During a high-level talk on NASA's objectives for human space exploration, we got an early glimpse of what a 30 day crewed mission to the surface of Mars could look like.
It's an exciting prospect that shows the agency's commitment to fulfilling humanity and their dreams of setting foot on the Red Planet for the first time in history.
NASA director of space architectures Kurt Spuds outlined what a mission could look like. The agency envisions a habitat spaceship that uses a hybrid rocket stage that combines chemical and electric power to travel for months.
Two crew would remain in space while two would visit the surface of Mars. The latter would have access to supplies sent to the surface prior to the landing, as well as a fueled up pre-deployed crew ascent vehicle to get them both back into orbit later.
To actually spend up to an Earth month on the desolate Martian surface, the two crew members could live inside a pressurized rover that would provide habitation and allow them to complete scientific objectives as well.
The crew will be deconditioned and will need as much time to adapt to the partial gravity, according to the speaker.
On Earth, gravity is about a third of what it is on Mars.
We want to maximize the science so we allow them to drive around before they become conditioned enough to walk in space suits.
In the not-so-future, missions to Mars could range from 30 days on the surface, which would take just two Earth years to complete, to almost 500 days on the surface, long-stay missions that could take 916 days to complete.
The team concluded that 30 days on the surface was more feasible, given the amount of logistical and costs involved.
NASA wants to use what we learn from exploring the surface of the Moon to spend time on the Martian surface.
The space agency has a lot of work to do before any missions start. The Artemis I mission, an uncrewed trip around the Moon and back, will be the first flight of NASA's new SLS rocket and the first flight of its new Orion spaceship.
NASA is planning to establish a permanent presence on the Moon, the lunar gateway, as a stepping stone to transfer astronauts down to the surface, and eventually develop the transit habitat, a conceptual spaceship meant to house astronauts on their much, much longer journey to Mars.
It could be a long time before we get a better idea of what a crewed journey to the Martian surface would look like.
The space agency is doing its homework, and is now looking for feedback on its ambitious timelines.
Comments are due May 31 on the objectives of moon to Mars.
NASA is Killing its Mars Lander.
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