stage, like Ares V or its follower SLS Block 2, would send the Descent/Ascent Vehicle (DAV), Mars Surface Habitat and Cargo elements to Mars orbit uncrewed. The DAV would aerocapture into Mars orbit, preparing it for rendezvous with the manned Transit Habitat to arrive later. The Surface Habitat and Cargo would likely do direct entry. One advantage of the combined Descent/Ascent Vehicle as the spacecraft used for the manned landing, is that it could perform an abort to orbit. A number of technologies for the descent stages were looked at, especially supersonic retro-propulsion for Mars atmospheric entry, but were otherwise very traditional with a large heat shield and retro rockets for final landing. Some concepts for the Surface Habitat include an inflatable structure and using the descent propellant tanks for waste storage. Estimated Mass of the Surface Habitat in the study was 52 metric tons. The Power/Logistics lander had the same predicted Mass (they would weigh less on Mars than on Earth). The Power/Logistic module would contain 2 Pressurized Rovers, with space for 2-Crew each. The pressurized rovers would be powered by a 5 kilowatt Stirling radioisotope generator on each rover. The P/L module would also include 2 mobile generators for surface power, as well as additional consumables and science equipment. The surface habitat would have two 5 kilowatt radioisotope Stirling generators and an ISRU oxygen generator. Unlike DRA 5.0 or Mars Direct however, In-situ resource utilization (ISRU) would not be used to produce propellent for the ascent into Mars orbit. After remote controlled deployment of this equipment on Mars, the Transit Habitat would carry the crew to the planet where it docks with the pre-sent MAV. The MAV lands on the surface where the crew lives in the habitat supported by the power and logistics module. After finishing their research they use the ascent vehicle to return to the Mars Transit Habitat, see also Mars Orbit Rendezvous. It brings them back to earth orbit, from where they return to the surface with the Orion spacecraft. See also Advanced Stirling radioisotope generator Mars Design Reference Mission References Further reading Human Missions to Mars: Comprehensive Collection of NASA Plans, Proposals, Current Thinking and Ongoing Research on Manned Mars Exploration, Robotic Precursors, Science Goals, Design Reference Mission (2012) External links NASA - DRA 5.0 Comments on Human Exploration of Mars Design Reference Architecture 5.0 Human missions to Mars NASA