The fact sheet adds that a Deimos mission would be much easier and more affordable 'because it postpones the development of difficult technologies needed only for Mars landings, such as nuclear power, lightweight space suits, biological containment to prevent interplanetary contamination, and advanced re-entry systems for landing large spacecraft.'īy staying farther out of the Mars gravity well also would reduce the mission's propulsion requirements. 'Sending astronauts to Deimos will demonstrate key technologies that will be needed for subsequent human Mars landings, such as reliable life-support recycling systems, long-term cryogenic propellant storage, and the biomedical technology to protect astronauts from the effects of microgravity and space radiation,' according to the Lockheed Martin handout. That means astronauts will be afforded the most protection from cosmic radiation, according to the aerospace firm's planners.

Simultaneously, the sun's magnetic field will be at the strongest phase of its 11-year cycle. The best near-term opportunities to send humans toward Mars will be in 20, thanks to orbital mechanics that permit propulsion needs and re-entry speeds to be at their lowest. 'Sending astronauts to Deimos will demonstrate key technologies that will be needed for subsequent human Mars landings,' explains a fact sheet from the company provided to. A result is a proposed mission called Project Red Rocks to explore the outermost moon of Mars, Deimos, as the penultimate step toward setting human foot on the Red Planet. The company near Denver has taken a longing look at its own Orion spacecraft under development and missions beyond low-Earth orbit.

has announced the release of the Report of the Ninth Community Workshop for Achievability and Sustainability of Human Exploration of Mars (AM IX), held on June 14-16, 2022 at The George Washington University in Washington, DC.ĪM IX assembled a diverse, select group of professionals from different fields to identify activities that are required for a comprehensive human and robotic mission strategy that provides the basis for a sustained and growing human presence on Mars starting in the 2030s.įor that to happen, this report looks in human health and performance, Mars science priorities that leverage human presence, operational strategies for transit and surface operations, and technology solutions, many of which can be tested on Earth, in low-Earth orbit, in lunar orbit, or on the surface of the Moon.ĭuring the three-day workshop, as well as virtual meetings over the Summer and fall of 2022, participants developed a summary of recommendations as well as detailed appendices.In response, one idea now percolating within the space engineering community has been scripted by Lockheed Martin Space Systems.

Mars by Leonard David