Guide:Ares (Mars mission class)
| |
| Ares | |
|---|---|
| Class Overview | |
| Category | ISA mission spacecraft |
| Operational | 2030-2032 |
| Constructed | 5 |
| Dimensions | |
| Length | 93.2 m 76.5 m (w/o Martian Lander) |
| Beam | 59.9 m 16.2 m (w/o panels) |
| Height | 104.0 m 30.8 m (w/o panels, pod) |
| Mass | 1,350 tons |
| Performance | |
| Max Speed | 0.16c |
| Endurance | 4 months |
| Complement | |
| Crew | 3
|
| Tactical Systems | |
| Shields | EM fields |
| Laboratories | 1x planetary sciences |
| Auxiliary Craft | 1x Martian Lander 1x escape capsule |
Alongside the ongoing Aphrodite and Aventeur, the Ares series of missions was the ISA's initial (but long delayed) attempt to reassert humanity's presence upon Mars. While there was a general consensus that the planet needed to be revisited, the 'when' was up for debate: the fall of the Great Khanate in 1996 surely resulted in the complete loss of all life on the planet, but there was still concern about (non-evident) automated defenses that might result in a mission loss. After a number of fly-bys by probes reminiscent of the mid- and late-20th century, there was enough interest to finally fund an international effort, but a limited one. There wasn't a great deal of interest in expending copious amounts of limited funding in a major effort, just to see if fall to Khan's final flails from the afterlife. Instead, a more traditional exploration series of missions would be conducted and if those demonstrated mission security, then efforts could be re-evaluated.
Unfortunately, Ares IV did lead to a major mission failure, though fortunately not of all hands. USNS Odin was launched early to recover the two planet-side astronauts and though no sign of the Tohils command capsule was ever found (before 2376 anyway), enough confidence was had that the 'Augments' were not responsible. Following a delay for a proper investigation of all data and telemetry, efforts were restarted to fully settle the Red Planet.
Missions
- USNS Anhur - Ares I (2030): named for the Egyptian god of war; equipment function test; first manned return to Mars; length of stay limited to 2 days[1]
- USNS Mangala - Ares II (2031): named for the Hindu god of war; additional equipment function test; 1 week stay[2]
- USNS Guan Yu - Ares III (2032): named for the Chinese god of war; testing of base longevity equipment; 3 week stay[3][4]
- USNS Tohil - Ares IV (2032): named for the Mayan god of war; core sample mission and initial colony establishment (equipment installation); mission failure when command capsule disappears on October 19th[3][4][5][6]
- USNS Odin - Ares V (2032): named for the Norse god of war; early launch for rescue mission of Ares IV's Rose Kumagawa and Andrei Novakovich on the surface; arrives November 9th[3][5]
Gallery
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Mission series patch
Notes
- In order to not have the Columbus series craft as too fast (arriving at destinations pre-First Contact), all max speeds have been drastically reduced, (except for the DY-50).