Start Date
27-4-1989 3:00 PM
Description
In conjunction with a long-range space programme planning also in Europe ideas exist for planetary exploratory missions, such as for Mars and the necessary infrastructure and technologies, required. Of course, this can only be realized in international cooperation as proposed by NASA with the pathfinder initiative.
Europe has been engaged in a number of unmanned scientific missions, some of them still have to be flown - such as Galileo, Ulysses, and/or Cassini - and further unmanned explorations of Mars will still have to be done as well as experiences to be gained on longer-duration stays of man in space before a manned exploration of Mars can be realized. Also advances in technologies have to be made such as for energy and life support systems, required for such long-duration space missions.
Since Europe already has been engaged in the manned Spacelab programme and a further involvement in the US Space Station programme has been decided - together with European programme in the area of advanced launchers with manned reentry capabilities - it is believed that Europe can also play an adequate role eventually in the pathfinder programme.
In the paper alternatives for an efficient transport to the Moon and/or Mars and the return to Earth will be discussed, showing the logistics for certain assumptions with respect to the evolutionary missions. Some efforts will also be devoted to the various technologies, which will have to be gradually developed and demonstrated, before the actual goal of a manned exploration of Mars can take place with a certain degree of efficiency. It surely will be a big challenge for international cooperation in space in the 21st century.
Paper Session III-B - Potential European Involvement in the US Pathfinder Program
In conjunction with a long-range space programme planning also in Europe ideas exist for planetary exploratory missions, such as for Mars and the necessary infrastructure and technologies, required. Of course, this can only be realized in international cooperation as proposed by NASA with the pathfinder initiative.
Europe has been engaged in a number of unmanned scientific missions, some of them still have to be flown - such as Galileo, Ulysses, and/or Cassini - and further unmanned explorations of Mars will still have to be done as well as experiences to be gained on longer-duration stays of man in space before a manned exploration of Mars can be realized. Also advances in technologies have to be made such as for energy and life support systems, required for such long-duration space missions.
Since Europe already has been engaged in the manned Spacelab programme and a further involvement in the US Space Station programme has been decided - together with European programme in the area of advanced launchers with manned reentry capabilities - it is believed that Europe can also play an adequate role eventually in the pathfinder programme.
In the paper alternatives for an efficient transport to the Moon and/or Mars and the return to Earth will be discussed, showing the logistics for certain assumptions with respect to the evolutionary missions. Some efforts will also be devoted to the various technologies, which will have to be gradually developed and demonstrated, before the actual goal of a manned exploration of Mars can take place with a certain degree of efficiency. It surely will be a big challenge for international cooperation in space in the 21st century.
Comments
Exploration Missions: Lunar and Mars
Session Chairman: Jimmy Underwood, Director of Mission Studies, Office of Exploration, NASA HQ, Washington, D.C.
Session Organizer: Dennis Mathews, Advanced Projects, Technology and Commercialization Office, NASA KSC