Inspenet, August 3, 2023.
NASA has planned that the first launch of the Mars Ascent Vehicle (MAV) rocket from the surface of Mars will be carried out using two solid fuel engines. It is scheduled for June 2028 and the samples are expected to reach Earth in the early 2030s.
The MAV is part of the Mars Sample Return (MSR) program, whose objective is to bring samples from the Red Planet to Earth for study and scientific analysis.
The Mars Ascent Vehicle development team has conducted successful tests of the first and second stage solid rocket motors critical to launching the vehicle from the surface of Mars. This information has been shared through a Europa Press article that collects details of the project.
The MAV mission is intended to investigate the early evolution of Mars and search for possible signs of ancient life through samples collected by the Perseverance rover.
To ensure mission success, the team conducts rigorous testing of the vehicle’s design and components.
SRM1 and SRM2 will be solid fuel engines
During the launch from Mars, the MAV will use the SRM1 and SRM2 engines, which will provide it with the necessary power to move away from the surface and into the appropriate orbit, thus allowing the Earth Return Orbiter to capture the container with the samples.
The engine tests were carried out in a vacuum chamber cooled to a temperature of -20° Celsius. In this process, a split-line supersonic nozzle was used, an innovation designed to allow the MAV to cope with the extreme cold found on Mars.
The split-line supersonic nozzle has reached a TRL-6 level of technological maturity, indicating that it has successfully passed full-scale vacuum and hot fire tests. It will then undergo additional testing to ensure the nozzle can withstand the demanding conditions during launch and the MAV’s journey into space.
Source and photo: https://www.diariodigital.com.do/2023/08/01/el-primer-cohete-que-despegue-de-otro-mundo-llevara-dos-motores-solidos.html/