They could send up rocket to attach to the space station, and then once the Mars rocket is ready, it can be sent unmanned to the space station, with extra solid rockets attached to the sides that have not been fired yet, have the capsule loaded with food and water, and once at the space station, the rocket men going to Mars would get on board, and refill all hydrogen tanks with fuel, then be ready to leave the space station, fire the hydrogen rockets to move away from the space station, then the solid rockets to get up to speed towards Mars. Perhaps meet up with another unmanned craft already in orbit around mars, (or a resupply ship that is 10 days ahead of the manned mission, but moving at a slower rate, so they catch up after about 1 month?) and perhaps meet up with additional craft on the way back home. These can carry the additional supplies to make staying on the planet much more comfortable, and perhaps allow staying there for 10 days without the meet up with the second craft, or extend it to 30 - 45 days based on connecting with the re-supply ship and having more food and fuel available to them.
Remember the trip to the moon, they did not take the whole capsule down to the moon, but a much smaller craft, and then returned to the larger craft to return to earth. Also recall that a B-52 airplane can fly nonstop for 3-4 days, and they did this from 1960 to 1980 over Alaska, 24 hours a day for all those years. They do this by catching up with refueling planes, and carry 4-5 days of food onboard the plane.
Also they do not need to bring the entire Mars capsule back to earth. They could meet up with the space station, and unload the astronauts, then let the Mars space capsule burn up on re-entry, rather than make it so heavy and heat resistant. This will reduce the capsule weight significantly. Any left over fuel (and food) could be transferred to the space station, topping off all it's fuel tanks, and food reserves.
It would be easy to make hydrogen and oxygen in space, using a 50 KW solar panel system dedicated for that use. All you need is water, electricity, and a fuel cell.
By splitting up the fuel and food crafts from the manned crafts, each would require less fuel to bring each ton of material into space, and get it accelerated towards Mars. The unmanned refueling craft could be really light compared to it's load, because it would not require any life support on the refueling ship.
Remember the trip to the moon, they did not take the whole capsule down to the moon, but a much smaller craft, and then returned to the larger craft to return to earth. Also recall that a B-52 airplane can fly nonstop for 3-4 days, and they did this from 1960 to 1980 over Alaska, 24 hours a day for all those years. They do this by catching up with refueling planes, and carry 4-5 days of food onboard the plane.
Also they do not need to bring the entire Mars capsule back to earth. They could meet up with the space station, and unload the astronauts, then let the Mars space capsule burn up on re-entry, rather than make it so heavy and heat resistant. This will reduce the capsule weight significantly. Any left over fuel (and food) could be transferred to the space station, topping off all it's fuel tanks, and food reserves.
It would be easy to make hydrogen and oxygen in space, using a 50 KW solar panel system dedicated for that use. All you need is water, electricity, and a fuel cell.
By splitting up the fuel and food crafts from the manned crafts, each would require less fuel to bring each ton of material into space, and get it accelerated towards Mars. The unmanned refueling craft could be really light compared to it's load, because it would not require any life support on the refueling ship.
Meeting up with the space station on the way back home, they could attach the solar panels to the space station, and perhaps expand the space station with the Mars capsule attached to a port on one side. This will expand their storage of oxygen, give them additional fuel cells, and battery capacity. Not to mention a "Private room" when the astronauts just want to get away from the others for a while.
During a emergency in the main space station, such as a ammonia leak, they could evacuate to the Mars Module, and stay there awaiting help, or put on space suits to take care of the problem in the space station.
They might also have excess fuel and food supplies left over from the Mars Mission. It would not make sense to return a ton of supplies back to earth, when it costs so much to lift each pound of food to the space station.
During a emergency in the main space station, such as a ammonia leak, they could evacuate to the Mars Module, and stay there awaiting help, or put on space suits to take care of the problem in the space station.
They might also have excess fuel and food supplies left over from the Mars Mission. It would not make sense to return a ton of supplies back to earth, when it costs so much to lift each pound of food to the space station.
Was there a airlock? Or did they release all the air from the lander module?
From what I recall, there where three people and one stayed in orbit around the moon, while the other two got into a smaller craft to land on the moon, then after the mission they returned to the other ship, and then returned to earth.
With a much larger capsule on Mars, they would lose a lot of air each time they do a space walk. But with a airlock, they can save a lot of air, by just having one person in the airlock, and go down the ladder, then the next one would enter the airlock, and go out too.
What about a car to drive around on Mars? They took one to the moon. . Otherwise they can only walk about 1,000 feet from the lander, with a car they can travel over a mile.
From what I recall, there where three people and one stayed in orbit around the moon, while the other two got into a smaller craft to land on the moon, then after the mission they returned to the other ship, and then returned to earth.
With a much larger capsule on Mars, they would lose a lot of air each time they do a space walk. But with a airlock, they can save a lot of air, by just having one person in the airlock, and go down the ladder, then the next one would enter the airlock, and go out too.
What about a car to drive around on Mars? They took one to the moon. . Otherwise they can only walk about 1,000 feet from the lander, with a car they can travel over a mile.
Will they bring back samples of the air on Mars?
Remember stories of WW2 submarines? They would store cases of food in the walkways, and as they eat the food, they start to see the floors, and know that the 60 day mission was getting close to the end.
If they have a lander module, then all the food can be packed into that area, while leaving the main capsule open and able to walk around a bit. IT would be very boring to be stuck in one seat for 90+ days.
What to do with all the plastic food storage containers? There is a way to transform plastic into diesel fuel. Or perhaps find a way to incinerate the plastic in some sort of a furnace, so they can provide heat for the module.
If they will meet up with the Space station before going to Mars, then a second module can be attached to the side or top of the main module, in a way that would not be practical while leaving earth orbit, but because they will be in space, it will not matter if the module is on the side at a port of some sort. Then all the food supplies could be placed in the second module, and it can be packed tightly with food. Leaving more space in the main module, for the astronauts to move around freely.
The Mars Lander unit could use a small solid booster rocket, that way it would save liquid fuel when lifting off. This 50 - 100 pound solid rocket would be able to make up about 50% of the lift to get back into Mars orbit, on the way back to the main module then return to earth.
If they have a lander module, then all the food can be packed into that area, while leaving the main capsule open and able to walk around a bit. IT would be very boring to be stuck in one seat for 90+ days.
What to do with all the plastic food storage containers? There is a way to transform plastic into diesel fuel. Or perhaps find a way to incinerate the plastic in some sort of a furnace, so they can provide heat for the module.
If they will meet up with the Space station before going to Mars, then a second module can be attached to the side or top of the main module, in a way that would not be practical while leaving earth orbit, but because they will be in space, it will not matter if the module is on the side at a port of some sort. Then all the food supplies could be placed in the second module, and it can be packed tightly with food. Leaving more space in the main module, for the astronauts to move around freely.
The Mars Lander unit could use a small solid booster rocket, that way it would save liquid fuel when lifting off. This 50 - 100 pound solid rocket would be able to make up about 50% of the lift to get back into Mars orbit, on the way back to the main module then return to earth.
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