This is a preliminary version of the Mars Project - to think about the time it takes to complete a Mars mission. Consider the following simplified Earth to Mars transfer: • Departs Earth • Enter Mars orbit • Orbit Mars orbit for some time • Exit Mars orbit to return • Enter Earth orbit a. What is the flight time, in days, from Earth to Mars? What is the return flight time? [Answer: 258.83 days] b. Where does Mars need to be (outbound) to reach it at the end of the Hohmann transfer (tip: 180° "later"). [Answer: 44.329°] c. To return to Earth with a Hohmann transfer, the opposite will need to be true: Earth must be at a specific angle at the time of departure from Mars for the spacecraft to reach Earth's orbit when Earth is there. What is that angle? [Answer: -75.097°] d. When is the first opportunity to return to Earth for that optimal Hohmann transfer? [Answer: 454.70 days] e. What is the total round trip time to Mars for this ideal Hohmann transfer?

Physics for Scientists and Engineers: Foundations and Connections
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Author:Katz, Debora M.
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This is a preliminary version of the Mars Project - to think about the time it takes to
complete a Mars mission. Consider the following simplified Earth to Mars transfer:
• Departs Earth
• Enter Mars orbit
• Orbit Mars orbit for some time
•
Exit Mars orbit to return
• Enter Earth orbit
a. What is the flight time, in days, from Earth to Mars? What is the return flight time?
[Answer: 258.83 days]
b. Where does Mars need to be (outbound) to reach it at the end of the Hohmann
transfer (tip: 180° "later").
[Answer: 44.329°]
c. To return to Earth with a Hohmann transfer, the opposite will need to be true:
Earth must be at a specific angle at the time of departure from Mars for the
spacecraft to reach Earth's orbit when Earth is there. What is that angle?
[Answer: -75.097°]
d. When is the first opportunity to return to Earth for that optimal Hohmann transfer?
[Answer: 454.70 days]
e. What is the total round trip time to Mars for this ideal Hohmann transfer?
Transcribed Image Text:This is a preliminary version of the Mars Project - to think about the time it takes to complete a Mars mission. Consider the following simplified Earth to Mars transfer: • Departs Earth • Enter Mars orbit • Orbit Mars orbit for some time • Exit Mars orbit to return • Enter Earth orbit a. What is the flight time, in days, from Earth to Mars? What is the return flight time? [Answer: 258.83 days] b. Where does Mars need to be (outbound) to reach it at the end of the Hohmann transfer (tip: 180° "later"). [Answer: 44.329°] c. To return to Earth with a Hohmann transfer, the opposite will need to be true: Earth must be at a specific angle at the time of departure from Mars for the spacecraft to reach Earth's orbit when Earth is there. What is that angle? [Answer: -75.097°] d. When is the first opportunity to return to Earth for that optimal Hohmann transfer? [Answer: 454.70 days] e. What is the total round trip time to Mars for this ideal Hohmann transfer?
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