Asteroid Mining and a stop at Mars

From: "victoriatangoman"
To:
Sent: Wednesday, March 13, 2002 3:56 PM
Subject: [spacesettlers] Asteroid Mining and a stop at Mars

[snikt]
> I'm thinking that there must be some asteroids that we could
> encounter on a trip to Mars, or as I like to think of it, on our
> trip to the asteroid to set up the automated mining operation, we
> can then continue onto a rendevous with Mars.
>
> Can both missions be combined?
>

Not according to the Zubrinites, who are very efficient in dictating Mars
exploration policies . In their vision, there must be no intermediary steps
in a trip to Mars...

> Take at look at the orbit of the asteroid 2002 DU3. Of course, I
> realize that just because the orbits are close, really means jack
> squat. That's why I'm hoping someone on this list how has the math
> skill to address the delta-v question and the placement of the
> asteroid and Mars question so one could plot a departure from LEo,
> arrival at asteroid, and after a given period, continue onto Mars.
>
> http://neo.jpl.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/db?name 02+DU3
[snikt]

What a cool applet!

I'm no expert in orbital mechanics, but I remember someone saying that
changing your orbital plane is very expensive. Based just on that, a mission
like the one that you are proposing seems to be difficult, for the mission
would have to leave the Ecliptic Plane in order to rendezvous with the
asteroid and then go back to the Ecliptic in order to land on Mars...

But, again, that is not a gut feeling like in my previous post - but it is
an educated guess ;-). I apologize for my ignorance!

Lucio Coelho