Photo Agency - Astronomy - Space - Nature
> Mars lander pre-departure inspection - Artist view
Mars lander pre-departure inspection - Artist view
author: Walter B. Myers/Novapix
reference: e-exm01-00014
Image Size 300 DPI: 33 * 26 cm
A pair of astronauts in MMUs perform a final inspection of a manned Mars lander/return vehicle before disembarking for the surface of Mars.
A Mars cycler is a permanently orbiting vehicle with a path that alternately brings it near Earth and Mars. Once a cycler has been accelerated into orbit it continues on its own momentum, going back and forth between the two planets, only requiring propellant for occasional course adjustments.
A one-way trip between Earth and Mars involves six to eight months of space travel, therefore a large and well-equipped Mars cycler would offer space explorers, and possibly even space tourists, better accommodations for these long journeys. Smaller spacecraft would ferry travelers between the planets and the cycler
Contact : Stéphane Aubin +33-(0)9-51-26-53-76
© Novapix - All rights reserved