Launching Science Science Opportunities Provided by NASA's Constellation System (2009) / Chapter Skim
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5 Launch Vehicle and Spacecraft Options for Future Space Science Missions
5 Launch Vehicle and Spacecraft Options for Future Space Science Missions
Pages 97-112
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From page 97... ...
, the Altair lunar lander, and the Ares I and V launch vehicles. Primarily envisioned to deliver cargo to the Moon, the Ares V has nearly five times the lift capability of the most capable launch vehicle currently in the U.S.
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From page 98... ...
, and the capability of being used in a modular fashion. OPPORTUNITIES FOR SMALL SPACE SCIENCE PAYLOADS ABOARD CONSTELLATION Although the Orion spacecraft is still in a relatively early stage of development, NASA has reserved payload space and mass at the rear of the vehicle for potential science payloads (see Figure 5.2)
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From page 99... ...
Recommendation: If NASA wishes to use the Constellation System for science missions, it should preserve the capability for Orion to carry small scientific payloads and should ensure that the Ares V development team considers the needs of scientific payloads in system design. ARES I The Ares I will lift the Orion into low Earth orbit, either to dock with the ISS or to mate with the Earth Departure Stage (EDS)
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The first flight validation test is scheduled for 2012 or 2013. To meet the needs of science missions, the Orion CEV and Encapsulated Service Module could be replaced with a 5-m shroud, derived from either the Atlas V or Delta IV composite fairing.
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Figure 5.4.eps Bitmap image
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It is being designed to transport cargo to the Moon as well as to deliver the Earth Departure Stage to low Earth orbit to rendezvous with the Orion spacecraft for missions to the Moon. The Ares V consists of a pair of 5.5-segment solid-rocket boosters (SRBs)
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SOURCE: Courtesy of NASA. Includes low resolution bitmap images DELTA IV The Delta IV is currently in service, primarily carrying national security payloads.
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104 LAUNCHING SCIENCE FIGURE 5.7 Launch of a Delta IV Heavy launch vehicle carrying a military payload. Most of the Vision Mission concepts evaluated in this report used the Delta IV Heavy.
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An HLV configuration of the Atlas V is currently under development but does not have a planned launch date. (The Super Heavy configuration identified in several of the Vision Mission studies is a notional growth option for the Atlas family and does not currently exist, nor is any work underway to develop it.)
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106 LAUNCHING SCIENCE FIGURE 5.8 Launch of an Atlas V launch vehicle carrying NASA's New Horizons spacecraft. SOURCE: Courtesy of NASA.
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Figure 5.9.eps Includes low resolution bitmap images The space shuttle SRB has significant flight history and demonstrated reliability. Nonetheless, increasing the number of segments and increasing the chamber pressure are significant modifications.
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FIGURE 5.10 Comparison of Ares I and Delta IV family vehicle performance. Figure 5.10.eps VEHICLE PERFORMANCE COMPARISONS Ares I The capability of the Ares I is roughly equivalent to, and perhaps slightly greater than, that of the Delta IV Heavy to a low Earth orbit of 200 km.
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From page 109... ...
Since the Ares I would use the Atlas V extended payload fairing configuration with the dual-engine Centaur, the usable volume in the payload fairings are roughly equivalent for the Delta IV and Ares I The available volume for the Atlas V 551 with the Star 48V will be reduced slightly to accommodate the Orbit Insertion Stage.
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From page 110... ...
CONCERNS REGARDING THE ARES V SHROUD Although the Ares V offers the greatest potential value to science, the launch vehicle has to be capable of accommodating science payloads. Astronomy and astrophysics payloads will require cleanliness and vibration and noise levels at least as low as the space shuttle.
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FIGURE 5.13 Comparison of payload capability to low Earth orbit for the Ares V, Ares I, and Delta IV Heavy Launch Vehicle. Figure 5.12.eps Vehicle Performance Comparison Interplanetary 70.0 60.0 Ares I - Centaur Delta IV HLV 50.0 Ares V Ares V / Centaur 2 Payload (Tonnes)
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From page 112... ...
The current most likely upper stage, the Atlas V Centaur III Dual Engine Configuration, is relatively tall and thin compared with the Ares V When placed under the current baseline launch shroud, it would leave relatively little room for a spacecraft (Figure 5.15)
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