A mission performance study for manned mars mission vehicle options covering various synodic periods of the Earth-Mars system

The paper presents results of estimating ballistic performance data (initial mass and mission duration) for a Mars mission vehicle based on a nuclear electrical propulsion system during favorable and unfavorable synodic periods of the Earth - Mars system in the time interval of 2049-2072, which includes a 17-year cycle. Calculations were performed using the newly developed end-to-end simulation technique where the mission trajectory optimization problem covers all the mission phases. With regard to the case of limiting the reentry vehicle velocity during Earth atmosphere reentry to 12.5 km/s, trajectory performance indicators were compared for Mars mission vehicles based on a nuclear-powered electrical propulsion system, a nuclear rocket engine and a liquid rocket engine for a favorable and unfavorable synodic periods.