Quote:
Originally Posted by djellison
"Thereafter (optionally) permantly manned by a crew of 4-8 people, and resupplied at least 4 times a year. The station should be able to function automatically for several years."
Unfortunately, that's not possible. Trajectorys to fly to mars are only available for about a month, every 26 months or so.
Doug
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Yeah, forgot about that one.
That then underlines the need of a station that can work automatically for several years, since it can only be supplied once every 26 months.
Don't know if having a permanent (robotic or optionally manned) station is a necessary part of a mission, but I guess for permanent inspection of Mars weather and such, and for relaying data to ground stations and robot explorers and the human crew on ground, this might be needed.
There is of course also the possibility to make a settlement on Phobos or Deimos.
(they could be the object on which to attach the space elevator perhaps).