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NASA set to test Orion spacecraft (deep space exploration) Thursday

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renegade_dewitt

Member
Update: "Weather a No-Go for launch, expected to clear"

Make what you will of the above headline, but adding to the fact that there is only 40% chance of go...looks doubtful even for today...
 
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renegade_dewitt

Member
davepoobond said:
Is it sad that I heard nothing about this so I assumed it launched successfully?
Click to expand...

Right.......

4JSmoMNl.png
 
Chittagong

Chittagong

Gold Member
So if this rocket gets us to Mars, what gets us back?

Given the planet's relative size compared to Earth I would assume the return vehicle requires thrusters much larger than the lander module has to reach escape velocity.

Earth - 11.2km/s
Mars - 5km/s
Moon - 2.5km/s

EDIT: Seems like we need a ship with 24 tonnes of fuel mass to return from Mars. The most we have ever landed on Martian surface is one tonne:
http://esamultimedia.esa.int/docs/Aurora/execsummaries/TN_Executive_Summary_PAV_complete.pdf
 
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antonz

Member
Chittagong said:
So if this rocket gets us to Mars, what gets us back?

Given the planet's relative size compared to Earth I would assume the return vehicle requires thrusters much larger than the lander module has to reach escape velocity.

Earth - 11.2km/s
Mars - 5km/s
Moon - 2.5km/s
Click to expand...

The new system calls for multiple configurations. Whats being tested now is standard crew configuration for non deep space missions. Deep Space would use the larger configuration that is bigger than the Saturn 5.
 
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antonz

Member
renegade_dewitt said:
aka the Space Launch System, correct?
Click to expand...

Correct. It will be interesting to see how the deep space aspect of it changes overtime as NASA is said to be looking at Nuclear Thermal Rocket engines for Mars and beyond as they are faster,more efficient and would allow increased load capacity. NTR mars trip is 3-4 months versus the 9 months with chemical rockets
 
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Shaldome

Member
Chittagong said:
So if this rocket gets us to Mars, what gets us back?

Given the planet's relative size compared to Earth I would assume the return vehicle requires thrusters much larger than the lander module has to reach escape velocity.

Earth - 11.2km/s
Mars - 5km/s
Moon - 2.5km/s

EDIT: Seems like we need a ship with 24 tonnes of fuel mass to return from Mars. The most we have ever landed on Martian surface is one tonne:
http://esamultimedia.esa.int/docs/Aurora/execsummaries/TN_Executive_Summary_PAV_complete.pdf
Click to expand...

As I understand it, not everything will go with the rocket itself to Mars, but they will send more things upfront. The landing on Mars itself is more of a problem.

If you and others are interested in the needed technologies and the time frame in when they are expected to be available I recommend you to watch the press conference form NASA which was held on 2 December NASA’s Journey to Mars News Briefing.
They also talk about SLS and the reconstruction of the launch complex.
 
Eternal_0

Eternal_0

Member
Weather conditions are favorable for now, with odds of weather violations increasing as the day goes on. The rocket's looking good for launch, too. I'm hyped!
 
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RubberJohnny

Banned
Chittagong said:
So if this rocket gets us to Mars, what gets us back?

Given the planet's relative size compared to Earth I would assume the return vehicle requires thrusters much larger than the lander module has to reach escape velocity
Click to expand...

This long and unusual video actually shows the original Constellation mission profile pretty well - basically they send out unmanned cargo ships which land and set up a refuelling base as well as leaving a habitation module in Mars orbit.

The crew ship is assembled in orbit from four launches, featuring a long term habitation module, LV-N nuclear thermal drive section and two Orion crew transfer craft. It transfers to Mars, then some crew are ferried across to the orbital habitation module, leaving their ship unmanned.

Crew are ferried down to the surface three at a time, landing at the base and refuelling the ascent/descent module each time (as well as from the ship in orbit after the journey up). Then once their time on the surface is up, the same happens in reverse.

They rejoin the spaceship and leave the ascent/descent module in Mars orbit for another mission, as well as a bunch of contingency equipment, reducing their mass significantly, before transferring back to Earth orbit, using the Orion craft to land home.

In an emergency loss of the ascent/descent module the contingency equipment module can land on Mars and pick up stranded crew and return them to the spaceship, or in the event of a loss of the spaceship, can transfer the Orion capsules back to Earth, although that would be a cramped year.
 
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