Unit 3. Part 2.

Technical Report Writing assignment

Juan Luis Rodrguez Serna

Option 2
Summary
NASA is studying technologies and capabilities of a Mars ascent vehicle (MAV). The MAV
would therefore arrive on the planet as a part of an integrated Mars descent module.
MAV will have a limit use for 24-44 hours.
The MAV will require a larger propulsion system to meet the higher velocity
requirements of the Mars ascent trajectory. MAV ascent velocity would be 5,274 m/s. It
will weight 39,075 kg which 29,650 kg of propellant. To save mass for the lander the
MAV will be send without oxygen propellant. A fission power source, delivered earlier,
would provide power for oxygen production.
The MAV will be a two stage vehicle with three engines on the first stage and a single
engine on the second stage. Engines and nested fuel will be clustered around the crew
cabin. The three first-stage engines are designed to drop after the first-stage burn. The
second stage, containing the crew cabin, continues under power from a single engine.
Power for the vehicle will be provided by three solid oxide fuel cells. Heat loads, heat
rejection and propellant conditioning will be provided by a thermal control subsystem.
The cabin will be wrapped with layered composite insulation.
The short duration of the MAV mission is also reflected in the provisions for the crew.
The MAV will be equipped only with food, hygiene supplies, safety gear and a tool kit
for contingencies. The design currently remains open and any change is possible.

Unit 3. Part 2. Technical Report Writing assignment

Juan Luis Rodrguez Serna

Unit 3. Part 2. Technical Report Writing assignment

Juan Luis Rodrguez Serna

Unit 3. Part 2. Technical Report Writing assignment

Juan Luis Rodrguez Serna

Conclusions
NASA is studying technologies and capabilities of a Mars ascent vehicle. The study is in
a preliminary phase. They have stablished the preliminary requirements in velocity,
weight, limit use of spacecraft, engine requirements, electric power, thermal control
system and life support.
NASA team recommend the vehicle be used for ascent only to save weight, rather than
as a dual-use spacecraft for descent and habitation. The equipment removed with this
decision is an advantage.
However, problems come with the higher velocity change needed for scape from the
planet. Ascent delta V for the MAV would be 5,274 metres per second. To achieve this,
MAV is a two-stage vehicle with three engines on the first stage and a single engine on
the second stage. The requirement propellant would be more than 29 tons, 74% of total
vehicle weight.
The study also had to account for aerodynamics. Although atmospheric pressure on the
surface of Mars is only around 0,6% of Earths sea-level pressure, it is thick enough to
cause drag. A better aerodynamic design could be a possible factor of propellant weight
reduction.
Although the unusually short duration of the MAV mission is also reflected in the
provision for the crew (only food, hygiene supplies, safety gear and a tool kit for
contingencies), they could achieve a significant reduction of weight redesign the vehicle
for two or three crewmembers instead of current four crewmembers design.

Unit 3. Part 2. Technical Report Writing assignment

Juan Luis Rodrguez Serna

In conclusion, the determinant factor is weight. NASA need to achieve a weight of 40

tons. This is the estimated mass that a solar-electric-powered spacecraft could deliver
to Mars orbit. In order to achieve this, they have designed a short use vehicle (between
24-44 hours). They have removed bulky suits used for surface extravehicular activity, the
crew enter the MAV from a Mars rover or habitat via a detachable tunnel to save the
structural mass involved in a hatch, the MAV will not have a food warmer, an exercise
machine or a lavatory and it will be predeployed without oxygen propellant. After this,
MAV weights 39 tons of the 40 tons available. Only one ton is available for the rest to
the mission requirements (for example, lander weight). NASA team will need to achieve
a significant reduction of weight if they want to make possible this mission with only one
trip from Earth.

Bibliography
Aviation Week & Space Technology. October 12-25, 2015. Pages 69-70.