| Title: | Space transportation systems, launch systems, and propulsion for the space exploration initiative : results from Project Outreach |
| Authors: | T. Garber, Author ; Air Force (United States), Issuing body ; National Aeronautics and Space Administration., Issuing body |
| Material Type: | eBook |
| Publisher: | Santa Monica, CA : The RAND Corporation, 1991 |
| Series: | A Rand note |
| Format: | xix, 192 p. / ill. / 28 cm |
| Bibliography note: | Includes bibliographical references (p. 187-192). |
| Languages: | English |
| Description: | This Note analyzes a number of transportation and propulsion options for Mars exploration missions. For space transportation options, the operational figures of merit that are of interest are (1) initial mass in low Earth orbit (IMLEO) and (2) transit times to and from the destination planet. It is desirable for both these parameters to have low values. Of the space transportation options examined, two approaches are most interesting: split missions, which use cargo spacecraft that follow low-energy trajectories to pre-position in Mars orbit the mass needed for Mars exploration and Earth return; and the use of in-situ propellants, which offer the potential for large reductions in IMLEO. |
| Format : | Open Access |
| Access: | http://www.rand.org/pubs/notes/N3283.html |
| Permalink: | https://isulibrary.isunet.edu/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=8282 |
