New NASA Initiatives for the Exploration of Near …...• Thomas Jones et al., (2002) “The Next Giant Leap: Human Exploration and Utilization of Near-Earth Objects”, The Future

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

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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