A
radical change was introduced into the project in 1988,
when it was proposed to use instead of the nuclear reactor
an environmentally safe system based on film-type solar
arrays on linear deployable trusses that passed developmental
tests on-board space stations Salyut-7 and Mir. The main
reason for this decision was the aspiration to make the
vehicle environmentally safe. This decision was also greatly
influenced by the progress in the development of film-type
photovoltaic converters, which allowed to considerably simplify
the construction of a high-power solar power plant.
The key parameters of the project are as follows:
- the total mission time is 2 years;
- the vehicle mass is 350 tons;
- the crew of four;
- the crew of two to land on the Martian surface;
- the crew to stay on the Martian surface for 7 days.
The plan was to carry out the expedition to Mars in incremental
steps, starting with robotic probes and ending with the
manned mission. The following three steps were envisaged:
- The first step was to develop the principles of joint
operation of the elements of the Martian Vehicle using
its models to be delivered on-board Progress logistics
vehicles to a space station where they were to be assembled
by the crew and to continue their mission in fre-flying
atomated mode. These models were to equipped with scientific
equipment needed to get a better knowledge of the Martian
Vehicle operating environment.
- The second step was to be a dress rehearsal of the
manned mission, where a solar-powered tug was to deliver
to the Martian surface two landers instead of one, with
one of the landers to be used for developmental test of
the crew landing and return concept, while the other one,
carrying several Mars rovers (the mass of about 20 tons),
was to conduct a detailed survey of the Martian surface;
- The third step was the manned mission to Mars.
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