Austere Human Missions to Mars

[1] The mission profile was for a conjunction class with a long surface stay, pre-deployed cargo, aerocapture and propulsive capture, and some in-situ resource production.

Technologically and financially the concept remains conservative, with both peak yearly and total funding to be less than the ISS up to the first mission.

[2] Simplifications and cost cutting are obtained mainly by avoiding high risk or high cost technology development and maximizing development and production commonality:[2] The mission comprises the following basic equipment:[2] A standardized liquid oxygen/liquid hydrogen (LOX/LH2) propulsive stage, like Ares V or its follower SLS Block 2, would send the Descent/Ascent Vehicle (DAV), Mars Surface Habitat and Cargo elements to Mars orbit uncrewed.

A number of technologies for the descent stages were looked at, especially supersonic retro-propulsion for Mars atmospheric entry, but were otherwise very traditional with a large heat shield and retro rockets for final landing.

[1] After remote controlled deployment of this equipment on Mars, the Transit Habitat would carry the crew to the planet where it docks with the pre-sent MAV.