Minimum craft to Mars and back !

Now the T-Bird is liquid fuel only.

Folks !

Feel free to aski if interested and want to be part of this.

Here are some ideas to it.

Solar output is 3 x more than on Solar Impulse and batterypower is used to accompany it...unlike in SI II.

More explained here.

...and here.

I think I have to think the mission profile all over again.

I don't need to have this big launchbooster / mothership with rockets if the parasite has delta-c of 7500 m/s. It is enough to get it at 50 km at M10 or similar speed.

This is now bigger than HK-1.

Slight modification...to be able to gain more momentum for the parasite.

With orbital propellant depots at both departure and arrival points a single reusable rocket stage could do all steps from LEO departure to Mars orbital insertion, to Mars landing, to liftoff up to Mars orbit, to return back to Earth:

Propellant depots for interplanetary flight.
http://exoscientist.blogspot.com/2015/0 ... etary.html

Bob Clark

Cool link thanks Bob Clark.

What is you opinion on DS4G system seems to be at least 10 x more efficient than the Ion-thruster on Dawn probe ?

Some tweaking on my carrier craft that brings the orbiter for depature for LEO.

If reloaded on LEO this ( T-bird ) may just make it to MARS but apparently not capable to make it back...is that so Bob ? I counted it misses 3.6 km/s worth delta-v. This does not count in the landing on Mars.

Also noteworthy is that if you are able to fly in 36 km altitude on Earth you most certaily can fly on Mars atmosphere.

This was missing here.

T-bird here ( lower craft )has capability to depart Earth gravity and use the DS4G.

We can all count it.

Solar power on MARS is 43% of the Earth equivalent.

Here is the re-entry / orbiter vehicle.

An other 5% increase in size. This is able to carry an orbiter which if refuelled and attached with solar arrays can reach Mars in weeks. The rocket itself has been increased by 17% in size.

New plane's rudder assembly.