A Fixed Mars ISRU Base for Accelerated Exploration

Abstract

We have re-examined in situ resource utilization (ISRU) from the perspective of the extraordinarily successful on-going Mars Exploration Program, more than 30 years after we first alerted the science communities to the break -through advantages ISRU offered for Mars round-trip missions. Since that publication, many investigators have expanded on the original findings and have considered the applicability of this innovative systems -concept to other missions, including crewed Mars round-trips. We know a great deal more about the risks associated with sending humans beyond the Earth's magnetic shield today, but we have not yet devised systems that can sustain human missions to Mars within realistic size and budgetary constraints. This analysis is focused on the application and development of in situ resource utilization, first for remotely controlled probes, and then human missions since a crewed mission to Mars in the foreseeable future is of questionable technical, programmatic and financial feasibility. We reach the dual conclusions that: (1) M ars return missions will benefit greatly (even more than anticipated in the original paper) from the utilization of in situ resources; and (2) although other venues can also enjoy benefits, Mars is uniquely suitable for this concept, because of the high gearing ratio of reduced Mars surface mass and the abundance of suitable chemicals from the atmosphere and from shallow surface layers. Consequently, we have put forward an argument for moving from ISRU hardware feasibility studies to the development of d eployable Mars surface systems that can be used to accelerate surface exploration. That approach can reduce the time interval between sequential surface exploration probe deployments while helping evolve a robotic surface exploration architecture that can accommodate reprogramming from a Mars surface base utilizing Earth-based exploration managers. Our proposed reprioritization of technology developments leads also to a more sustainable path toward human arrival.