Author Topic: Orion to an NEO  (Read 4166 times)

Offline 02hurnella

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Orion to an NEO
« on: 05/09/2007 04:46 pm »
I've heard from some it would be impossible to use orion to visit an NEO,  from others I've heard it would be great. So could Orion go to an NEO? and which one, you got any suggestions?

And will asteroid mining ever be profitable?

Offline Jim

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RE: Orion to an NEO
« Reply #1 on: 05/09/2007 04:52 pm »
Quote
02hurnella - 9/5/2007  12:46 PM

I've heard from some it would be impossible to use orion to visit an NEO,  from others I've heard it would be great. So could Orion go to an NEO? and which one, you got any suggestions?

And will asteroid mining ever be profitable?

There is a thread on other uses for the CEV
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=7570&posts=55&start=1

The CEV is only a taxi to LEO. The ARES I barely gets it there.   It needs other stages and modules (EDS and LSAM) to go and do something else.   So for a NEO, the CEV would need an upperstage and a mission module

Offline simonbp

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Re: Orion to an NEO
« Reply #2 on: 05/09/2007 06:23 pm »
It really depends on which NEO you're talking about, but an Orion with a standard Earth Departure Stage and a LSAM modified to be more of a hab/arrival braking stage could probably go to certain asteroids. Really, it's a matter of finding a NEO with similar delta-V requirements as a trip to the moon.

Simon ;)

Offline sandrot

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Re: Orion to an NEO
« Reply #3 on: 05/09/2007 07:06 pm »
Is the Ares IV option still on the table? We will not get there with Ares I and Ares V is an overkill.
"Paper planes do fly much better than paper spacecrafts."

Offline clongton

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RE: Orion to an NEO
« Reply #4 on: 05/09/2007 07:38 pm »
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Jim - 9/5/2007  12:52 PM
So for a NEO, the CEV would need an upperstage and a mission module
Jim - I thought you were against mission modules. Have I misread you?
Chuck - DIRECT co-founder
I started my career on the Saturn-V F-1A engine

Offline clongton

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Re: Orion to an NEO
« Reply #5 on: 05/09/2007 07:46 pm »
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sandrot - 9/5/2007  3:06 PM

Is the Ares IV option still on the table? We will not get there with Ares I and Ares V is an overkill.
If it is still on the table, it will be many years before anything like that would be possible. Ares-IV needs the Ares-V 10m core - which is a good decade away - at least. Plus, if NASA continues on the Ares track, even the lunar effort is going to be strapped for cash. There will be no money for anything but the moon, and we'll be lucky to get even a bare-bones lunar plan.
Chuck - DIRECT co-founder
I started my career on the Saturn-V F-1A engine

Offline Jim

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RE: Orion to an NEO
« Reply #6 on: 05/09/2007 07:52 pm »
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clongton - 9/5/2007  3:38 PM

Quote
Jim - 9/5/2007  12:52 PM
So for a NEO, the CEV would need an upperstage and a mission module
Jim - I thought you were against mission modules. Have I misread you?

I am against a generic LEO  one.  A NEO mission will need some kind of a module, whether is is a modified LSAM or what

Offline kraisee

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Re: Orion to an NEO
« Reply #7 on: 05/10/2007 03:04 am »
For any NEO mission, you need much the same hardware as you do for a Lunar mission.

You must launch the crew (CEV), have some sort of propellant to get you to the NEO (EDS) and some way to land people on the surface safely, preferably with a couple of tons of equipment for them to use while they're there (some version of LSAM).

The only real difference is going to be the quantities of propellant you're going to need to get to the NEO and then back again.

The automated cargo landings being planned for the moon will also be usable for NEO's too - allowing heavier equipment to be landed - such as mining and processing units.

Ross.
"The meek shall inherit the Earth -- the rest of us will go to the stars"
-Robert A. Heinlein

Offline kraisee

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RE: Orion to an NEO
« Reply #8 on: 05/10/2007 03:06 am »
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Jim - 9/5/2007  3:52 PM

I am against a generic LEO  one.  A NEO mission will need some kind of a module, whether is is a modified LSAM or what

Jim, I know its off-topic here, but can I ask you to expand on that.   I would like to understand precisely what your detailed definition of a "generic LEO mission module" is and then, in context, understand why you don't see a point to one.

I can see potential advantages myself, but I suspect our definitions aren't exactly the same.

Ross.
"The meek shall inherit the Earth -- the rest of us will go to the stars"
-Robert A. Heinlein

Offline renclod

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RE: Orion to an NEO
« Reply #9 on: 05/10/2007 09:49 am »
Quote
02hurnella - 9/5/2007  7:46 PM

I've heard from some it would be impossible to use orion to visit an NEO,  from others I've heard it would be great. So could Orion go to an NEO? and which one, you got any suggestions?
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=6477&start=1
Two papers on Orion NEO missions

Enjoy...




Offline Jim

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RE: Orion to an NEO
« Reply #10 on: 05/10/2007 10:51 am »
Quote
kraisee - 9/5/2007  11:06 PM

Quote
Jim - 9/5/2007  3:52 PM

I am against a generic LEO  one.  A NEO mission will need some kind of a module, whether is is a modified LSAM or what

Jim, I know its off-topic here, but can I ask you to expand on that.   I would like to understand precisely what your detailed definition of a "generic LEO mission module" is and then, in context, understand why you don't see a point to one.

I can see potential advantages myself, but I suspect our definitions aren't exactly the same.

Ross.

look at this thread
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=7570&posts=74&start=1

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