Design and Analysis of an Orbital Logistics Architecture for Sustainable Human Exploration of Mars

Rachana Agrawal, Purdue University

Abstract

The long-term sustainable human exploration of Mars is approached via the design and analysis of an orbital logistics architecture as part of a robust logistics infrastructure. In this investigation, we analyze the advantages of an orbital logistics node around Mars (which we call Mars Spacedock), which plays a crucial role to support transport of vehicles and resupply of cargo to a base on the surface. The Mars Spacedock serves as one of the many logistics nodes at different locations between Earth and Mars that support continuous movement of crew and cargo to and from Mars for the next several decades. The need of multiple nodes at strategic locations is supported by lessons learned from terrestrial analogs of complex missions such as military, Antarctic exploration, and the International Space Station. The Mars Spacedock is envisaged to have at least aggregation, refueling, resupply and refurbishing capabilities. The stationing orbit of the Spacedock is one of the primary design drivers in determining the associated propellant requirement and surface accessibility. The stationing orbit is selected from a range of Mars orbits such that it best accommodates (∆V cost being a major determinant) arrival from a variety of interplanetary approaches, capture into Mars orbit, deorbit and entry into Mars atmosphere, surface accessibility, launch from surface to stationing orbit, and departure to Earth. A variety of mission types are evaluated over a 15- year cycle as follows: long-stay crewed missions, short-stay crewed missions, cargo transfer missions on low-thrust and ballistic trajectories. The perturbation of orbits due to aspherical gravity of Mars and timeline of missions are found to be crucial factors in selection of orbit. The Low Mars Orbits are found to be comparable to the Highly Elliptical Mars Orbits in total ∆V requirement. The optimal stationing orbit is selected by minimizing a combination of mission propellant mass and transfer time for a given set of mission parameters. The sensitivity of the optimal solution to various mission parameters (landing site latitude, propellant, refueling capability in Mars orbit, deorbit method, mission type, and frequency of different mission types) is assessed. The analysis on orbit considerations aids mission designers in selecting suitable stationing orbit for a set of mission parameters and assessing the long term impacts of mission design choices on the logistics requirements. Finally, the viability of the Spacedock is analyzed in terms of landing site accessibility, station-keeping requirement, and initial mass in cislunar staging orbit. Here also Low Mars Orbits have accessibility over a wider range of landing sites compared to 1 sol orbit. The station-keeping requirement is found to be insignificant over the scale of the missions. The Spacedock refuel capability leads to lower mass in cislunar staging orbit, about 60 Mg lower per crewed MTV mission, and compensates for the higher capture and departure ∆Vs.A logistics architecture stationed in a strategic orbit around Mars would enable long term sustainable operations for human exploration, reduce the logistics footprint of the exploration campaigns, and aid in transitioning to an eventual permanent presence on Mars.

Degree

Ph.D.

Advisors

Saikia, Purdue University.

Subject Area

Astronomy|Operations research|Planetology|Sustainability|Transportation

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