[meteorite-list] Dual Orion Capsules Studied for Manned Asteroid Missions

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu, 20 Aug 2009 16:44:17 -0700 (PDT)
Message-ID: <200908202344.n7KNiHDu013334_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

http://www.spaceflightnow.com/news/n0908/17orion/

Dual Orion capsules studied for manned asteroid missions
BY CRAIG COVAULT
SPACEFLIGHT NOW
August 17, 2009

A manned asteroid mission using two Orion spacecraft, docked
nose-to-nose to form a 50-ton deep space vehicle, is being studied by
Lockheed Martin Space Systems as an alternative to resumption of U.S.
lunar landing missions.

The Orion asteroid mission concept is being unveiled just as the
Presidential committee reviewing U.S. human space flight is citing
asteroid missions after 2020 as a less costly alternative to NASA's
proposed lunar landing infrastructure. Results of the review will be
briefed to President Obama by Norman Augustine, committee chairman, by
the end of August.

[graphic]

The docked Orion configuration as shown in a Lockheed Martin graphic
(above) would have a total of four large solar arrays and two service
modules as well as two command modules for extra space on the several
week flight. Single 25-ton Orion spacecraft would first be used to
replace the space shuttle for servicing the International Space Station.
But use of them for asteroid missions and other deep space sites would
maximize utilization of the Orion system if lunar landings are deleted
as a near term goal.

If one looks closely at the graphic, a space suited astronaut deployed
from the Orion, is standing atop the asteroid. The graphic is from a
Lockheed Martin promotional movie that shows concepts under study by the
Orion prime contractor.

Under the Bush Administration strategy, NASA had planned a resumption of
lunar landing missions by about 2020 using the Orion as a lunar orbiting
command ship while its crew descended to the moon in Altair landers for
lengthy stays on the surface.

The official NASA line has been solidly "all moon" for the last several
years, while more realistic assessments over the same period have shown
that is not feasible. NASA more recently, however, had become more open
about an asteroid mission capability for Orion after space scientists
and planners meeting before formation of the committee began to
criticize the lunar goal as too fragile.

Development and cost problems with the Ares 1 and Ares 5 launch vehicle
programs have also become increasingly apparent since about 2007.

Augustine and other committee members such as former astronaut Sally
Ride have already reported publicly that NASA's current plan to retire
the shuttle, finish the space station and return to the moon by the
early 2020s is not even remotely feasible under NASA's current
funding profile.

Orion missions to asteroids would be useful to characterize and sample
them. This would be important as early preparation to use some yet
undetermined system if the need ever arose to divert an asteroid to save
Earth from a devastating impact. Some asteroids are solid bodies, while
others are rubble piles of loose rock, making samples and close up
characterization useful for diversion studies that would differ
depending upon the type of asteroid threatening Earth.

In fact a Lockheed Martin video titled "Orion For Crewed Science
Missions" shows the twin Orion configuration closely orbiting an
asteroid while space suited astronauts explore its surface. With the
minuscule gravity of an asteroid, astronauts flying manned maneuvering
units could travel between the Orion combo and the object without ever
requiring a much heavier, and expensive, asteroid landing vehicle.

The video, little noticed at the time, was shown in early August at a
propulsion conference in Denver sponsored by the American Institute of
Aeronautics and Astronautics. The AIAA "Joint Propulsion Conference" so
called because it brings together multiple international agencies often
makes news as it also did in 2008 when Chinese researchers openly
discussed their scramjet technology program.

At this year's event, the Lockheed Martin video was part of a
presentation delivered by former astronaut Brian Duffy, now Lockheed
Martin vice president and program manager for the Altair lunar module
part of the Orion lunar landing infrastructure.

Duffy's presentation also cited satellite servicing that could be
performed by astronauts from an Orion configuration, equipped with a
shuttle-type manipulator arm deployed from its service module.

The presentation also discussed use of single Orion spacecraft to
service geosynchronous orbit military and civilian satellites and the
potential for them to travel to Lagrangian points to service telescopes
like the giant new Webb space telescope set for launch in about four
years. Lagrangian points balance out gravity from the sun, Earth and
moon allowing spacecraft to remain parked at those locations. They are
about 1 million mi. from Earth, about the same distance as some
asteroids passing near Earth. This means Orions configured for missions
to telescopes, like Webb, at Lagrangian points would have a life support
capability also generally suitable for asteroid missions.

The twin Orion design includes large service modules on each spacecraft
to allow extra space for astronauts to live in. More importantly more
capability to carry life support systems for several week missions could
be carried in the two service modules.
Received on Thu 20 Aug 2009 07:44:17 PM PDT