Mars Shot Project

The Mars Shot Project was a pre-War space program initiated by the United States Space Administration to reach Mars, with a launch date scheduled for July 2078. 
==Background==
The program involved vast contracts for civilian companies. One of its primary beneficiaries was ArcJet Systems, accepted in August 2075 as the contractor for the propulsion and communications systems. ArcJet did, in fact, start work on the XMB booster engine before securing the contract.ArcJet Systems terminal entries; CEO's terminal, Mars Shot Project notes 08-2075 
This gamble paid off and allowed them to promise delivery at least a year before the launch date. To accomplish this feat, the company siphoned Dr. Rory McClellan away from his military contracting job, believing that his aptitude with nuclear propulsion systems would leave them with time to spare.ArcJet Systems terminal entries; CEO's terminal, Mars Shot Project notes 09-2075 They were correct, managing to complete the first functional booster in December 2075, with just four months' delay and despite losing employees to the draft. At least two technicians, Rand and Janowski, were drafted into the military during their work on the XMB project.Discarded ArcJet worklog Despite some issues in 2276 regarding the XMB being over the USSA's strict weight allowance, the issue was resolved by McClellan's team and the booster was anticipated to have its first test firing right after the New Year.ArcJet Systems terminal entries; CEO's terminal, Mars Shot Project Notes 11-2076 An accident during this test led to a photographer being burned to ash after they wandered past Arcjet's security and into the Engine Core while the demonstration was being prepared for.ArcJet Systems terminal entries; CEO's terminal, Mars Shot Project Notes 03-2077 Arcjet attempted to cover up this accident, worried that if the event became public, the company would quickly go under.
The other project of the company involved the deep range transmitter, a highly advanced radio communications system designed to enable interplanetary communications. Although preliminary work was completed, culminating in the creation of a working unit, a scientist reassigned away from XMB fuel mixture work managed to boost its communications range by 70% inside three weeks, allowing the USSA's ship to ping a signal back and forth within ten minutes, while eventually managing to reduce the unit's size by half to match the target volume.ArcJet Systems terminal entries; lab terminal, Lab Report - Deep Range Transmitter 02
However, the entire project was eventually delayed due to "unrest overseas" in 2077 and would never be fully realized because of its culmination in the form of the Great War.ArcJet Systems terminal entries; CEO's terminal, Mars Shot Project notes 09-2077
Despite attempting to cover up the death at the XMB testing, the accident leaked to the public and caused a massive PR disaster for the Mars Shot Project. The USSA lent Hubris Comics several props and actual military equipment to be featured in the finale of the live-action Captain Cosmos series to create "good press" for the project.Hub 360 terminal entries On the day of the Great War, another incident would occur as unbeknownst to the film crew, the USSA had sent a functional energy weapon instead of a prop as had been expected.
The day after the Great War, Hans Memling, former CTO of ArcJet, reminisced on where he would be if not for Vault 96, mentioning that he may have been the one to dig Thomas Reinhardt out of the Mars Shot hole.Vault 96 terminal entries; engineering workstation; Personal Logs; Personal Log - 10/24/77 
==Appearances==
The Mars Shot Project is mentioned in Fallout 4 and the Fallout: The Roleplaying Game Rulebook.Fallout: The Roleplaying Game Rulebook p.235: "Although most people either don't know Mars Shot existed, or assume it was abandoned in the Great War, a few believe the project continued or was even accelerated. What, after all, would be a better move than to get off-planet in the days the planet almost died?It's possible a few dozen or hundred humans live on Mars, in the lap of high-tech luxury, sparing their suffering Earthling brothers and sisters little thought. If that is so, it's possible ArcJet's deep-range transmitter could contact them for one reason or another."
==Behind the scenes==
The canceled Fallout 3, Van Buren, would have featured the Hermes-XIII and Hermes XIV Mars mission rockets. Both were originally planned to be used for the USSA's last manned mission to Mars before being repurposed by the United States and Enclave for purposes related to the B.O.M.B.-001, B.O.M.B.-002, and leaving the planet.
==References==
Non-game
Category:ArcJet Systems
Category:United States Space Administration
ru:Проект «Марс»
uk:Проект «Марс»