Mars Polar Ice Robotic Lander Launched by the SLS Heavy Lift Launcher

Abstract

View Video Presentation: https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2021-3265.vid A Mars Polar Lander, specifically designed to land on the north polar ice cap, is presented. The Mars north pole ice cap is about 1000 km in diameter during the northern summer, and contains about 1.5 km3 of water ice. Mars polar water ice is a resource from which both rocket propellant and crew consumables can be derived. Demonstration of the technologies and operations necessary to the use of these resources may pave the way for reducing the amount of cargo launched from Earth in support of Mars surface crews and their operations. This MPL mission will open up the frontier to this exciting, and heretofore unexplored, region of Mars. The lander will explore the surface, atmosphere, take samples, extract, electrolyze and store water and liquid oxygen (LO2), including the pumping and transfer of liquid water and LO2.