MARTIAN OUTPOST

The Challenges of Establishing a Human Settlement on Mars

Erik Seedhouse

When, as planned, astronauts are sent to Mars, what will it be like for them? Neither a two-week Space Shuttle mission nor a six-month tour of duty on board the ISS will really prepare them for a three-year mission to Mars. The extended duration, logistical challenges, radiation concerns, communication lag times, isolation, and effects upon the human body will not only significantly impair their performance but also affect the behavior of crew members.

Martian Outpost provides a unique and detailed insight into the various enabling technologies, mission architectures, medical requirements, and training needed to send humans to Mars. It focuses on the mission objectives and benefits, and the risks and complexities which are compounded when linked to an overall planet exploration program involving a permanent presence on the surface.

Table of Contents

Preface
Acknowledgments
About the author
List of figures
List of tables
List of abbreviations and acronyms

Why go?
Interplanetary plans
Mission architectures
Abort modes and the challenges of entry, descent and landing
Propulsion systems
Mars hardware
Crew selection and training
Biomedical and behavioral issues
Voyage to Mars
Exploration activities and surface systems
Extreme EXPeditionary Architecture

Epilogue
Glossary
Index

Extent: 328 pages, 8-page colour section
Binding: Paperback
Published: 2009
ISBN: 978-0-387-98190-1

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