Electrically propelled transportation spacecraft in various scenarios of manned mission to Mars

This paper reviews various profiles for manned missions to Mars that make use of electrically propelled transportation spacecraft. It discusses selection of propulsion system for transfer between planetary orbits and demonstrates advantages of using Electric Propulsion Engines (EPE). It provides an overview of RSC Energia conceptual designs for a single-launch landing profile of manned mission to Mars based on an EPE powered from nuclear and solar power generating systems. It addresses the possibility to reduce flight time through the use of a combined propulsion system based on liquid-propellant engine + electric propulsion engine. It reviews multi-vehicle scenarios for a landing mission, including the option of carrying out an in-flight rescue operation. It demonstrates feasibility of developing a common electrically propelled transportation spacecraft for a Mars exploration vehicle and a near-Earth reusable space tug. For a split mission profile, in order to establish a preliminary Martian outpost infrastructure, expendable electrically-propelled cargo space tugs are highly efficient for delivery to the Martian orbit of heavy (20 to 200 tonnes) nondivisible loads.