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S88-35629 (1988)--- (Artist's concept of possible exploration programs.) The amount of mass that must be lifted from Earth for human missions to Mars can be reduced by as much as 50 percent if a structure called an aerobrake is employed. The Mars landing vehicle depicted here uses a "molly bolt" design that allows the aerobrake to be deployed in a flat shape for atmospheric entry and landing, and then retracted to form a smooth conical shape for ascent. Artwork done by Pat Rawlings.
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