If I am correct the mission will be done like this:
- A nuclear power plant will be sent first. It will land, initiate communications, and then go into standby mode.
- A consumables factory will then be sent, ahead of the manned vehicle, with a seed quantity of hydrogen. It will land, hook up to the nuclear power plant, and begin condensing water, oxygen, nitrogen, and methane out of the martian atmosphere. These supplies will be stored in tanks. It will take about 1 year, but when those tanks are full the manned mission will launch from Earth.
- The manned spacecraft will carry a greenhouse and crew quarters. The manned mission will arrive at mars months later, land 1/2-km from the consumables factory, hook up pipes, and start drawing off them. They should have enough for 500 days on the surface. Then they get down to business.
- After 500 days consumables will run low, except rocket fuel which is used to lift off for the return trip to earth. Some consumables will remain for the next manned lander....
The whole point of this in my mind is to establish a re-usable base on Mars. We all complain that we haven't returned to the Moon. Well wouldn't it be great if we sent enough tools & equipment to mars to keep it going & expanding for decades to come!!!
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Re: Yes and no