SELBE Research Institute
Mission Architecture Using the SpaceX Starship Vehicle to Enable a Sustained Human Presence on Mars
Proposed design of a mission architecture that uses the SpaceX Starship to transport both crew, passengers, and cargo cargo from Earth to the surface of Mars. This design proposes that several uncrewed starships be used to preposition supplies and for developing infrastructure, testing systems, and prospecting resources for in situ resource utilization, such as water.
SELBE RI Comments
This NASA Ames Research Center paper concludes that the SpaceX Starship is well-suited for developing the initial infrastructure on the surface of Mars, in situ resource utilization, and transporting the intial population to Mars. The paper supports this study with 94 references. This conclusion consistent with the purposes stated by Elon Mush and SpaceX for the Starship design. SELBE RI has started a similar mission architecture study with a different approach that would reduce the dependence on Starship for the eventual colonization of Mars.
New Space, 2022 Sep 1;10(3):259-273. doi: 10.1089/space.2020.0058. Epub 2022 Sep 13.
