Artist rendering of NASA’s Space Launch System carrying the
Orion crew module to space (Photo: NASA)
Orion crew module to space (Photo: NASA)
Development of the Orion spacecraft will now be ramping up in preparation for Exploration Mission 1—the module’s first journey to the Moon and into deep space. This feat will act as a dress rehearsal for a crewed asteroid retrieval mission in lunar orbit and be a major stepping stone for NASA’s manned mission to Mars.
The Orion was designed as an exploration-class vehicle to take Astronauts farther than any person has ever travelled and will be the spacecraft that eventually propels humans to the red planet. Crew members can be launched to deep space aboard Orion while the vehicle provides emergency abort capability in the event of a malfunction. It will sustain Astronauts during space travel before safely returning them home from high velocities.
Since last summer, engineers at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans—one of the largest manufacturing plants in the world—have been busy welding together the Orion’s crucial underlying structure. The facility, part of NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, once hosted Chrysler and Boeing during the construction of the Apollo-era Saturn rockets and was even used for manufacturing parts of the Space Shuttle.
The Orion crew module pressure vessel was flown to Kennedy Space Center from the Michoud Assembly facility on NASA’s Super Guppy turbine aircraft. After touching down at the historic Space Shuttle Landing facility, the crew module was offloaded then transported to the high bay of the Neil Armstrong Operations & Checkout Facility for mounting on “the birdcage” test stand. “There’s a lot of work ahead of us and we’re happy to have another spacecraft in process” remarked Orion Operations Manager at Kennedy, Jules Schneider.
“EM-1 will take Orion and the Space Launch system into a high lunar orbit and that’s actually the orbit that NASA has identified to do the asteroid retrieval mission that will bring a large boulder into that orbit” explained Lockheed Martin’s Orion Program Manager, Mike Hawes, to the Observer. “This will essentially be a dress rehearsal for that mission. To go and prove Orion systems and come home.”
Starting immediately, the Orion crew module will undergo further testing and be outfitted with the necessary components and subsystems for Exploration Mission 1. This includes the vital heat-shielding thermal protection system—technology needed for the vehicle’s hull integrity to remain in-tact during atmospheric re-entry. The Orion’s cone design is time-tested and was proven successful with the Apollo missions. “The shape of Orion is the right shape to return at a high speed re-entry as opposed to a winged vehicle” said Mike Hawes.
The Orion will undergo the installation of over 30 flight-systems in 2016 that include navigation equipment, power management, and data processing. Lockheed expects these components to be fully manufactured and tested in time for Orion’s official power-on that is scheduled for early 2017. “A year from now is when we will have enough of the systems on to power up the spacecraft” Jules Schneider noted.
The 2018 mission will take the Space Launch System along with Orion thousands of miles beyond the Moon and will break the record for the furthest a human-capable vehicle as ever travelled. “This EM-1 mission—I think the public will be excited when it starts getting close. It will be the first time we are on the SLS and when people realize we are going past the Moon, it will be kind of cool” Jules Schneider explained to the Observer. “This is a 21-day mission and we’re going 70,000 KM past the Moon. The reason it’s 21 days is because you really want to stress all the systems to their design capability before you put people on board. So that’s really what the high-level objective of EM-1 is.”
Exploration Mission 1 and its follow-up, the Asteroid retrieval mission or Exploration Mission 2 (EM-2), will mark NASA’s return to the Moon and will pave the way for the agency’s human mission to Mars by testing longer duration flights. EM-2 will also be the first time humans have left low-Earth orbit since the final Apollo mission and will mark the first time anyone has travelled beyond the International Space Station since its construction.
“The Moon is roughly a thousand times further than the International Space Station. Mars is roughly a million times further than the Space Station so it’s a huge journey” said NASA Astronaut Stan Love. “A lot of folks have the idea that the Space Station is kind of halfway to the planets. We’re just barely above the clouds. Mars is an enormous undertaking and not everybody realizes how enormous it is.”
The design of the Orion crew module closely resembles the Apollo module but will need to accompany the extra materials or consumables needed for the long journey to Mars as well as living space for the Astronauts. “For Mars, we know that we’ll need more consumables so we anticipate a habitat module and additional propulsion systems that will be needed for that” Mike Hawes told the Observer. “All those things factor into the ultimate design.”
Robin Seemangal focuses on NASA and advocacy for space exploration. He was born and raised in Brooklyn, where he currently resides. Find him on Instagram for more space-related content: @not_gatsby
http://www.businessinsider.com/
8 charts reveal mind-boggling numbers about the monster rocket NASA is building to shuttle astronauts to Mars
NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center
Earlier this month, NASA announced the first mission it will be launching aboard its monster rocket, called the Space Launch System.
In 2018, NASA will send 13 shoe-box sized satellites, called CubeSats, to study, for example, different aspects of life in space and ice deposits on the moon.
Eventually, this rocket is destined for NASA's future deep-space missions to Mars, and beyond.
Taller than the Statue of Liberty and capable of carrying more than twice the payload weight of any of NASA'S former space shuttles, the Space Launch System will transport four astronauts at a time on board the agency's Orion spacecraft farther into space than any human has ever ventured before. The first unmanned test flight of this rocket is scheduled for September 2018.
NASA's Marhsall Space Flight Center has created a series of charts and infographics that show just how revolutionary this rocket will be for the future of spaceflight.
NASA will have to step it up to get a human into deep space — something they haven't done for more than 40 years. Here's where they're starting from:
Check out past achievements for how far humans have ventured into space and where the SLS will take us next:
And here's how the SLS compares to its predecessors:
Learn about the work horses of the rocket: the two rocket boosters on either end highlighted in blue. Each are taller than the Statue of Liberty.
Inside of SLS's monster rocket boosters is the most powerful rocket motor in the world. They call it QM-1. Check it out below:
The first version of SLS, called "70t" (shown on left), will carry over 150,000 pounds to space. Over time, NASA will upgrade the rocket to its "130t" version (on right) capable of transporting over 285,000 pounds to deep space.
Here's a piece-by-piece break down of the 70t SLS.
And a breakdown of the more powerful upgrade: the 130t SLS.
Look Up, America: China Is Playing By Its Own Rules in Space
In the film The Martian, China reluctantly decides to come to the aid of the United States in space. While this makes for a typically saccharine Hollywood ending, the deliberation portrayed reflects a real and growing uncertainty over China’s integration as a cooperative or competitive member of the international order. And, like in the movie, China is asserting itself not only on the globe, but in outer space as well.
That China is pushing back against the U.S.-led international order is no secret. Beijing is exerting pressure through various avenues: duplicating the architecture of the international order, bolstering its military capacity and challenging access in the global commons. While much attention has been focused on China’s pursuits in the Asia Pacific and within the global economic system, Beijing is also advancing its interests in the stars above.
Take for example China’s plans for a manned space station. Due largely to counterproductive U.S. legislation, China has been barred from participating in the International Space Station. Rather than call it quits, Beijing has resolved to make its own station instead. If this sounds familiar, it’s because China has reacted in the same way when denied inclusion as an equal in prominent international institutions on Earth. The textbook example of this is China’s launch of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) following the U.S. Congress’s refusal to allow Beijing a greater say in the International Monetary Fund, a mainstay of the Western-led international order. Experts believe Chinese motivation for the space station is their unmet desire to be accepted as a major power that sets the rules on the world stage, which echoes the motivation analysts infer for the AIIB. And as with the AIIB, which attracted fifty-seven founding nations, including close U.S. allies, the Chinese space station is pulling major powers into Beijing’s orbit. The European Space Agency and others have already voiced interest and signed preliminary cooperation agreements.
Also significant is China’s buildup of its military capability, a key component of its potential to exert influence over the international order. This has extended into Earth’s orbit, where China has advanced its anti-satellite (ASAT), command and control, and intelligence technology, in line with a military doctrine that underscores the importance of parity in space. This has strong implications for the United States and the international order it undergirds, as U.S. superiority in the “ultimate high ground” of space gives the American military a technological edge that is indispensable on the modern battlefield.
With growing military capacity comes the ability to contest freedom of movement in the global commons. In the expansive global commons of outer space, China’s ASAT technology affords it an increasing ability to deny access and disrupt assets critical to the global economy. While these same developments unfolding in the South and East China Seas are of more immediate concern, free movement of satellites within space is vital, contributing to approximately $1.6 trillion of U.S. commercial revenue.
The prescription for dealing with Chinese pressure on the international order is much the same in space as on land: build on the order’s strengths, and adjust it for an increasingly multipolar environment. The United States should pursue cooperation with China on benign space research to better integrate China as a partner in the established order and to afford U.S. security strategists a window into Chinese decision making and intentions. The State Department’s recent cooperation initiative is a step in the right direction. Simultaneously, the United States should promote deterrence by improving on an array of resilience and counterspace abilities, but without growing alarmism—after all, often cited as the greatest threat to national security in space is floating junk. Finally, reviving the political will to maintain U.S. leadership in space and abroad will be a boon to national security. All this will help ensure that destabilization of the international order doesn’t fly over our heads.
Laura Daniels works at a leading Washington, D.C., think tank where she specializes in U.S. foreign policy and grand strategy. She holds a Master of Public Administration in International Security Policy from Columbia University.
Image: Wikimedia Commons/DLR.
The engine that could get humans to Mars on 100 MILLION times less fuel: Nasa funds plasma thrusters for deep space travel
- Nasa wants to send humans to an asteroid by 2025 and Mars in 2030s
- Plasma engines developed at Michigan University could help achieve this
- X3 prototype uses a 45,000 mph stream of plasma to push craft forward
- Nasa has today given $1 million in funding to develop the system further
- See the latest Nasa updates at www.dailymail.co.uk/nasa
Nasa wants to send humans to an asteroid by 2025 and Mars in the 2030s.
In
a step towards that goal, the space agency is funding plasma engines
that could propel astronauts to the red planet on much less fuel.
The tabletop-sized thruster prototype, dubbed the 'X3,' uses a 45,000 mph stream of plasma to push spacecraft forward.
Because
its consumes 100 million times less fuel than conventional chemical
rockets, the thruster is ideal for exploring Mars, asteroids and the
edge of the solar system.
Nasa wants to send humans to an
asteroid by 2025 and Mars in the 2030s In a step towards that goal, the
space agency is funding plasma engines that could propel astronauts to
the red planet on much less fuel. The tabletop-sized thruster prototype,
dubbed the 'X3,' uses a 45,000 mph stream of plasma to push craft
forward
The
prototypes have been created by engineers from the University of
Michigan's Next Space Technologies for Exploration Partnerships
(NextSTEP) program.
The engine is part of Aerojet Rocketdyne's XR-100 propulsion system, which could, in the next ten years propel a vessel to Mars.
Nasa
awarded $6.5 million over the next three years to Aerojet Rocketdyne
for the development of the propulsion system, dubbed the XR-100.
Developed
by Professor Alec Gallimore thruster, the X3, is central to this
system, and his team will receive $1 million of the award for work on
the thruster.
The XR-100 is up against two competing designs.
All
three of them rely on ejecting plasma – an energetic state of matter in
which electrons and charged atoms called ions coexist – out the back of
the thruster.
But the X3 has a bit of a head start. For thrusters of its design power, 200 kilowatts, it is relatively small and light.
And the core technology – the Hall thruster – is already in use for manoeuvring satellites in orbit around the Earth.
'For comparison, the most powerful Hall thruster in orbit right now is 4.5 kilowatts,' said Gallimore.
That's
enough to adjust the orbit or orientation of a satellite, but it's too
little power to move the massive amounts of cargo needed to support
human exploration of deep space.
A Hall thruster works by accelerating the plasma exhaust to extremely high speeds.
The core
technology – the Hall thruster (right) – is already in use for
manoeuvring satellites in orbit around the Earth. A Hall thruster works
by accelerating the plasma exhaust to extremely high speeds
Because its consumes 100 million times
less fuel than conventional chemical rockets, the thruster is ideal for
exploring Mars, asteroids and the edge of the solar system
The process starts with a current of electrons spiraling through a circular channel.
On
their whirlwind journey from the negative electrode at the exhaust end
to the positively charged electrode on the inner side of the channel,
they run into atoms (typically xenon gas) that are fed into the chamber.
The collisions knock electrons off the xenon atoms and turn the xenon into positively charged ions.
The
electrons' spiraling motion also builds a powerful electric field that
pulls the gas ions out the exhaust end of the channel.
Just
enough electrons leave with the ions to keep the spacecraft from
accumulating a charge, which could otherwise cause electrical problems.
'When
they're ionized, the xenon atoms can shoot out at up to 30,000 meters
per second, which is about 65,000 mph,' said Gallimore.
The X3 contains three of plasma
channels, each a few centimeters deep, nested around one another in
concentric rings. The nesting is what allows the Hall thruster to
operate at 200 kilowatts of power in a relatively small footprint
Nasa is developing the capabilities
needed to send humans to an asteroid by 2025 and Mars in the 2030s. Mars
is a rich destination for scientific discovery. Its formation and
evolution are comparable to Earth, helping us learn more about our own
planet’s history and future
The X3 contains three of these channels, each a few centimeters deep, nested around one another in concentric rings.
The nesting is what allows the Hall thruster to operate at 200 kilowatts of power in a relatively small footprint.
Scott Hall, a doctoral student in Professor Gallimore's lab, will use the funding to put the X3 through a battery of tests.
He
will first run it up to 60 kilowatts in the Plasmadynamics and Electric
Propulsion Lab at U-M and then up to 200 kilowatts at the Nasa Glenn
Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio
Meanwhile,
another doctoral student, Sarah Cusson, will investigate a tweak that
could allow the X3 to remain operational for five to ten times longer
than its current lifetime of a little over a year.
'If we do our jobs over the next three years, we can deliver both projects,' said Gallimore.
'If I had to predict, I would say this thruster would be the basis for sending humans to Mars.'
NASA'S 'PHOTONIC PROPULSION' USES LASERS TO PRODUCE THRUST
Hall thrusters aren't the only technology that Nasa is betting on to take humans to Mars.
Technology
harnessing the power of light could be the key to cutting down travel
times to Mars from years to just a matter of days.
In
a separate project, a group of physicists in California is working on
probe that could lead to technology to get to Mars at much faster speeds
than is currently possible.
The
answer to doing this could lie in what's known as photonic propulsion, a
technique that uses light from lasers to produce thrust to drive
spacecraft.
While
the technology the team is creating will be targeted at extremely
small probes, someday it could inspire the creation of larger spacecraft
that travel rapidly to Mars.
A group of physicists in California is
working on spacecraft
that could let humans reach the nearest stars in
our solar system
- a challenge that is not possible with current
propulsion
technology. The answer could lie in what's known as photonic
propulsion, a technique that uses light from lasers to produce
thrust
(illustrated)
Professor
Phillip Lubin and his team from the University of California Santa
Barbara are working on the Directed Energy Interstellar Precursors
(Deep-In) programme.
The programme aims to create probes capable of reaching relativistic speeds and travelling to the nearest stars.
A relativistic speed is a speed which is a significant proportion of the speed of light.
'We
know how to get to relativistic speeds in the lab, we do it all the
time,' said Lubin at Nasa's National Innovative Advanced Concepts (Niac)
symposium.
'When we go to the macroscopic level, things like aircraft, cars, spacecraft, were pathetically slow.'
Professor Lubin is aiming to bridge the gap between the small and the large, using photonic propulsion technology.
The theory is simple; thrust from photons emitted from a laser array could be used to propel a spacecraft.
All spacecraft operate by firing
propellant in the opposite direction to the way they want to travel.
Traditionally this propellant is fuel. Photonic propulsion uses an array
of lasers instead, which means no fuel needs to be carried on the
spacecraft (illustrated)
All spacecrafts operate by firing their propellant in the opposite direction to the way they want to travel.
Traditionally this propellant is fuel and has to be carried on board the spacecraft, making it heavier and slowing it down.
Photonic propulsion uses an array of lasers instead, which adds no mass to the spacecraft other than the laser itself.
This
enables it to accelerate for longer and reach higher speeds. n theory,
this should help get aircraft to relativistic speeds.
Professor
Lubin didn't specify what proportion of the speed of light the
technology would reach, although he did say it could be up to a
quarter.
The launch into orbit would also be slower at the start and during the descent, for example.
As
a result, the professor said: 'We could propel a 100kg aircraft to Mars
in a few days. In comparison it would take a shuttle roughly a month to
get there,' the researchers said.
Interstellar space travel is still a matter of science fiction. With our current propulsion systems, it would take millennia to really travel on an interstellar level. However, science is now looking towards new propulsion systems to make interstellar reach possible in significantly less time.
One such system is called Photonic Propulsion, and it’s an insanely interesting idea. The video you see above is a quick summary of a talk given by Philip Lubin of University of California Santa Barbara. It’s a two minute selected sampling of a much larger talk, which you can watch in the source link below.
Now, I’m no scientist. In fact, looking at the appendix of the paper produced by Lubin and his peers made my head spin. Enjoy this sample.
Here’s how I basically understand the principle of Photonic Propulsion.
Currently, we use Chemical Propulsion systems for rockets. That is, fuel in either a solid or liquid state is burned for a lot of thrust. This Photonic Propulsion system would essentially use giant Earth lasers to propel the spacecraft through the momentum of photons.
Lubin indicates that particles of light have energy and momentum. When the photons bounce off an object, their momentum is “transferred into a little push.” This is where the thrust in Photonic Propulsion is created. “With a large, reflective sail, it’s possible to generate enough momentum to gradually accelerate a spacecraft.”
According to Lubin, Photonic Propulsion could drive a 100-kg robotic spacecraft to Mars in only three days.
Thanks to the research and theories discussed in Lubin and company’s paper, NASA has offered a proof-of-concept grant. If Photonic Propulsion is as possible and scalable as Lubin suggests, we could be looking at the future of space travel.
As the idea of a human mission to Mars leaps from the pages of science fiction literature (or off the silver screen)
and into reality, NASA is taking a serious look at how astronauts will
live, work and survive during the long journey to the red planet.
The federal space agency and its manufacturing partner Lockheed Martin have recently crossed a major milestone in preparation to land the first humans on Mars by completing the pressure module or “backbone” of the vehicle that will take them there—the Orion Crew Module. This spacecraft will launch atop the Space Launch System—the most powerful rocket ever built—and sustain a crew for 21 days as they travel into deep space.
It takes a lot longer than three weeks to get to our neighboring planet so where will astronauts live and work during the rest of the trek through the solar system? Lockheed Martin is in the early stages of providing an answer.
As part of NASA’s NextStep habitat study that is currently underway, Lockheed is one of the four companies conceptualizing an Exploration Augmentation Module or “outpost” that will mate with Orion and sustain a crew for up to 60 days during the first deep space missions leading up to Mars. These outings will see humans travel beyond low-Earth orbit for the first time since 1972 and head toward a destination in cislunar space—a distant orbit around the Moon.
Targeted for the mid 2020s, these exploration missions will see NASA attempt to redirect an asteroid into lunar orbit and eventually study that captured asteroid by rendezvousing with it. A habitat will provide a temporary home for astronauts during these endeavors and will enable them to forge the skills and push the innovations of long-duration spaceflight required to ensure a safe trip for a Mars-bound crew.
Currently, the International Space Station serves as the only scientific laboratory and permanent human outpost in low-Earth orbit. A habitat orbiting the Moon would operate very differently. “The cislunar outpost is actually what we call crew-tended. Crew will not be there year-round like they are on the ISS,” Lockheed Martin’s space exploration architect Josh Hopkins told the Observer. “They will visit for a mission-a-year and that mission could be 30-60 days long.”
One of the major hurdles for a manned mission to Mars is human exposure to space radiation, and this issue will be tackled in cislunar space. The habitat’s initial 60-day limit was established by Lockheed’s team to ensure a safe stay for the crew given this element of radiation. Solar storms and the continuous exposure to cosmic rays are difficult to shield from, but it does become more manageable by limiting the amount of time astronauts spend in deep space. “As we build more knowledge of the biomedical effects and how to protect astronauts, we can start gradually doing longer and longer missions,” explained Hopkins.
As for the random bursts of radiation from a solar storm that could occur, the crew would be able to use the advanced built-in capabilities of Orion, which can act as a storm shelter. In the crew module, the closer an astronaut is to the heat shield, the more protection they have. In order to leverage this capability, they must remove supplies from “locker” spaces behind their seats and actually climb inside.
Protecting humans from radiation on Earth requires shielding from heavy elements like lead but with low-dosage space radiation, lighter materials can do the job. For this reason, Lockheed’s designers are mindful about the placement of consumables and waste products inside the habitat due to these items being a potential source of protection. “What we want are light elements. So things like water, food and plastics tend to be fairly good shielding,” said Hopkins. “We can adjust the locations and positioning of these things we’re going to have in a way that maximizes the amount of protection they give us.”
Along with acting as an emergency radiation storm shelter for the crew, Orion can also provide power, temperature control, and can even recycle air—features than enable a habitat to be low-maintenance and cost-effective.
The crew vehicle can use its propulsion system to provide maneuvering capability for the outpost, but Lockheed’s concept will include on-board, independent propulsion. “You don’t want to return to a habitat that’s tumbling because it wasn’t able to maintain its position in orbit,” said William Pratt, Lockheed’s NextSTEP study manager. “There will be a propulsion stage attached to the habitat and the capability to provide a small amount of power you’ll need when Orion is not there.”
A human habitat or any spacecraft far
from Earth will require some degree of autonomy, and this is a specialty
for Lockheed Martin’s engineers. Unmanned probes like the MAVEN and the Juno spacecraft that will arrive at Jupiter
this summer were both manufactured by Lockheed with autonomous
capability. “We feel that’s something we can really bring to a cislunar
habitat,” Pratt said. “Our thinking is more about autonomy and giving
the crew more autonomy to handle things as they come up at the outpost.”
The primary reason for spacecraft autonomy is communication—or lack thereof. On the long journey to Mars, which could see astronauts spend at least two years aboard a habitat, delays in communication with Earth-based mission control will certainly occur. This could pose a problem when troubleshooting vehicle sub-systems that include life support and oxygen supply.
A major concerned for Lockheed is the long passage of time between the crew’s training and the moment a serious issue does come up during a mission—which could be a few years later. “They may not remember the training. Having the right kind of on-board documentation and flight computer to be able to provide the astronauts the information they need when they need it, is important,” Pratt said. “Not just having the alarm go off but having the alarm go off and the PDF file of the manual come up at the same time. That’s really useful in helping the crew understand how to operate their own vehicle.”
Even though Lockheed Martin’s early habitat concept will service exploration missions near the Moon, the company is always thinking about the manned mission to Mars, which will require a far more advanced successor to their current designs. Engineers will need to go through a few iterations of the concept after the health effects of long-duration human spaceflight are known and as new technology is developed. This is the basis that NASA created NextSTEP on.
The federal space agency is looking for a modular habitat that can grow, evolve and be added to. “New modules are built upon the lessons of the previous modules,” Hopkins said.
Robin Seemangal focuses on NASA and advocacy for space exploration. He was born and raised in Brooklyn, where he currently resides. Find him on Instagram for more space-related content: @not_gatsby.
http://www.technobuffalo.com/
Could we get to Mars in 3 days? Nasa’s considering Photonic Propulsion tech
Interstellar space travel is still a matter of science fiction. With our current propulsion systems, it would take millennia to really travel on an interstellar level. However, science is now looking towards new propulsion systems to make interstellar reach possible in significantly less time.
One such system is called Photonic Propulsion, and it’s an insanely interesting idea. The video you see above is a quick summary of a talk given by Philip Lubin of University of California Santa Barbara. It’s a two minute selected sampling of a much larger talk, which you can watch in the source link below.
Now, I’m no scientist. In fact, looking at the appendix of the paper produced by Lubin and his peers made my head spin. Enjoy this sample.
Here’s how I basically understand the principle of Photonic Propulsion.
Currently, we use Chemical Propulsion systems for rockets. That is, fuel in either a solid or liquid state is burned for a lot of thrust. This Photonic Propulsion system would essentially use giant Earth lasers to propel the spacecraft through the momentum of photons.
Lubin indicates that particles of light have energy and momentum. When the photons bounce off an object, their momentum is “transferred into a little push.” This is where the thrust in Photonic Propulsion is created. “With a large, reflective sail, it’s possible to generate enough momentum to gradually accelerate a spacecraft.”
According to Lubin, Photonic Propulsion could drive a 100-kg robotic spacecraft to Mars in only three days.
Thanks to the research and theories discussed in Lubin and company’s paper, NASA has offered a proof-of-concept grant. If Photonic Propulsion is as possible and scalable as Lubin suggests, we could be looking at the future of space travel.
http://observer.com/
With Mars in Mind, Lockheed Martin Designs Human Habitat to Orbit Moon
Lockheed Martin’s concept of a habitat that could be used
during future exploration missions near the moon.
(Image: Lockheed Martin)
The federal space agency and its manufacturing partner Lockheed Martin have recently crossed a major milestone in preparation to land the first humans on Mars by completing the pressure module or “backbone” of the vehicle that will take them there—the Orion Crew Module. This spacecraft will launch atop the Space Launch System—the most powerful rocket ever built—and sustain a crew for 21 days as they travel into deep space.
It takes a lot longer than three weeks to get to our neighboring planet so where will astronauts live and work during the rest of the trek through the solar system? Lockheed Martin is in the early stages of providing an answer.
As part of NASA’s NextStep habitat study that is currently underway, Lockheed is one of the four companies conceptualizing an Exploration Augmentation Module or “outpost” that will mate with Orion and sustain a crew for up to 60 days during the first deep space missions leading up to Mars. These outings will see humans travel beyond low-Earth orbit for the first time since 1972 and head toward a destination in cislunar space—a distant orbit around the Moon.
Targeted for the mid 2020s, these exploration missions will see NASA attempt to redirect an asteroid into lunar orbit and eventually study that captured asteroid by rendezvousing with it. A habitat will provide a temporary home for astronauts during these endeavors and will enable them to forge the skills and push the innovations of long-duration spaceflight required to ensure a safe trip for a Mars-bound crew.
Currently, the International Space Station serves as the only scientific laboratory and permanent human outpost in low-Earth orbit. A habitat orbiting the Moon would operate very differently. “The cislunar outpost is actually what we call crew-tended. Crew will not be there year-round like they are on the ISS,” Lockheed Martin’s space exploration architect Josh Hopkins told the Observer. “They will visit for a mission-a-year and that mission could be 30-60 days long.”
One of the major hurdles for a manned mission to Mars is human exposure to space radiation, and this issue will be tackled in cislunar space. The habitat’s initial 60-day limit was established by Lockheed’s team to ensure a safe stay for the crew given this element of radiation. Solar storms and the continuous exposure to cosmic rays are difficult to shield from, but it does become more manageable by limiting the amount of time astronauts spend in deep space. “As we build more knowledge of the biomedical effects and how to protect astronauts, we can start gradually doing longer and longer missions,” explained Hopkins.
As for the random bursts of radiation from a solar storm that could occur, the crew would be able to use the advanced built-in capabilities of Orion, which can act as a storm shelter. In the crew module, the closer an astronaut is to the heat shield, the more protection they have. In order to leverage this capability, they must remove supplies from “locker” spaces behind their seats and actually climb inside.
Protecting humans from radiation on Earth requires shielding from heavy elements like lead but with low-dosage space radiation, lighter materials can do the job. For this reason, Lockheed’s designers are mindful about the placement of consumables and waste products inside the habitat due to these items being a potential source of protection. “What we want are light elements. So things like water, food and plastics tend to be fairly good shielding,” said Hopkins. “We can adjust the locations and positioning of these things we’re going to have in a way that maximizes the amount of protection they give us.”
Along with acting as an emergency radiation storm shelter for the crew, Orion can also provide power, temperature control, and can even recycle air—features than enable a habitat to be low-maintenance and cost-effective.
The crew vehicle can use its propulsion system to provide maneuvering capability for the outpost, but Lockheed’s concept will include on-board, independent propulsion. “You don’t want to return to a habitat that’s tumbling because it wasn’t able to maintain its position in orbit,” said William Pratt, Lockheed’s NextSTEP study manager. “There will be a propulsion stage attached to the habitat and the capability to provide a small amount of power you’ll need when Orion is not there.”
The
Orion spacecraft contains advanced capabilities that are
unique to long
duration deep space missions, enabling a cis-lunar
outpost that is less
complex and more affordable.
(Image: Lockheed Martin)
The primary reason for spacecraft autonomy is communication—or lack thereof. On the long journey to Mars, which could see astronauts spend at least two years aboard a habitat, delays in communication with Earth-based mission control will certainly occur. This could pose a problem when troubleshooting vehicle sub-systems that include life support and oxygen supply.
A major concerned for Lockheed is the long passage of time between the crew’s training and the moment a serious issue does come up during a mission—which could be a few years later. “They may not remember the training. Having the right kind of on-board documentation and flight computer to be able to provide the astronauts the information they need when they need it, is important,” Pratt said. “Not just having the alarm go off but having the alarm go off and the PDF file of the manual come up at the same time. That’s really useful in helping the crew understand how to operate their own vehicle.”
Even though Lockheed Martin’s early habitat concept will service exploration missions near the Moon, the company is always thinking about the manned mission to Mars, which will require a far more advanced successor to their current designs. Engineers will need to go through a few iterations of the concept after the health effects of long-duration human spaceflight are known and as new technology is developed. This is the basis that NASA created NextSTEP on.
The federal space agency is looking for a modular habitat that can grow, evolve and be added to. “New modules are built upon the lessons of the previous modules,” Hopkins said.
Robin Seemangal focuses on NASA and advocacy for space exploration. He was born and raised in Brooklyn, where he currently resides. Find him on Instagram for more space-related content: @not_gatsby.
http://nextbigfuture.com/
March 08, 2016
Russian officials again talk about a working lab prototype megawatt class nuclear propulsion system by 2017
A
Russian Megawatt-class nuclear propulsion system for long-range manned
spacecraft must be ready by 2017, Skolkovo Foundation's Nuclear Cluster
head Denis Kovalevich said on Wednesday.
“At present we are testing several types of fuel and later we will start drafting the design,” Kovalevich said. “The first parts [of the nuclear engine] should be built in 2013, and the engine is expected to be ready by 2017.”
The engine is being developed for interplanetary manned spacecraft to ensure that Russia maintains a competitive edge in the space race, including the exploration of the Moon and Mars.
The Russian government allocated 500 million rubles ($16.7 million) in 2010 to start a project to build a spacecraft with a nuclear engine. The overall investment in the project is estimated at 17 billion rubles (over $580 million) until 2019.
According to Russia’s nuclear power agency Rosatom, the development and construction of a nuclear propulsion system for spacecraft will cost over 7.2 billion rubles ($247 mln).
Nextbigfuture covered Russia's plans for a megawatt nuclear space propulsion system back in 2011.
It would have an ISP of 3000-6000. A 6000 ISP megawatt system might be able to send a compact unmanned probe to Mars in 6 weeks.
The adjustable VASIMR system had planned for a manned 200 MW system with variable ISP which could get to Mars in 39 days.
The
role of space power in solving prospective problems in the interests of
global safety, science and social economic sphere by А.S. Koroteev
President of Russian Academy of Cosmonautics 2010 (19 pages)
A presentation discussed nuclear power sources for space up to 1 megawatt for flying to Mars, moon base power and for orbital tugs.
Russia is looking closely at plasma thrusters as well
A forum on space suggested that Koroteev discussed a plasma rocket development timeline (but the original link is broken)
* hybrid two-contour scheme, a plasma generator driven by reactor-produced electricity yields specific impulse 20 times higher than chemical propulsion
* inner contour of the reactor with circulating working agent at 1500 C
* development started in 2010
* plans to complete initial design by 2012
* prototype working by 2015
* cargo module ready for flight in 2018
The new plan would be 4 years late on the design work and then 2 years late on the working prototype.
Bigger Russian nuclear space designs
In 2008, Open-cycle multi-megawatt MHD space nuclear power facility
“At present we are testing several types of fuel and later we will start drafting the design,” Kovalevich said. “The first parts [of the nuclear engine] should be built in 2013, and the engine is expected to be ready by 2017.”
The engine is being developed for interplanetary manned spacecraft to ensure that Russia maintains a competitive edge in the space race, including the exploration of the Moon and Mars.
The Russian government allocated 500 million rubles ($16.7 million) in 2010 to start a project to build a spacecraft with a nuclear engine. The overall investment in the project is estimated at 17 billion rubles (over $580 million) until 2019.
According to Russia’s nuclear power agency Rosatom, the development and construction of a nuclear propulsion system for spacecraft will cost over 7.2 billion rubles ($247 mln).
Nextbigfuture covered Russia's plans for a megawatt nuclear space propulsion system back in 2011.
It would have an ISP of 3000-6000. A 6000 ISP megawatt system might be able to send a compact unmanned probe to Mars in 6 weeks.
The adjustable VASIMR system had planned for a manned 200 MW system with variable ISP which could get to Mars in 39 days.
A presentation discussed nuclear power sources for space up to 1 megawatt for flying to Mars, moon base power and for orbital tugs.
A qualitatively new stage in the development and practical application of atomic energy in space is linked with the use of multipurpose high-capacity propulsion-power modules. Their design based on a nuclear powered propulsion facility in the megawatt range has been approved and accepted for implementation. In this article, the facility is described, the principles of operation of the facility as a whole and its individual subsystems are examined, and the proposed characteristics and mass of the structural elements are presented. The advantages of using atomic energy in the power-plant–motor variant, including for manned flight to Mars, are shown.
Russia is looking closely at plasma thrusters as well
A forum on space suggested that Koroteev discussed a plasma rocket development timeline (but the original link is broken)
* hybrid two-contour scheme, a plasma generator driven by reactor-produced electricity yields specific impulse 20 times higher than chemical propulsion
* inner contour of the reactor with circulating working agent at 1500 C
* development started in 2010
* plans to complete initial design by 2012
* prototype working by 2015
* cargo module ready for flight in 2018
The new plan would be 4 years late on the design work and then 2 years late on the working prototype.
Bigger Russian nuclear space designs
In 2008, Open-cycle multi-megawatt MHD space nuclear power facility
The results of calculations of the characteristics and development of a scheme and technical make-up of an open-cycle space power facility based on a high-temperature nuclear reactor for a nuclear rocket motor and a 20 MW Faraday MHD generator are presented. A heterogeneous channel-vessel IVG-1 reactor, which heated hydrogen to 3100 K, with the pressure at the exit from the reactor core up to 5 MPa, burn rate 5 kg/sec, and thermal power up to 220 MW is examined. The main parameters of the MHD generator are determined: Cs seed fraction 20%, stopping pressure at the entrance 2 MPa, electric conductivity ≈ 30 S/m, Mach number ≈ 0.7, magnetic induction 6 T, electric power 20 MW, specific energy extraction ∼4 MJ/kg. The construction of the scheme of a MHD facility with zero-moment exhaust of the working body and its main characteristics are presented.
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