December 23, 2013.
The era of «Man flies to Mars» begins in 2014
Mars is calling and appropriate transport is required. Two flights, one private and one government, are planned to send people to the Red Planet in the next decade..
In September 2014, NASA will launch its Orion capsule for a 4-hour walk around the Earth. Echoing the Apollo capsule that sent humans to the moon, Orion is designed for long, long-range space missions. Upcoming tests will show Orion’s airworthiness and the ability of its heat shield to withstand passage through the atmosphere..
NASA hopes that the drone test flight will provide information on how future missions will proceed, which include a crewed flight around the moon in 2021, a visit to an asteroid in 2025 and an expedition to Mars until 2030..
Next year, the Falcon Heavy rocket, built by SpaceX, will also be launched. This powerful machine will be ready to throw 13,200 kg towards Mars. It will be the most powerful rocket in service. True, it will not be able to send people to Mars, but it is easy to transport materials and something else on the eve of the crew. By the way, Mars One, which is being developed by a Danish company, may be able to send people to Mars by 2025. In addition, the rocket can launch components into orbit that can be assembled into a vehicle..
And NASA should also demonstrate a new space rocket, the Space Lunch System, which will be able to intercept people and equipment right on board Orion..
In general, from next year we will enter the era of «Man flies to Mars», perhaps only not immediately, but in gradual steps.
