OFMM

Orbiter Forum Mars Mission (OFMM) codenamed: Prometheus is, a project undergone by Orbiter Forum members that will simulate a mission to Mars using future realistic technology.

Mission

First and foremost, establish habitation areas for astronauts. Second, start production of fuel for vessels. Third, start scientific gatherings (resource collection)

Vessels

IDMS (Independent Detachable Maneuvering System)

• Proposed vehicle ( Nerva2 )

This system will be the rocket engine that will send vehicles and vessels to Mars. Once cargo has obtained LMO (low Mars orbit) IDMS will serve as the propulsion system from transportation from Mars to Earth and back.

HCV (Heavy Cargo Vessel)

• Proposed vehicle ( pending, Arrow )

This vessel is primarily used as cargo transportation between the Martian surface and LMO. This vessel will mostly stay in LMO and on Mars.

SMEV (Small Mars Exploration Vehicle)

• Proposed vehicles ( DGIV, XR2 ) -pending use

These smaller vessels will be used as exploration vehicles that will allow ground crew astronauts explore a much larger radius of Mars.

MRCS (Mars Radio Communications System)

• Proposed vehicles ( DGIV's COM satellite, Carina2 )

These smaller vessels will be used as exploration vehicles that will allow ground crew astronauts explore a much larger radius of Mars.

General Mission Plan

  1. Build (model required vessels)
  2. Transfer to Mars orbit
  3. Land hauler and crew on Martian surface.
  4. Begin building habitation area.
  5. Begin building propellant resource collection
        1. Fuel up hauler/vehicles if applicable
  6. Start resource/cargo production/research
  7. When Mars-Earth launch window approaches, launch cargo/resources to Earth
        1. If crew is getting rotated, they ride along with the cargo containers.

Roles and Responsibilities

   * Cargo Manager - Bj so far
         o Manages Miner and the miners productions (cargo)
         o Manages cargo placement & storage
         o Manages cargo hauler (limited to sub orbital flights only)
   * Launch Manager
         o Manages any vehicle launching to, or returning from space.
         o Manages launch equipment
         o Controls unmanned/manned vehicles in space
   * Ground Expedition Manager - Bloodworth
         o Manages all vehicles, equipment and UMMU on the ground at any time.
         o Designs habitual base camps for UMMU(camp layout, and/or possibly camp modeling) 
         o Responsible for the exploration of Mars,scientific equipment, and locating resources

Technological Disparities

Currently UMMU destabilizes at any simulated year past ~2040. In consequence, this project is required to start within recent time frames (ie 2010 - 2015) so that the project can progress for a while. Many OF members dispute the technological advances between these years, as the Arrow is considered slightly above our technological capability for the next several decades. As it is, there are no vessels currently operating within Orbiter, so for now unless several someones creates a more realistic vessel capable of the job, we have to stick with what we have.

Fuel considerations

update:

Arrow is looking like it will be retired before even built, so we wont have to worry about this.

In the case of the Arrow, the fuel tanks are so large on the Arrow that it would take a few hundred launches just to fuel the Arrow. To help speed up time and to prevent boredom, the Arrows engines will be modified so that they are capable of lifting itself down to Mars to refuel and back up to LMO with a payload. If the Arrow wasn't used for this purpose and a more realistic reusable vessel was created, less fuel may be required causing less launches and possibly the removal of 'fuel' manufacturing.

Current Developments

Some of the systems required by this project haven't been implemented yet. In consequence, there are several parts that need to be developed before we get too far into the mission.

• Developer: [empty] Mining

The mining and propellant creation is vital to this missions survival, otherwise vessels on Mars will have to carry all their propellant from Earth, and can only use it sparingly.

• Developer: [empty] Cargo creation

From the manufacturing of materials, there will need to be UCGO cargo with the proper textures of its contents. Since there is a vast amount of elements, many textures will have to be made.

• Developer: [empty] Sampler

Since it would be rather difficult to drag the actual drill around to find deposits (especially when that drill is in use), a vehicle capable of taking samples from the ground and analyzing it for its contents needs to be created to assist ground exploration. This will need to use the SDK that will be provided from the Mining module.

Models

• Developer: [empty] Models of Fuel tanks
• Developer: [empty] Model of a proposed plaque to put over resting spot of MER vehicle Spirit.
• Developer: [Columbia42] Models of the Hab center
• Developer: [empty] Models of the reactor
• Developer: [Bj] Models of the 'Sand dunes'
• Developer: [empty] Models of future science experiments (possibly programs too)
• Developer: [empty] Models of greenhouse