| Mars Mission Profile |
| 1. |
Two expedition ships assembled in Earth orbit (Image) |
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5. |
Depart from Mars orbit 28 October 1982 (Image) |
| 2. |
Inserted into near-Hohmann trajectory to Mars 12 November 1981 (Image) |
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6. |
Venus swing-by 28 February 1983, brakes speed and deflects path for fast return to Earth. Probes released into atmosphere of Venus. (Image) |
| 3. |
Ships inserted into 24-hr elliptical orbit around Mars 9 August 1982 (Image) |
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7. |
Insertion into Earth orbit 14 August 1983. Crews trasfer to Space Shuttle for return to Earth's surface |
| 4. |
Period of Mars exploration, including deployment of unmanned probes and landing excursions by three crew from each ship (Image) |
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Dates are those used in the original study for round trip lasting 640 days |
