Two Stages to Mars – The Case for Interplanetary Waypoints in Earth/Mars Transit

Join AIAA Houston for a lunch-n-learn on a novel approach to the challenges of Earth-Mars transits.

Doors open at 11am in the Gilruth Center’s Lone Star room for a catered lunch by Maggiano’s Little Italy. Astrodynamicist Dan Adamo will join us virtually from Oregon to present on “Spanning the Earth/Mars Chasm with Interplanetary Synodic-Resonant Waypoints”. Dan’s remarks will offer compelling rationale for a staged approach to Earth-Mars transits leveraging novel ‘waypoints’ instead of a nonstop trajectory current mission designs favor.

Working professionals are encouraged to come and go anytime between 11am and 1pm to catch all or part of Dan’s lecture and its accompanying Q&A. Online only attendees will receive Google Meets link after registration.

• WHAT: AIAA Houston lunch-n-learn – “Spanning the Earth/Mars Chasm with Interplanetary Synodic-Resonant Waypoints” by Dan Adamo

• WHEN: 11am-1pm Tuesday March 18; working professionals are invited to come and go as their schedules allow

• WHERE: Gilruth Center Lone Star Room (2nd floor) 18600 Space Center Blvd, Houston, TX 77058

• LUNCH OPTIONS: Maggiano’s Little Italy (Italian Chopped Salad, Rigatoni D, and Spaghetti Marinara with Iced Tea) 

• COST: $15 per attendee for lunch 

Lecture abstract

Since Dr. Wernher von Braun first addressed the problem of flying humans to Mars in 1948, achieving that "horizon goal" on the human spaceflight roadmap has elusively remained about 20 years in the future. Since at least the stagecoach and Pony Express era, human transport technology has solved difficult problems by breaking the route into staged segments. Even the problem of sending humans into low Earth orbit (LEO) still requires rockets with multiple stages, while plans for LEO and cislunar propellant depots abound.

Why then do roadmaps insist on nonstop Earth/Mars transits? This presentation will introduce the novel concept of waypoints stationed in orbits coplanar/concentric with Earth's and 19.5% farther from the Sun to naturally maintain a synodic period of 4.27 years, exactly twice that of Mars with Earth. By planning a brief stop at a waypoint during an Earth/Mars transit, more cargo mass can be delivered to more destinations than with a contemporaneous nonstop itinerary. Four synodic-resonant waypoints cover all Earth/Mars transit opportunities, serve as Earth/Mars communication relays, and offer useful forward/turnaround abort options not available to nonstop transits.

About Dan Adamo

Mr. Adamo is an astrodynamics consultant focused on space mission trajectory design, operations, and architecture. He works with clients primarily at NASA and in academia. Until retirement in 2008, Mr. Adamo was employed by United Space Alliance as a trajectory expert, serving as a “front room” flight controller for 60 Space Shuttle missions. Along with console duties during simulations and missions, this job entailed development of trajectory designs, software tools, flight rules, console procedures, and operations concepts.

Mr. Adamo began his career at the Perkin-Elmer Corporation where he developed and operated proof-of-concept software for computer-controlled polishing of optical elements. He has degrees in Physical Sciences and Optical Engineering from the University of Houston and the University of Rochester, respectively.

Mr. Adamo is an AIAA Associate Fellow and the author of many publications (ref. https://www.aiaahouston.org/adamo_astrodynamics/). He has received numerous awards, including 14 NASA Group Achievement Awards.

About AIAA Houston

AIAA Houston advances the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) mission across the Houston, Texas metropolitan area.

AIAA Houston executes a set of high-quality programs throughout the year to provide AIAA members -- and the Houston aerospace community at large -- with opportunities for continuing education, professional growth, and accomplishment recognition. Events are generally open to the public and often include AIAA member-only perks.