A Crewed Flyby of Mars, Venus, and the Moon’s Moons is Set to Launch in the Mid-2030s
SpaceX’s Starship program has been making incremental progress towards its ambitious goal of sending humans to the Red Planet, and now NASA has announced a new mission that will bring astronauts closer to Mars than ever before: a manned flyby of Mars, Venus, and the Moons of Mars, Phobos and Deimos.
Starting in 2034, the Mars-Venus-Phobos and Deimos mission will send a crew on a flyby of our closest planetary neighbors, offering scientists a unique opportunity to study the Martian and Venusian atmospheres up close. The mission will also provide valuable reconnaissance for any potential human settlements on Mars, which could potentially be established in the latter half of the century.
Getting There Will Require a Series of Complex Refueling Operations
However, getting a crewed Starship to Mars, let alone on a flyby of multiple celestial bodies, won’t be easy. According to NASA, it will take between 10-15 on-orbit refueling operations to make a crewed ship full. This will likely involve the use of tanker launches, similar to those planned for SpaceX’s Starship program.
A version 4 Starship, which is expected to be capable of refueling with just five tanker launches, could potentially make the mission more efficient. Most of these refueling operations can be done at an altitude of 180-200 km, which will allow the Starship to conserve fuel and make the journey more manageable.
What This Means for Space Exploration
The Mars-Venus-Phobos and Deimos mission represents a major milestone in the journey towards establishing a human presence on Mars. By studying the Martian and Venusian atmospheres up close, scientists will gain valuable insights into the history and composition of our solar system. The mission will also provide a crucial test of the technologies and strategies needed for longer-duration missions to the Red Planet. With the 2034 launch date rapidly approaching, one thing is clear: humanity is one step closer to becoming a multi-planetary species.
