The Journey to Mars

(Source: nasa.gov)

Above is a recently released infographic laying out NASA's plan to get humans to Mars. It is a sign that NASA has been slightly ramping up its PR efforts to get the public interested in a human mission to Mars. This image emphasizes the "flexible" approach of the SLS program while emphasizing that eventually goal is in fact Mars. Based on this graphic NASA's approach is a long multi-step process. Rather than focusing on building a spacecraft with the sole purpose of a manned mission to Mars, they are developing the different components necessary to get us to that point over the years. In the meantime, those components can be used for less costly missions like an asteroid redirect mission and a trip back to the Moon. First, they want to build a heavy lift launcher, the SLS which is already underway. At the moment this is where most of NASA funding and effort is being channeled. Without an adequate launcher none of the other crew-transport vehicles necessary will be useful. Next, is the testing of the Orion capsule, the vehicle that will ride atop the SLS into orbit. While NASA likes to emphasize the importance of the Orion capsule in its mission to Mars, it is important to note that the Orion is not an adequate spacecraft for transporting crew to Mars. While it is the largest capsule Nasa has ever built, it is still relatively small; just over 5 meters in diameter, meaning that astronauts could not live in it for more that a few weeks at most. NASA is taking this indirect approach  to best make use of it's limiting 18 billion dollar budget. Next, the picture lists a "In-space habitat/Mars transport spacecraft". For me this is the most interesting feature of the graphic, because it represents the missing piece in NASA's venture to Mars. Until this transport spacecraft is assembled and testing there is no guarantee that NASA has the capability of getting humans to Mars. This is mainly because Nasa is still considering options when it comes to designing this spacecraft. Bigelow Aerospace is a private company who has designed inflatable habitats for use as a space habitat. These habitats have the benefit of being both expandable and lighter than a conventional habitat module. This module will be launched and docked with the space station January 2016 to test it's capabilities. While it's not certain wether NASA will use the module in it's eventual Mars mission, this suggests that NASA is willing to incorporate modules designed and built by private space companies into it's Mars transit habitat. NASA has awarded four companies; Boeing, Orbital ATK, Lockheed Martin, and Boeing, contracts to develop transit habitats. The rise of the commercial aerospace industry could be the key in breaking the cycle of Mars program's being cancelled. By developing technology through these established companies, NASA does not have to pay out of pocket for all the expenses of the spacecraft development. In my next post I'll write more about the development of transit habitats, and the way that SpaceX hopes to take a much different approach to space transit by making their architecture fully reusable.

References:

Gebhardt, Chris. "NASA Reviews Progress of Habitat Development for Deep-space Exploration." NASA Reviews Progress of Habitat Development for Deep-space Exploration. Web. 2 Dec. 2015.