entry vehicle for
human resupply cargo delivery to Mars is outlined.
The design objectives for such a mission might be to
deliver 20 metric tons (MT) of human resupply cargo
to the surface of Mars at 0 km altitude (MOLA
reference) with a landed accuracy of less than 1 km.
The system-level trade studies and configurations
considered are discussed and a baseline configuration
that satisfies the design objectives is presented. Vehicle
analysis includes subsystem mass estimation,
propulsion sizing, trajectory simulation, aerothermal
analysis, thermal protection system sizing, and cost
estimation. Uncertainty analysis is performed through
Monte Carlo simulation, and the vehicle is sized to
achieve the mission requirements to at least a 99%
confidence. Uncertainty in entry parameters is
modeled. Additionally, technological development
required to enable such a mission is discussed.