Human Mars mission design study utilizing the adaptive deployable entry and placement technology

The Adaptive Deployable Entry and Placement Technology (ADEPT) is being considered as an entry, descent and landing (EDL) system to enable Human Mars class missions. ADEPT is a mechanically deployable decelerator that makes use of a 3 d woven carbon fabric as both heat shield and primary structure. The Human Mars Mission design study is focused, in part, on assessing the viability of ADEPT and identifying technical challenges, operational constraints, and critical risk mitigation activities. Study inputs included definition of the ground rules and assumptions, associated mission timelines and high level functional requirements. These inputs enabled the clarification of the concept of operations along with the design constraints and environments. Subsystem trades, mass sizing and integrated flight performance assessments enabled determination of a feasible mission architecture. Key outputs from the design study include a parametric mass model, driving requirements, key performance parameters and critical risks. These findings enable us to determine strategies for technical maturation and risk mitigation that can be assessed against resource and programmatic constraints to aid in advanced planning for human exploration of Mars.