Mars Cycler visualization by Walter Myers

Mars cycler is a specialized orbital trajectory designed to shuttle spacecraft between Earth and Mars on a regular, repeating schedule. First proposed by astronaut Buzz Aldrin in the mid-1980s, a cycler orbit intersects both planets’ paths repeatedly, allowing a dedicated transport vehicle - the "cycler" - to swing by Earth, pick up crew or cargo, then cruise through interplanetary space before encountering Mars again. Because the cycler itself never needs to slow down or perform large propulsive maneuvers to match planetary velocities, only small “taxi” vehicles are required to ferry astronauts between the cycler and each planet. This minimizes the delta‑V (fuel) requirements for the main habitat, making long-term habitation modules, radiation shelters, or artificial‑gravity setups more economical and sustainable across multiple missions.



Beyond fuel savings, cycler systems offer significant advantages for crew health and mission logistics. The consistent schedule - typically once every 2.1 years for Earth-Mars synodic alignment - means that life‑support, water, and radiation shielding infrastructure can remain aboard the cycler, reducing the need to rebuild or resupply large habitats for each departure. Cyclers can also be designed to generate artificial gravity through rotation, mitigating the deleterious effects of microgravity on astronauts during the months‑long journey. However, practical implementation faces challenges: fine-tuning phasing maneuvers to ensure planetary fly‑bys occur at the correct times, performing occasional station‑keeping burns to counter perturbations, and integrating Earth and Mars rendezvous vehicles into a coherent logistical framework. Despite these complexities, Mars cyclers remain a compelling vision for establishing a reliable, reusable link between Earth and the Red Planet.

Here is a visualization of a Mars Cycler by US sci-fi artist Walter Myers:

60 year challenge for humanity: 1969 - Moon, 2029 - Mars

Today 50 years ago first humans - 2 out of 3 Apollo 11 crew members Neil Armstrong & Buzz Aldrin - landed on the Moon. But since then the advancement of human space exploration has been slow. It changed only in recent years with the rise of private space companies, especially SpaceX with its determined focus on rocket reusability and colonization of Mars. Now we have a real chance to land first humans on Mars as soon as 10 years from now, maybe even sooner.

Human colony on Mars for Buzz Aldrin's "Welcome to Mars" book

Impressive cover art of human colony on Mars with several domes and parks for "Welcome to Mars: Making a Home on the Red Planet" book for kids. It was written by Marianne J. Dyson and Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin (2nd on the Moon) and published in 2015 by National Geographic Children's Books.