OFMM

Orbiter Forum Mars Mission (OFMM) codenamed: Prometheus is, a project undergone by Orbiter Forum members that will simulate a mission to Mars using near-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

MSS (Mars Space Station)

• Proposed vehicle ( Various modules -pending )

This space station will be constructed out of modules in a similar way to the construction of the ISS. This station will have a long duration habitable area for the crew, and a detachable engine. The MSS (in station configuration) is currently planned to stay in orbit around Mars as long as the mission persists.

IDMS (Independent Detachable Maneuvering System)

• Proposed vehicle ( Nerva2 )

This system will be the rocket engine that will send MSS (in trans configuration) to Mars. Once MSS has obtained LMO (low Mars orbit) IDMS detaches from MSS, and will serve as the propulsion system from transportation from Mars to Earth and back.

HCV (Heavy Cargo Vessel)

• Proposed vehicle ( 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 )

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.

MSS Configuration and Design

To be determined

General Mission Plan

  1. Build MSS (and cargo hauler if applicable.)
  2. Transfer MSS and hauler 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
  7. When Mars-Earth launch window approaches, launch cargo/resources to Earth
  8. If crew is getting rotated, they ride along with the cargo containers.

Roles and Responsibilities

   * Cargo Manager
         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 vehicles in space
   * Ground Expedition Manager
         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.
   * MSS Manager
         o Manages orbital vehicle design, construction, position, location and maintenance.
         o Manages Earth to Mars voyages

The Cargo manager (CM) tells the Launch Manager (LM) the space and weight for cargo transfers which the LM will have to figure ways of achieving that goal.

The LM tells the MSS manager (MM) how much cargo will be transferred to the MSS where the MM will be responsible for its storage on MSS and transfer to Earth.

The Ground Manager (GM) will explore the planet, looking for resources and tells the CM where resource locations are. GM tells the LM when ships will be ready for transfers.

The LM will have to find ways to comply with the requests from the ground and cargo managers.

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

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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• Models of Fuel tanks with the approximate size capable of filling the Arrow.
• Model of a proposed plaque to put over resting spot of MER vehicle Spirit.