Future Russian Mars Expedition

A joint project with Yuri Kulchitski. This project will be based on the RKK Energia plans for the martian expedition. The project will include a Mars Orbital Ship ( MOK) with 1 large or two small storage modules, 1 or 2 landers, Earth return vehicle and a propulsion stage.

I've bought very usefull book, describing Russian plans for Mars expedition: Pilotiruemaia ekspeditsiia na Mars The information is extremely detailed and usefull! This book is great! It holds everything needed to make the realistic and complete addon.

The Martian manned complex consists of following elements:

• Manned interplanetary spacecraft
• Interplanetary propulsion module
• Mars Lander
• Earth return vehicle

For the each of the elements are considered different variants.

   Manned interplanetary spacecraft:
       

   Interplanetary propulsion module:

        - Solar Array powered space tug with Ion propulsion.
        Maximum power - 15 mW.
        Fuel Type: Xenon
        Fuel mass: 280 mT.
       

        - Solar Array powered space tug with Ion propulsion (chemical rocket assisted).
       

        - Nuclear powered space tug with Ion propulsion and panel radiators.
       

        - Nuclear powered space tug with Ion propulsion and liquid droplet radiators.
        Maximum power - 60 mW (4 reactors).
        Fuel Type: Xenon
        Fuel mass: 580 mT.
       
        Renders from Orbiter model
       
       
       

        - Space tug with bimodal(propulsion/power) reactors.
        Maximum thrust - 4 x 68 kN.
        Fuel Type: LH2
        Fuel mass: 550 mT.
       

   Mars Lander: Many Types of landers was considered.
At first heavier vesion of the Mars lander was choosed - 70 ton lander with disk shaped aeroshell.
The latest plans include 35 ton "Kambala"("Turbot") lander.
       
        Renders from Orbiter model
       
       

   Earth return vehicle (ERV): To shorten overall expedition time, when returning to Earth, ERV with crew onboard will be lauched, when expeditionary spacecraft reached Kislik’s sphere (2.6 Million km from Earth). The ERV using own onboard chemical fuel reserve must reach LEO and dock with orbital station, where the crew will be quarantined. Using of the ERV will shorten expedition for crewmen with 60 days.
Many different types of ERV was considered, including 2 types of specially designed ERV's, modified "Soyuz" spacecraft, "Kliper" and Khrunichev's MPK spacecraft (TKS follow-on).

Pictures:
 

The amount of information is huge, and I cant publish everything. I will regularly add more info, pictures and screenshots, depending of the project readiness.

 

Project status:   In development.

 

Release date:  N.A.

Future development:   N.A.