Technical Paper
How Many Life Support Systems Do We Need?
2007-07-09
2007-01-3226
About two dozen different mission segments can be identified for the various missions encompassed by the Vision for Space Exploration (VSE). Clearly, many crewed space vehicles will be needed on the several decades to be spanned by a return to the Moon, a Lunar outpost, and a human mission to Mars. A number of different vehicle types will be needed to operate in the different environments. Furthermore, technology will change overtime. This paper addresses two issues: how many types of life support system will we need for these diverse missions, and how many copies of each will we need? A manifest has been developed for discussion. Based on this manifest, numbers of vehicles have been identified. Possibilities for reuse and of impacts from commercial operations will be considered. Vehicles will be needed for launch from and landing on the Earth, the Moon, and Mars. Vehicles will be needed for transit segments. Surface habitats will be needed.