New NASA Initiatives for the Exploration of Near …...• Thomas Jones et al., (2002) “The Next...
Transcript of New NASA Initiatives for the Exploration of Near …...• Thomas Jones et al., (2002) “The Next...
New NASA Initiatives for the Exploration of Near-Earth Objects
Paul Abell and Rob Landis
3rd Small Bodies Assessment Group Meeting Pasadena, California August 3, 2010
• Eugene Smith (1966) “A Manned Flyby Mission to Eros”, Northrop Space Labs, World Space Congress
• Douglas Nash et al., (1989) Science Exploration Opportunities for Manned Missions to the Moon, Mars, Phobos and an Asteroid, NASA Office of Exploration Doc No. Z-1.3-001/JPL Publication 89-29.
• Donald Davis et al., (1990) The Role of Near-Earth Asteroids in the Space Exploration Initiative, SAIC-90/1464, Study No. 1-12-232-S28.
• Thomas Jones et al., (1994) “Human Exploration of Near-Earth Asteroids”, Earth Hazards Due to Comets and Asteroids, University of Arizona Press, Tucson, Arizona, pp. 683-708.
• Thomas Jones et al., (2002) “The Next Giant Leap: Human Exploration and Utilization of Near-Earth Objects”, The Future of Solar System Exploration 2003-2013 ASP Conference Series, 272:141-154.
• Michael Griffin, Owen Garriott et al., (2004) Extending Human Presence into the Solar System: An Independent Study on the Proposed U.S. Space Exploration Policy.
• Daniel Mazanek et al., (2005) “Near-Earth Object Crew Mission Concept Status”, NASA Internal Study.
Past Human NEO Exploration Studies
Important Disclaimer • The latest human mission concept was only a Phase 1
technical feasibility study (Abell et al., 2009). • NASA has not endorsed this mission concept yet.
• Work to date is based on a ~4 -month ‘Phase 1’ effort • Phase 1: February 2007 • Augustine Commission: Summer 2009 • NASA Blue Sky Meeting: January 2010
• Phase 2 study? To Be Determined… • New NASA direction: February 2010 • NEO Roadmap White Paper: February 2010
however, on 15 April 2010 President Obama said, “ . . . first-ever crewed missions beyond the Moon into deep space. So we’ll start …. by sending astronauts to an asteroid for the first time in history.” Target date set was by 2025.
No changes to Constellation element performance specifications (i.e., no warp drive!)
Established 4 Mission Concepts. – 2 initial concepts (“Bookends”) based upon using the planned Cx launch
system components. – At the Mid-term briefing 2 additional alternate launch concepts were added at
CxPO request (“Mid-volumes”)
Determine mission length options, maximum total ∆V, and maximum post-escape ∆V available from the Mission Concepts
Assess NEO catalog for targets that match the ∆V and mission length requirements for all the Mission Concepts
No changes to telecommunication system – OK out to 6+ million km from Earth
No modifications to power requirements – CEV will never be far from 1 AU
Reduced crew size – Crew of 2 (or 3)
Removed extra seats and spacesuits
Increased storage capacity of Crew Module – More food and trash/waste stowage
Increased capacity of the Crew Module’s and Service Module’s Environment Control and Life Support Systems (ECLSS) – Added a moisture collector – Added extra consumables for extended mission
Orion SM performs Earth Return burn
EARTH
NEO Heliocentric Orbit
Vehicles are not to scale.
Direct Entry (<12 km/s) Land Landing
Service Module Expended
Low Earth Orbit
Note - Ares V and Orion modifications: • Ares V man rating • Orion long duration life support
“Mid Volume V” Near-Earth Object (NEO) Crewed Mission - Ares V EDS / Orion SM provides Earth Departure, NEO Arrival, and Earth Return ∆V
ED
S, C
EV
EDS Expended
7-14 Day NEO Visit
~45+ Day Inbound Segment
NEO
EDS performs Trans NEO Injection with a large margin
EDS & Orion SM Performs NEO Rendezvous
~20-75 Day Outbound Segment
Assumes 2 Crew w/ Telerobotic Exploration and EVA; Later EVA to retrieve samples if not collected by initial EVA.
Which NEOs are good targets of opportunity? – Earth-like orbits with low eccentricity and inclination – Earth close approaches during our time frame (2020 - 2050) (aka PHOs)
Team assessed NEO targets from the existing NEO (JPL HORIZONS) database in 2006.
Identified the ∆V required to match to NEO orbits. – 14-day stay time assumed – Analyzed 90-day mission length (also ran 120, 150, and 180-day options)
9 NEOs within the database could be targets in 2020 – 2050. – Best suited to 150 and 180 day missions
Which NEOs are good targets of opportunity? – Earth-like orbits with low eccentricity and inclination – Earth close approaches during our time frame (2020 - 2050) (aka PHOs)
Team assessed NEO targets from the existing NEO (JPL HORIZONS) database in 2006.
Identified the ∆V required to match to NEO orbits. – 14-day stay time assumed – Analyzed 90-day mission length (also ran 120, 150, and 180-day options)
44 9 NEOs within the database could be targets in 2020 – 2050.
– Best suited to 150 and 180 day missions
Prior to sending a piloted mission to a NEO, additional characterization of the target is required.
– Orbit refinement – Ground-based characterization (radar, lightcurve, spectra, etc.) – In situ physical characterization (internal structure, mechanical properties, etc.)
Obtain basic reconnaissance to assess potential hazards that may pose a risk to both vehicle and crew (e.g., Ranger and Surveyor). - Binary systems, rapid rotators, active surfaces, etc. - Non-benign surface morphologies
Assess surface for future activities to be conducted by the CEV and its assets (e.g., crew and payload) maximize mission efficiency. - proximity operations - surface operations - sample collection
Preliminary determination of NEO target characteristics. - Surface morphology and properties (e.g., boulders vs. pebbles) - Gravitational field structure - Rotation rate and pole orientation - Mass/density estimates - General mineral composition
Aid in the navigation of the CEV to the target NEO.
Provide additional data coverage during CEV operations. - Obtain images of interactions of the crew and other assets at the NEO - Supplemental examination of the NEO with additional sensors
Monitor the NEO over time after CEV departure. - Observe asteroid response from kinetic/explosive experiments - Image crater excavation processes/results (e.g., internal composition) - Measure momentum transfer - Provide precise orbital measurements over relatively long time periods
Relay data from science equipment left behind by the CEV. - Seismic stations, excavation/engineering equipment, resource extraction etc.
Science Mission Directorate (SMD)
• President’s Budget requested $20 million per year for future NEO Observations (an increase of $16 million per year)
• This is to improve detection and characterization of the NEO population
Exploration Systems Mission Directorate (ESMD)
• President’s Budget requested $3 billion over the next 5 years for robotic precursor missions to explore potential Human mission targets. Emphasis on NEO targets.
• Two levels of missions: NEO Scout and NEO Precursor
• NEO Scout level missions cost capped at $200 million
• NEO Precursor level missions cost ranges from $200 to $800 million.
NEO Scout class missions will be competed and PI led
NEO Precursor class missions will be directed to NASA centers
• Payload may be competed
• Opportunities for international involvement
First Launch of NEO Robotic Spacecraft in 2014
• May be an IR space telescope in trailing Venusian orbit or a NEO in situ mission
Second Launch of NEO Robotic Spacecraft in 2017
• Will go to an NEO for in depth physical characterization.
Third Launch of NEO Robotic Spacecraft in 2019/2020??
• Probably designated to a specific human target candidate for in depth characterization
8/3/10 17
110.
6 m
eter
s Delta IV (Heavy)
His
toric
al R
ef O
nly
Heavy Lift
Min
otau
r ESPA Ring Payloads
EELVs
H-II
A
Soyu
z Fr
egat
Aria
ne 5
Prot
on M
Atlas 5 Family
NEAR (USA), rendezvoused with (433) Eros on Feb. 14, 2000.
Hayabusa (Japan), arrived at (25143) Itokawa on Sept. 12, 2005.
Dawn (USA), launched Sept. 27, 2007 to (4) Vesta and (1) Ceres. Arrives at Vesta in August 2011 and at Ceres in February 2015.
Phobos-Grunt [Фобос-‐Грунт] (Russia), now planned for launch in 2011, arriving at Mars in mid-‐2012.
Hayabusa 2 (Japan), planned for launch in 2014 to C-type NEO (1999 JU3).
Rosetta (ESA), flyby of (2867) Steins on Sept. 5, 2008 and (21) Lutetia on July 10, 2010, and arrives at Comet P67/Churyumov-Gerasimenko in 2014.
OSIRIS REx (USA), sample return from C-type NEO (1999 RQ36)
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Hayabusa returns sample from Itokawa
Hayabusa 2 launches (1999 JU3)
Rosetta arrives at Comet P/67
Robotic Missions to Primitive Bodies
DAWN at Vesta DAWN at Ceres Rose0a flyby of LuteEa
Phobos-‐Grunt at Phobos
Hayabusa 2 at 1999 JU3
NEAR (USA), rendezvoused with (433) Eros on Feb. 14, 2000.
Hayabusa (Japan), arrived at (25143) Itokawa on Sept. 12, 2005.
Dawn (USA), launched Sept. 27, 2007 to (4) Vesta and (1) Ceres. Arrives at Vesta in August 2011 and at Ceres in February 2015.
Phobos-Grunt [Фобос-‐Грунт] (Russia), now planned for launch in 2011, arriving at Mars in mid-‐2012.
Hayabusa 2 (Japan), planned for launch in 2014 to C-type NEO (1999 JU3).
Rosetta (ESA), flyby of (2867) Steins on Sept. 5, 2008 and (21) Lutetia on July 10, 2010, and arrives at Comet P67/Churyumov-Gerasimenko in 2014.
OSIRIS REx (USA), sample return from C-type NEO (1999 RQ36)
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Hayabusa returns sample from Itokawa
Hayabusa 2 launches (1999 JU3)
Rosetta arrives at Comet P/67
Robotic Missions to Primitive Bodies
DAWN at Vesta DAWN at Ceres Rose0a flyby of LuteEa
Phobos-‐Grunt at Phobos
Hayabusa 2 at 1999 JU3
NASA ESMD Robotic Missions
Ground-based observation campaign • Detection and identification of potential spacecraft targets • Characterization of NEO physical properties suitable for a human mission
Collaboration/Participation on NASA missions • International partners have key expertise, technologies, and instruments that
can fill key roles in future NEO robotic missions • Be aware of future opportunities that may be present in the near future
International NEO robotic missions • International partners have already demonstrated their expertise in robotic
missions to NEOs (e.g., Rosetta and Hayabusa) • Emphasis on NEOs as potential human destinations may result in more
opportunities for ESA, JAXA, etc. to conduct separate, but coordinated NEO missions with NASA
- NEOs for exploration
A Few ‘Take Away’ Thoughts…
- NEOs for science
- NEOs for resources
- NEOs for planetary defence