The Red Planet Up Close
The mission behind Mars Base Camp is science. From orbit, astronauts would have access to the entire Martian surface and be able to directly control rovers, drones and other robotic exploration or the planet and its moons like never before.
A Ferry to Mars
Studying Mars from orbit is great, but eventually astronauts will make the first landing on the Red Planet. To do that, Lockheed Martin came up with the Mars Ascent/Descent Vehicle (seen here at either end Mars Base Camp, one is docked). The reusable lander would allow astronauts to visit different regions on Mars after landing sites had been selected from orbit. Having two landers provides redundancy, ensuring that a backup lander is available in case the primary one fails.
Landing on Mars
The Mars Ascent/Descent Vehicle, or MADV, would carry four astronauts to the Martian surface for two-week excursions. Once complete, the MADV would then launch back into orbit as a single-stage fully reusable vehicle. The lander will use liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen as propellant.
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