Year of the design |
Design features |
1960 |
- Use of electric propulsion for interplanetary
transit powered by a 7 MW nuclear reactor;
- Crew of 6;
- Delivery to Martian surface of a group of vehicles
to make up a self-propelled train
|
1969 |
- Reactor power increased to 15 MW;
- Crew cut down to 4;
- Switch to a stationary "headlight"-shaped
lander with frontal heat shield
|
1987 |
- Switch to two independent nuclear reactors to
increase flight reliability;
- Changed shape of the lander (lifting body instead
of "headlight" with heat shield)
|
1988 |
- Replacement of nuclear power plant with a solar
power plant based on a film-type photoelectric converter
|
1999 |
- Modular design for the solar arrays;
- Changed shape of the lander;
- Switch from one lander to two (a manned and a
logistics lander)
|