Specialists from Bauman Moscow State Technical University presented a spacecraft project for an expedition to Mars, designed to reduce travel time and improve crew safety during landing and return to Earth. The project was presented at the Academic Readings on Cosmonautics in memory of Sergei Korolev.
The researchers identified optimal launch windows: February-June 2028 and August-December 2029, and are also considering mission opportunities in 2035, 2041, and 2047. The landing module received an optimized shape for efficient entry into the Martian atmosphere, while the built-in ascent rocket simultaneously serves as an escape system - in the event of an emergency, it can detach and carry the crew away from danger.
When returning to Earth, the spacecraft will enter the atmosphere at a speed of 15 km/s, almost twice the descent speed from the International Space Station. To dissipate entry energy, the engineers proposed equipping the spacecraft with braking blocks. The project does not require the creation of a nuclear engine and relies on existing technologies and modern propulsion systems.
In addition to crewed missions, the concept is planned to be used in unmanned mode to deliver rovers and equipment to Mars, which will make it possible to prepare infrastructure for future bases in advance. According to the scientists, this approach increases the reliability of Martian facilities and creates the possibility of safe launch and landing for both people and equipment.
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