[Spaceships] [High-Tech] [Action] Cydonia Or Bust, TL8

[vicky_molokh]

Okay, some replies are in order.

First, I must re-emphasise that this is a thought experiment, not a case from a campaign. Notably, I'm not specifying why the team has to enter the complex. A capture is a good one, but sufficient hardening against an external explosion might be another reason.

Regarding secrets and not: the idea is that humanity is sufficiently informed and motivated that several large states (and many smaller ones) are willing to dedicate significant parts of their budgets to the project, but not motivated enough for them to, say, scrap all military spending and use them on the Cydonia Or Bust project instead.

Regarding the return trip: given the grittiness of the original setting, a one-way trip seems appropriate; on the other, Armageddon gives us a precedent of a story where a return trip is at least hoped for. Since the primary concern about a return trip is in the shipbuilding section, I guess we can examine both variants.

On available technologies: specifically anything that is considered TL8 or less, and neither Superscience nor Divergent, is fair game. Thus Ion Drives are fair game, and use SS stats. This also means that growing food is not a major undertaking. Of personal gear, High-Tech and whatever else is TL8 or less, as above.

Now, on actual numbers:
12mps is the amount required for an Earth-Mars trip in 6 months.
3.1mps is the required amount for a Mars take-off.
As per SS1p40, Mars Landing will require 0.1mps×0.38==0.038mps per attempt.

So, the lander needs something around 4mps of ΔV and at least about ½G of acceleration for a two-way trip.
The travel module will require 24mps for the round trip, and has to be put into space somehow (not necessarily by a single launch - being delivered piece by piece and assembled might end up more efficient, I'm not sure).

The solutions for the lander I'm seeing: A single-stage SM+9 craft actually seems attractive.
External Pulsed Plasma (2G, 3mps/tank), two tanks of nuclear bombs for it,
Ion Drive (0.0005G), 7 fuel tanks for it (total 25mps),
4 rear armour plates (Metalic Laminate), 2 more for front and centre, unstreamlined.
Control Room, Open Space (0.1 Acres), Habitat (20 cabins).
Total cost under $100M, but needs to be refueled after reaching Terran orbit (6mps of nukes should probably be enough to bring it into an orbit stable enough for the first refuel, then break orbit, then refuel again).
Yes, a secondary support craft seems to be needed for this launch (a two-stage would probably be too expensive). But if all else fails, 1 or half a tank worth of Ionisables can be traded for 1 or ½ a tank of nukes, increasing flight time but easing launch.

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So, given the extra problem of 6months in flight, how would the team be prepared and equipped?