Plymouth Rock: An Early Human Asteroid Mission Using Orion

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Launch Vehicle Needs • Orion-based asteroid missions require launch of about 46 tons to C3 = +1 to +4 km 2 /s 2 (slightly faster than escape velocity) – This is roughly equivalent to launching 50-65 mt to trans- lunar injection (C3 = -1.8 km 2 /s 2 ) depending on the launch approach – This could be achieved using several possible launch architectures – The planned Ares V capability has margin for this mission – Ares I performance (in combination with Ares V) is sufficient for some launch opportunities, but increased performance would allow Orion propellant tanks to be fully loaded, enabling more opportunities and reducing mission duration • Asteroid missions using Orion and Ares are mainly limited by factors other than launch, such as reentry velocity and spacecraft propulsion 18
Conclusions • Asteroids in Earth-like orbits represent a newly discovered class of accessible human exploration destinations • Favorable orbital alignments occur a few times per decade – Only about 0.1% of near Earth asteroids are accessible for humans, limiting our ability to pick the most interesting destinations • Round trip visits to these asteroids are comparable in difficulty to visiting the Moon – Lower ∆V V but longer duration • A dual Orion approach, dubbed Plymouth Rock, appears to be capable of a minimalist mission to a few asteroids – Further analysis is needed to refine and validate the concept • More frequent or more capable missions would require a more advanced Orion derivative or a dedicated mission module to complement the existing Orion • Future missions would benefit from increased investment now for detecting and characterizing small asteroids 19
Page 1 and 2: Plymouth Rock: An Early Human Aster
Page 3 and 4: A New Destination for Human Spacefl
Page 5 and 6: Earth’s Known Neighbors, circa 19
Page 7 and 8: Earth’s Known Neighbors, July 200
Page 9 and 10: Why Explore an Asteroid? • Knowle
Page 11 and 12: Mission Concept Utilizing Dual Orio
Page 13 and 14: Asteroid Mission Opportunities 2015
Page 15 and 16: 2019 Opportunity: 2008 EA9 2019 Opp
Page 17: Initial Assessment, continued • T

Plymouth Rock: An Early Human Asteroid Mission Using Orion

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