Mars Design Reference Mission

[6] In 1997 a NASA Mars Exploration Study Team was put together and made a more detailed version of the original design reference mission.

According to the report: Personnel representing several NASA field centers have formulated a "Reference Mission" addressing human exploration of Mars.

This report summarizes their work and describes a plan for the first human missions to Mars, using approaches that are technically feasible, have reasonable risks, and have relatively low costs.

The architecture for the Mars Reference Mission builds on previous work of the Synthesis Group (1991) and Zubrin's (1991) concepts for the use of propellants derived from the Martian Atmosphere.

[9]According to Portree[1] "Subsequent DRM evolution focused on minimizing spacecraft weight in an effort to reduce estimated mission cost."

The stated purpose of the Reference Mission was to stimulate further thought and development of alternative approaches: "It is intended to identify and clarify system "drivers", or significant sources of cost, performance, risk, and schedule variation.

Comparing alternative approaches provides the basis for continual improvement to technology investment plans and general understanding of future human exploration missions.