Practical Methods For Near-Term Human Exploration Of Mars

R. M. Zubrin, D. B Weaver. (1995), JBIS, 48, pp.287-300

Refcode: 1995.48.287

Abstract:

Conventional plans for manned Mars miss ions involve multiple launches of HLVs to support the assembly on-orbit of spacecraft with dimensions greater than the space station and masses on the order of 700 tonnes. The majority of such craft will be composed of cryogenic propellants which will continually boil off over the course of the year or so required for vehicle assembly.