Re:SpaceX test flight of Starship SN-5 [video]
by garmaine on Wednesday August 05, 2020 @06:38AM
(#24059204)
There are faster transfer opportunities, but not 3 days. But I think he way saying 3 days of surface ops. Which is still an exaggeration. I think the NASA reference mission is 30 days?
[ Parent
| on HN ]
Re:SpaceX test flight of Starship SN-5 [video]
by wcoenen on Wednesday August 05, 2020 @10:25AM
(#24061109)
I had a peek at the Mars Design Reference Architecture 5.0 [1], and under "trajectory options" they talk about two classes of missions.
"Opposition class missions" stay on the surface for 30 to 90 days. "Conjunction class missions" stay for 500 days or more.
That confirms the 30 days that you mentioned as a reasonable minimum.
[1] https://www.nasa.gov/pdf/373665main_NASA-SP-2009-566.pdf