A new study proposes a method for completing a round trip to Mars in under a year, based on orbital geometry derived from near-Earth asteroids.
A study published in the journal Acta Astronautica in April has identified a possible method for completing round trips to Mars in less than one year. The proposed trajectory could reduce current mission timelines, which typically require nearly three years for a full round trip due to planetary alignment constraints.
Key Findings
The study, authored by Marcelo de Oliveira Souza, a cosmologist at the State University of Northern Rio de Janeiro, analyzed early orbital estimates of asteroid 2001 CA21. Initial data indicated that the asteroid's path crossed both Earth's and Mars' orbital zones during the October 2020 opposition, suggesting geometrically short routes between the two planets.
For the 2031 Mars opposition, Souza identified a specific round-trip mission opportunity with the following timeline:
- Departure from Earth: April 20, 2031
- Arrival at Mars: May 23, 2031 (33-day transit)
- Surface stay: 30 days
- Return to Earth: September 20, 2031 (90-day return transit)
- Total mission duration: 153 days
This trajectory requires a departure speed of approximately 27 km/s, comparable to the speed of NASA's New Horizons probe (16.26 km/s).
Alternative Trajectories
A lower-energy alternative within the same 2031 planetary alignment window would require a departure speed of approximately 16.5 km/s and result in a total mission duration of about 226 days.
During the October 2020 opposition, calculations showed a 34-day Earth-to-Mars transit was geometrically possible. However, this required departure speeds of 32.5 km/s and arrival speeds considered too high for existing landing systems.
Methodology
Souza's approach employed Lambert analysis, constrained to within 5 degrees of the asteroid's orbital tilt, to identify viable trajectories. The researcher stated he was not actively seeking this finding but was analyzing near-Earth asteroids in 2015 when the orbital data suggested potential ultra-short routes between Earth and Mars.
Technical Considerations
The study notes that the high speeds required for such missions are comparable to those achieved by the New Horizons mission and could be within reach of next-generation launch vehicles, such as SpaceX's Starship or Blue Origin's New Glenn.
However, the concept remains theoretical and depends on factors including spacecraft design, payload mass, and propulsion capabilities.