Methods for Achieving Long Range Mobility on Mars

This paper discusses alternative methods for enabling human explorers to achieve long range mobility on the surface of Mars. Vehicle types considered include ground rovers, winged and lighter-than air atmospheric vehicles, and suborbital ballistic vehicles making use of rocket propulsion. Energy sources considered for such vehicles include batteries, fuel cells, radioisotope generators, solar photovoltaics, chemical combustion engines, and nuclear reactors. It is found that the production of fuels and propellants out of indigenous Martian resources greatly enhances the potential for long range mobility, so much so that it may be considered the essential central element of any manned Mars exploration strategy.