Mars Sample Return using commercial capabilities: Mission architecture overview

• Main Authors: Gonzales, Andrew A., Stoker, Carol R., Lemke, Lawrence G., Bowles, Jeffrey V., Huynh, Loc C., Faber, Nicholas T., Race, Margaret S.
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Subjects: Contamination; Hardware; Irrigation; Mars; Propulsion
• ISSN: 1095-323X; 2996-2358
• DOI: 10.1109/AERO.2014.6836421

Mars Sample Return (MSR) is the highest priority science mission for the next decade as recommended by the recent Decadal Survey of Planetary Science. This paper presents an overview of a feasibility study for a MSR mission. The objective of the study was to determine whether emerging commercial capabilities can be used to reduce the number of mission systems and launches required to return the samples, with the goal of reducing mission cost. The major element required for the MSR mission are described and include an integration of the emerging commercial capabilities with small spacecraft design techniques; new utilizations of traditional aerospace technologies; and recent technological developments. We report the feasibility of a complete and closed MSR mission design using the following scenario that can start in any one of three Earth to Mars launch opportunities, beginning in 2022: A Falcon Heavy injects a SpaceX Red Dragon capsule and trunk onto a Trans Mars Injection (TMI) trajectory. The capsule is modified to carry all the hardware needed to return samples collected on Mars including a Mars Ascent Vehicle (MAV); an Earth Return Vehicle (ERV); and hardware to transfer a sample collected in a previously landed rover mission, such as the Mars 2020 rover, to the ERV. The Red Dragon descends to land on the surface of Mars using Supersonic Retro Propulsion (SRP). After previously collected samples are transferred to the ERV, the single-stage MA V launches the ERV from the surface of Mars to a Mars phasing orbit. The MA V uses a storable liquid, pump-fed bi-propellant propulsion system. After a brief phasing period, the ERV, which also uses a storable bi-propellant system, performs a Trans Earth Injection (TEl) burn. Once near Earth the ERV performs Earth and lunar swing-bys and is placed into a Lunar Trailing Orbit (LTO)an Earth orbit, at lunar distance. A later mission, using a Dragon and launched by a Falcon Heavy, performs a rendezvous with the ERV in the lunar trailing orbit, retrieves the sample container and breaks the chain of contact with Mars by transferring the sample into a sterile and secure container. With the sample contained, the retrieving spacecraft, makes a controlled Earth re-entry preventing any unintended release of pristine Martian materials into the Earth's biosphere. Other capsule type vehicles and associated launchers may be applicable. An MSR launch in 2022 becomes the preferred option if the Mars 2020 rover is the previous sam