Mars Cycler (2005)

CLIENT: Offworld Industries Corporation

CONCEPT: Using a decoupled rotation concept, an inner torus and outer torus is first constructed in orbit using the SARGON orbital construction system. The inner torus rotates clockwise, while a counterweight flywheel rotates counterclockwise canceling each other out. This allows the outer torus to remain 'stationary' so that multiple vehicles can dock around the perimeter. The 'fixed' non-rotating outer torus has fixed airlocks around the perimeter coinciding with vehicle docking ports. Also, the volume inside the outer torus is kept at a vacuum to eliminate any atmospheric drag on the levitating superconducting coils. A set of shuttle cabins dock simultaneously at each airlock, then periodically speed up to match the rotation of the inner torus as a sort of timed transfer vehicle to allow crew to go back and forth between the 'stationary' and rotating parts of the Mars Cycler.

Two Mars Cycler vehicles would follow a revised Aldrin cycler trajectory (Rauwolf, Friedlander, Nock 2002, noted in paper), where one vehicle would follow a short 'up elevator' traverse of 151 days while occupied by crew, and continue uncrewed on the long return trajectory back around for another Earth 'up escalator' encounter. The second Mars Cycler vehicle would inversely follow a short 'down escalator' of 170 days while returning to Earth from Mars, then continue uncrewed back around for another 'down escalator' encounter with Mars. The cycler vehicles need only be boosted into the cycler orbit once, after which very little propellant would be needed to maintain the orbit indefinitely.

Mass, spin parameters, and major dimensions of a 'cruise ship' sized Mars Cycler are shown below. Download the paper for detailed discussion of mass, propellant, and a detailed Mass & Equipment List (MEL).

DESIGN TEAM: Original SARGON concept with magazine panel assemblers by John Blincow. Robotic construction site and assembly line configurations designed by A. Scott Howe. Other team members include Colin Leonard and Theodore W. Hall. Mars Cycler design by A. Scott Howe and Theodore W. Hall.

COST: TBA

DATE: 2025.

STATUS: Formulation-level Mars Cycler configuration, mass estimates (presented in a Mass & Equipment List MEL format), propulsion estimates, artificial gravity design completed.