How Much Delta V from LEO to mars orbit and back?

[DerpenWolf]

So I'm just wondering how much Delta-V you would need to get from LEO to any mars capture and back to LEO (any aerobraking is allowed as long as it is something that reusable heat shielding that is designed to return to earth from LEO can tolerate!).

[Rus-Evo]

I would also like to know that.

[Redjoker]

This should answer your question and any other you might have on delta-v requirements in our solar system.

http://i.imgur.com/SqdzxzF.png

[Kryten]

Approximately 6.1km/s, of which the last 1.4km/s is the orbital insertion burn and could be reduced through aerobraking.

[Dkmdlb]

Why do you ask?

[Redhotita1]

Approximately 6.1km/s, of which the last 1.4km/s is the orbital insertion burn and could be reduced through aerobraking.

Actually you need about 13km/s for get in Mars's orbit and about 3km/s for get back, Aerobraking on both Mars and Earth

Edited July 29, 2014 by Redhotita1

[DerpenWolf]

Why do you ask?

Evil planning, however data gathering comes first, I'll probably make a thread on my idea later

[cpast]

Actually you need about 13km/s for get in Mars's orbit and about 3km/s for get back, Aerobraking on both Mars and Earth

Source? The question was from LEO to Mars orbit, not ground level to Mars orbit.

[Ralathon]

You need an escape burn of about 3.5km/s. From interplanetary transfer to orbit can be done via aerobraking. Then another 2.1km/s for the escape burn back. You can use the earths atmosphere to slow down from the transfer.

Add it all up for 5.1 km/s of dV.

[cpast]

You need an escape burn of about 3.5km/s. From interplanetary transfer to orbit can be done via aerobraking. Then another 2.1km/s for the escape burn back. You can use the earths atmosphere to slow down from the transfer.

Add it all up for 5.1 km/s of dV.

Scratch "landing" and "back to orbit"; the question was to orbit and back, not to surface and back..

EDIT: And you edited it between my seeing it and posting; never mind.

[Ralathon]

Scratch "landing" and "back to orbit"; the question was to orbit and back, not to surface and back..

EDIT: And you edited it between my seeing it and posting; never mind.

You didn't see anything.... Now shush before I release the ninjas again!

[K^2]

There isn't really a single answer, because it all depends on mission complexity, relative positions of relevant bodies, and on whether you want to enter Mars' orbit, or just do a fly-by.

The least expensive Mars fly-by mission with free return to Earth, via Lunar and Earth fly-by can be done with less delta-V than it takes to enter Geosynchronous orbit. (A touch over 3km/s from LEO.) It is, however, an incredibly complex mission that would take years. Basic Hohmann transfer is very simple, but requires you to burn to Earth escape, and then to establish transfer. Map from Redjoker's link gives an outline, but it has a completely wrong number for Earth-Mars transfer. Realistic number there is about 3km/s, depending on position of Mars at intercept. At any rate, that gives you a total of about 6.2km/s for a free-return.

So for a fly-by, you'll want anywhere between 3km/s and 6.2km/s depending on mission complexity.

If you plan to enter Mars' orbit, you'll first need to match speeds with the Red planet, which will cost you about 2.6km/s and then break for about 30% of escape velocity to actually make orbit. So that's another 1.5km/s. A lot of this can be saved via aero-braking, but you will have to burn it again to make return. The absolute minimum, therefore, is 3.1km/s, with 5.7km/s being more realistic, meaning a capture burn with aerobraking to circularize orbit.

So if you are planning a safe, reliable mission to Mars orbit with a return to Earth, you are looking at about 12km/s. With high risk and long duration, you can bring it down to 4.5km/s using multiple fly-bys and aerocaptures.