Within the Mars science community, there is growing interest in the role that small spacecraft missions can play in increasing the breadth and frequency of Mars exploration. Fueled by significant advances in miniaturization of science instruments and avionics, innovative concepts for delivery of small spacecraft to Mars, and emerging low-cost capabilities in the fast-growing NewSpace marketplace, small spacecraft missions appear capable of achieving compelling Mars science results at unprecedentedly low mission cost, far below the current NASA Discovery Program cost cap. We report on the development of a cost model for small spacecraft Mars orbiters, providing insight into the dependence of mission cost on key mission parameters, including science payload characteristics (e.g., mass, power), mission design parameters (e.g., ΔV), and mission risk categorization. These results can help guide NASA and others in establishing budget guidelines for a new class of low-cost, small spacecraft missions.


    Access

    Check access

    Check availability in my library

    Order at Subito €


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    Assessing Cost Drivers for Mars Small Spacecraft Missions




    Publication date :

    2022-03-05


    Size :

    2011486 byte




    Type of media :

    Conference paper


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English



    Small Spacecraft Design for Mars Precursor Missions (AAS 90-235)

    Daniel, W. K. / Kracht, J. | British Library Conference Proceedings | 1997


    Advanced solar-propelled cargo spacecraft for Mars missions

    Auziasdeturenne, J. / Beall, M. / Burianek, J. et al. | NTRS | 1989


    Spacecraft Accommodation Strategies for Manned Mars Missions

    Nixon, David / Kaplicky, Jan | SAE Technical Papers | 1990


    Advanced Solar-propelled Cargo Spacecraft for Mars Missions

    Auziasdeturenne, Jacqueline / Beall, Mark / Burianek, Joseph et al. | NTRS | 1989