Lunar and Planetary Science XXXVIII (2007) 2292.pdf SCIENTIFIC EXPLORATION OF NEAR-EARTH OBJECTS VIA THE CREW EXPLORATION 1,* 2 3 4 5 6 7 VEHICLE. P. A. Abell , D. J. Korsmeyer , R. R. Landis , E. Lu , D. Adamo , T. Jones , L. Lemke , A. Gonza- les7, B. Gershman8, D. Morrison7, T. Sweetser8 and L. Johnson9, 1Planetary Astronomy Group, Astromaterials Re- search and Exploration Science, NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX 77058,
[email protected]. 2Intelligent Systems Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035. 3Mission Operations, NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX 77058. 4Astronaut Office, NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX 77058. 5Houston, TX 77058. 6Oakton, VA 20153. 7NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035. 8Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA 91109. 9NASA Headquarters, Washington, DC 20546.*NASA Postdoctoral Fellow. Introduction: The concept of a crewed mission to etc. Such missions to NEOs are vital from a scientific a Near-Earth Object (NEO) has been analyzed in depth perspective for understanding the evolution and ther- in 1989 as part of the Space Exploration Initiative [1]. mal histories of these bodies during the formation of Since that time two other studies have investigated the the early solar system, and to identify potential source possibility of sending similar missions to NEOs [2,3]. regions from which these NEOs originated. A more recent study has been sponsored by the Ad- NEO exploration missions will also have practical vanced Programs Office within NASA’s Constellation applications such as resource utilization and planetary Program. This study team has representatives from defense; two issues that will be relevant in the not-too- across NASA and is currently examining the feasibility distant future as humanity begins to explore, under- of sending a Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV) to a stand, and utilize the solar system.