Engineering topics

Zubrin, Robert

Publications and source records attributed to Zubrin, Robert.

20 records · Page 2

NASA NTRS1991

Humans to Mars in 1999

A set of vehicle designs and a mission architecture that was developed to send humans to Mars in the 1990's are discussed. Launching, landing, a 500 day stay on Mars, and a return to Earth are discussed. The plan is not merely a one shot expedition, but puts into place immediately an economical method of Earth-Mars transportation, real surface exploratory mobility, and significant base capabilities that can rapidly evolve into a mostly self-sufficient Mars colony. Since the plans call for the use of a combination of off the shelf technology and new technology that can be easily developed, the authors argue that there is no reason to postpone the exploration of Mars until several decades after a lunar base build-up.

Zubrin, Robert↗

NASA NTRS1991

Nuclear rocket using indigenous Martian fuel NIMF

In the 1960's, Nuclear Thermal Rocket (NTR) engines were developed and ground tested capable of yielding isp of up to 900 s at thrusts up to 250 klb. Numerous trade studies have shown that such traditional hydrogen fueled NTR engines can reduce the inertial mass low earth orbit (IMLEO) of lunar missions by 35 percent and Mars missions by 50 to 65 percent. The same personnel and facilities used to revive the hydrogen NTR can also be used to develop NTR engines capable of using indigenous Martian volatiles as propellant. By putting this capacity of the NTR to work in a Mars descent/acent vehicle, the Nuclear rocket using Indigenous Martian Fuel (NIMF) can greatly reduce the IMLEO of a manned Mars mission, while giving the mission unlimited planetwide mobility.

Zubrin, Robert↗