Simple logistics strategies such as “carry-along” and Earth-based “resupply” were sufficient for past human space programs. Next-generation space logistics paradigms are expected to be more complex, involving multiple exploration destinations and in situ resource utilization. Optional in situ resource utilization brings additional complexity to the interplanetary supply chain network design problem. This paper presents an interdependent network flow modeling method for determining optimal logistics strategies for space exploration and its application to the human exploration of Mars. It is found that a strategy using lunar resources in the cislunar network may improve overall launch mass to low Earth orbit for recurring missions to Mars compared to NASA’s Mars Design Reference Architecture 5.0, even when including the mass of the in situ resource utilization infrastructures that need to be predeployed. Other findings suggest that chemical propulsion using liquid oxygen/liquid hydrogen, lunar in situ resource utilization water production, and the use of aerocapture significantly contribute to reducing launch mass from Earth. A sensitivity analysis of in situ resource utilization reveals that, under the given assumptions, local lunar resources become attractive at productivity levels above 1.8 kg / year / kg in the context of future human exploration of Mars.
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机译:简单的后勤战略,例如“随身携带”和基于地球的“补给”,足以满足过去的人类太空计划。下一代空间物流范式预计将更加复杂,涉及多个勘探目的地和现场资源利用。可选的原地资源利用给行星际供应链网络设计问题带来了额外的复杂性。本文提出了一种用于确定太空探索最佳物流策略的相互依赖的网络流建模方法,并将其应用于火星的人类探索。研究发现,与NASA的“火星设计参考架构” 5.0相比,在月球网络中使用月球资源的策略与向NASA进行重复飞行任务相比,可能会改善向低地球轨道的整体发射质量,即使包括需要的大量原地资源利用基础设施被预先部署。其他发现表明,使用液氧/液氢进行化学推进,原地资源利用水的生产和航空捕获的使用,显着有助于减少地球的发射质量。对原地资源利用的敏感性分析表明,在给定的假设下,在人类未来对火星的探索中,当地月球资源在生产力水平高于1.8 kg /年/ kg时变得有吸引力。
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