Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX and Tesla Inc., recently stated that he and his team are working to land humans on Mars within five to ten years. The remarks came in response to a question by Lex Friedman, who wanted to know what could be a deterrent to establishing a permanent human presence on Mars. One of the things Musk replied was the cost, and he said that the cost would be a major factor in deciding whether humans would be able to survive on the planet.
While the cost of establishing a permanent colony on Mars is high, it can also save the lives of the people living on Mars. The proposed method of putting humans on Mars involves refueling in the Earth’s atmosphere several times. This will require multiple trips to the red planet, which is a far weaker planet than Earth. The idea of a human settlement on Mars is fascinating, but the technology must be proven before it can be made a reality.
The initial plans call for two uncrewed Starships to be launched to Mars. These Starships will land at different locations and within one km of one another, in order to minimize damage from landing plumes and lofted regolith. The two Starships will land on different parts of the planet, which will facilitate site reconnaissance. The arrivals of the two Starships can be staggered by a few months. Once the first Starship arrives on Mars, data will be returned from subsequent vehicles to assess the landing site.
The Starship is constructed out of stainless steel and will enter the atmosphere of Mars at 7.5 km per second. After entering the atmosphere, the spacecraft will decelerate aerodynamically before landing in the Martian atmosphere. Its six-Raptor engines will help it lift off from the weaker gravity on Mars. Once the spacecraft reaches a certain speed, it will then enter the Earth’s atmosphere and make a controlled nose-up landing.
The Starship’s heat shield is designed to withstand multiple entries into the atmosphere of Mars. Upon landing, the spacecraft will enter the atmosphere at a speed of 7.5 km per second. As it approaches the ground, it will orient itself vertically and make a controlled nose-up landing. It will then enter the Martian atmosphere at a slower rate and then slowly approach the ground until it reaches the surface.
A Starship spacecraft made from stainless steel is being tested from SpaceX’s Starbase headquarters in Texas. It is being marketed as a “way to the moon” and the “first vehicle to land on Mars.” Its reusability means it can be launched several times in the same day. If this is the case, the entire system will stand at 120 m, resembling a rocket-ship from the golden age of science fiction.
The spacecraft will need water to produce propellant on Mars. Propellers are essential to send and receive spacecrafts, and they need water to function. The ratio of oxygen to fuel is 3.5, and the Starship’s capacity is 1,200 metric tons. Currently, water electrolysis produces both oxygen and methane. These fuels will then be used to launch the Starship and return it to Earth.
In the next decade, SpaceX wants to launch a fleet of 1,000 Starships to Mars. Each of these spacecrafts will ferry one million people to Mars every 26 months. The spaceship’s reusability is an important consideration because it can survive multiple entries. With these goals, the company will be able to carry more than one million people to Mars. The first reusability will come in the form of reusable hardware.
The Starship’s upper stage will re-enter the atmosphere at a 60-degree angle. Then, it will flip itself vertically to avoid the harshest atmospheres on Mars. After landing, the Starship will plunge back into Earth’s atmosphere on its side. The lower stage will be designed to survive the wicked heat of the re-entry. This is a critical part of the entire mission.