Requesting ship to reach Mars within a year (MT/PMT)

[Insanica]

Greetings. Recently, a large dust storm has buried our small Martian base, Redstone. The solar panels and transmitters were knocked out, and we have lost contact with our four colonists. The base is mostly covered in dust and rock. We have no idea what their situation is. If they are alive, they should have enough rations and emergency supplies to last them another year or so.

Our engineers at INOSA (our space program) say we cannot build and launch a supply or rescue rocket soon enough. Therefore, we are requesting a manned rocket that can launch, fly to Mars, send down a lander to bring them back up, and fly back to Earth within a year or so. Mars and Earth are in close positions right now, so our scientists calculate it will take only six months or less to get there, and six months to get back. We are prepared to pay as much money as needed for this rocket, within reason, of course. Thank you.

Signed,

"Prez"
President of Insanica
Care of INOSA

[The Deltan Imperium]

To: the President of Insanica,

My deepest regrets about your situation, and I hope we are able to find a solution to getting your people back home safely. In that regard, I am prepared to offer you control of MAP-01 (Mars Adventure Probe 01), which is already on route, and should arrive in about 2 weeks. It was designed to orbit the planet and map its surface using radar and cameras, in preparation for a future landing. It would be a simple matter of slightly altering its trajectory to enter a geostationary orbit above your landing site, and recon the situation. The probe was also designed with a secondary role of serving as a communications relay between a ground lander and mission control. Hopefully, we can use this system to re-establish communications with your team.

In addition, I have ordered the DFSC (Defense Force Space Command) to investigate the possible use of our Energia launch system to send a recovery craft to Mars. This would have to be taken in stages, as Energia cannot launch a complete Mars spacecraft by itself. The proposed plan is as follows:

Stage One: Un-manned Mars lander (provided by your nation) is launched and sent on a 4-5 month journey to make an automated landing at the team's location.

Stage Two: A habitat module (Hab) is launched, approx. 2-4 weeks after the lander. Once it arrives in Mars orbit, the team on the surface can use the lander to launch themselves to orbit, and dock with the Hab. It, and the lander, will provide their living space for the return trip.

Stage Three: The Service Module (SerMo) is launched approx. 1-2 weeks after the Hab. It will make an automated docking with the Hab in Mars orbit, and will contain all the life support systems to support the crew, along with the rocket that will push them out of Mars orbit, and on a return trajectory.

Stage Four: Resupply modules (ReSup's) are launched at two-month intervals, which will rendezvous with the craft as it makes its way back to Earth, to provide additional consumables for the crew.

Stage Five: A re-entry module is launched into Earth orbit. The crew will detach the lander, and dock with the re-entry module. Then, they will detach from the transit craft, and return to Earth. The abandoned transit craft will remain in orbit for my nation's future use.

Please let me know your thoughts on this plan, and we can begin preparations immediately.

Best of luck,
Tirus Roman,
Supreme Chancellor, the Deltan Imperium

[Insanica]

To the Supreme Chancellor,

We thank you for your generous offer. We agree to this plan, and are very thankful for your assistance. We were planning a second Mars base sometime in the future, and therefore already have the plans and some of the parts for a lander. We will assemble it as quickly as possible. We will also accept your offer to take control of MAP-01.

Again, thank you for your assistance. Please let us know how we could possibly repay you. Our team is already beginning preparations for the mission.

Sincerely,
Prez of Insanica

[The Deltan Imperium]

To: the President of Insanica,

We are making preparations for Stage's One and Two of the rescue plan. Our An-225 Heavy Lift aircraft will be dispatched to your nation to retrieve the Mars Lander vehicle. It will then be brought back to our facility for launch.

Stage Two has been changed. Instead of a custom-built habitat module, our engineers believe it will be possible to modify one of our BRN-class orbiters with a habitate module mounted in the front half of the cargo bay. The rear half will contain a supply module with life-support equipment and storage tanks. As the orbiter does not have it's own engines, two liquid-fuel strap on boosters will be mounted. These will fire to propel it out of Mars orbit, and back to Earth. They can be refueled in route by a supply pod, and re-used to enter Earth orbit, and then slow the vehicle for re-entry. Using the BRN also means that the proposed Stage Five launch of a re-entry module is no longer needed. Also, the original Stage Three launch of a service module is also eliminated. ReSup's (re-supply) will still be sent in intervals.

We are preparing the orbiter BRN-02 for this mission, and should be ready to launch in 5 weeks.

Best Regards,
Tirus Roman,
Supreme Chancellor, the Deltan Imperium


IMAGE: Model of Energia launcher with ReSup module on left, BRN-Class orbiter on right

[Insanica]

To the Supreme Chancellor,

Excellent! We are glad to hear this. The lander, MTI-1, is nearly ready. We will be ready for pickup by your aircraft in two weeks. Please arrange to pick it up at INOSA's headquarters next Saturday.

We are prepared to take control of MAP-01 at any time you choose. Please let us know.


Sincerely,
Prez of Insanica