Leonard David's INSIDE OUTER SPACE

Credit: Project Aldrin-Purdue study

In the book Mission to Mars: My Vision for Space Exploration, Apollo 11 moonwalker, Buzz Aldrin, laid out a plan for human colonization of the Red Planet.

The mission concept includes all of the steps that must be taken to reach Mars and establish the first permanent colony by 2040.

Purdue professor James Longuski (left) with Mars-bound Buzz Aldrin.
Credit: Project Aldrin-Purdue study

Aldrin worked with Purdue professor James Longuski — along with a dedicated university research group of over 50 students — for nearly three months to blueprint a set of requirements that can be used to realize human settlement of the Red Planet.

Step-by-step

To start, key technologies are tested in low earth orbit, at Lagrange points, and on the lunar surface. The next step is to establish cycler vehicles which will loop between Earth and Mars, supporting humans on the 5-6 month treks to Mars.

A smaller base would be built on the Mars moon, Phobos, where astronauts can remotely operate rovers and cranes on the surface of the Red Planet without long time delay.

Finally, after the first Martian base has been robotically constructed, the first humans will land, then step onto the surface of Mars to plant their place in history.

Tune in!

The School of Aeronautics and Astronautics AAE 450 Senior Spacecraft Design class at Purdue will hold its final presentation on this plan, Thursday, April 23, 2015.

Project Aldrin-Purdue study group blueprints future Red Planet settlement.
Credit: Project Aldrin-Purdue study

The presentations can be viewed via live streaming beginning at 11:00 a.m. EDT (3:00 p.m. GMT) on Thursday, April 23, 2015, at:

http://www.kaltura.com/tiny/l06si

Additionally, after the presentation, a limited number of questions from online attendees will be answered.

Please post your questions followed by your name and affiliation at:

https://www.facebook.com/PurdueAeroAstro

To learn more about the Project Aldrin-Purdue study to establish and sustain a permanent human presence on Mars by 2040, go to:

https://engineering.purdue.edu/AAE/Academics/Courses/aae450/2015/spring

Note: To take a hard look at Mars Exploration, check out the new Buzz Aldrin book in softcover — with a new special essay — available May 5th from National Geographic.

More information on the new release is available at:

https://www.leonarddavid.com/hard-look-at-mars-exploration-new-buzz-aldrin-book-in-softcover/