Manned Entry Missions to Mars and Venus

Abstract

An a t t empt has been made to establish the aerothermodynamic criteria of m a n n e d entry into the atmosphere of Mars and Venus. Since the vehicle chosen for this analysis is not an entry vehicle per se, a system compromise between sizing, configuration, and materials is pointed out for a nuclear powered spacecraft system that will be capable of planetary entry. Environmental restrictions are established and imposed throughout various phases of the miss ion. The ecological and cryogenic fuel requirements of the interplanetary transfer phase and entry phase are discussed, and an aerothermodynamic analysis of the planetary entry phase is performed. Particular a t t en t ion is given to the problems of cryogenic fuel conta inment associated wi th interplanetary transfer, atmospheric braking, and planetary surface storage during surface exploration. The interplay and l imitat ions of these criteria are then shown to affect the total miss ion in terms of miss ion requirem e n t s and total vehicle capability.