NASA Design Reference Mission 3.0

Personnel representing several NASA field centers formulated a "Reference Mission" addressing human exploration of Mars.

The plan describes the first human missions to Mars with concept of operations and technologies to be used as a first cut at an architecture.

The report of the Reference Mission Version 3.0 states: From the work of the original Reference Mission (Version 1.0),[1] the strategy for the human exploration of Mars has evolved from its original form to one of reduced system mass, use of a smaller, more reasonable launch vehicle, and use of more current technology.

[2]: 1 List:[2] The DRM 3.0 covered or touched upon a wide variety of institutions, vehicle, and mission concepts which are further explored or analyzed.

Both aerocapture and in-situ resource production were methods to reduce overall launch weight of mission plan.

Artist concept of a Mars habitat
Artist concept of a Mars sample return mission
A concept for a combined surface habitat and ascent vehicle from the 1990s era Design Reference Mission 3.0
for 3.0 version