Cyclical Visits to Mars via Astronaut Hotels Phase II Final Report Global Aerospace Corporation April 9, 2003 Universities Space Research Association Subcontract No.: 07600-59 GAC Report 510-05921-023 Global Aerospace Corporation 711 W. Woodbury Road, Suite H Altadena, CA 91001-5327 USA Telephone: +1 (626) 345-1200 Fax (626) 296-0929 Email: [email protected] Web: http://www.gaerospace.com Phase II Study Contributors Global Aerospace Corporation Kim Fleming Dr. Kim M. Aaron Wendy Holland Dale R. Burger Nicholas Kimball Kristin Gates Senior Design Carbothermal Reactor Dr. Angus D. McRonald Dr. Ron Miller Kerry T. Nock, Principal Investigator and Dr. Colin Wolden NIAC Fellow Mailasu Bai Dr. Paul Penzo Lindsey Barkley Chris Wyszkowski Viki Cinstock Science Applications International Katrina Britton Corporation (SAIC) Jessica Clark April Dittrich Dr. Gilbert Chew Devin Dyar Alan L. Friedlander Biljana Djoric Mark K. Jacobs Oliver Eagle Jerry A. Rauwolf Jon Elarde Colorado School of Mines Keith Gneshin Dr. Robert King Michelle Manichanh Dr. Michael B. Duke Chris Pitcher Phobos Excavation Mark Still Dr. Robert King Liz Townley Lee Johnson Planetary Resource Utilization Tim Muff Consultant Senior Design Lunar Ice Excavator Dr. Michael B. Duke, CSM Center for Luke Anderson Commercial Applications Michael Martinez-Schiferl Purdue University Adrian Sikorski Ryan Smelker Dr. James Longuski Craig Softley Joseph Chen Senior Design Mars Mining Rover Troy McConaghy Dr. Robert Knecht Masa Okutsu Dr. Dave Munoz Misty Cates ii Abstract Global Aerospace Corporation has developed a revolutionary concept for an overall interplanetary rapid transit system architecture for human transportation between Earth and Mars which supports a sustained Mars base of 20 people circa 2035. This comprehensive study includes the analysis, options development and design of the entire transportation infrastructure including orbital mechanics, in situ resources utilization systems, crewed and robotic cargo vehicles, planetary transportation nodes, technology identification, and costing. The baseline design architecture relies upon the use of small, highly autonomous, solar-electric-propelled space ships, we dub Astrotels for astronaut hotels and hyperbolic rendezvous between them and the planetary transport hubs using even smaller, fast-transfer, aeroassist vehicles we shall call Taxis. Astrotels operating in cyclic orbits between Earth, Mars and the Moon and Taxis operating on rendezvous trajectories between Astrotels and transport hubs or Spaceports will enable low-cost, low-energy, frequent and short duration trips between these bodies. In addition, we have compared Mars transportation architectures namely Aldrin Low-thrust Cyclers, Stopover and Semi-cycler architectures. This concept provides a vision of a far off future that establishes a context for near-term technology advance, systems studies, robotic Mars missions and human spaceflight. This concept assists the NASA Enterprise for Human Exploration and Development of Space (HEDS) in all four of its goals, namely (1) preparing to conduct human missions of exploration to planetary and other bodies in the solar system, (2) expanding scientific knowledge (3) providing safe and affordable access to space, and (4) establishing a human presence in space. Key elements of the baseline Aldrin Low-thrust Cycler architecture are the use of: Five to six month human flights between Earth and Mars on cyclic orbits, Small, highly autonomous human transport vehicles or Astrotels, Cycling between Earth and Mars Solar Electric Propulsion for orbit corrections Untended for more than 20 out of 26 months No artificial gravity Fast-transfer, aeroassist vehicles, or Taxis, between Spaceports and the cycling Astrotels, Low energy, long flight-time orbits and unmanned vehicles for the transport of cargo, in situ resources for propulsion and life support Environmentally safe, propulsion/power technology Table of Contents 1 INTRODUCTION .....................................................................................................................................................1 1.1 CYCLICAL VISITS TO MARS VIA ASTRONAUT HOTELS .....................................................................................2 1.2W HAT ARE THE GOALS OF THIS WORK?............................................................................................................3 1.3 WHAT MAKES THIS CONCEPT REVOLUTIONARY?............................................................................................4 1.4 WHAT IS THIS CONCEPT’S SIGNIFICANCE TO NASA ........................................................................................5 1.4.1 Enterprise for Human Exploration and Development of Space (HEDS) ...................................................5 1.4.2 Space Science Enterprise (SSE)...................................................................................................................6 1.5 WHAT WILL MARS TRANSPORTATION ARCHITECTURES COST?......................................................................6 2 CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT SUMMARY..........................................................................................................7 2.1 SUMMARY OF PHASE II TASKS ..........................................................................................................................7 2.1.1 Task 1 Cyclic Orbit and Celestial Mechanics Concepts Research............................................................7 2.1.2 Task 2 Advanced Aero-assist Technology Studies......................................................................................7 2.1.3 Task 3 In Situ Resource Systems Concepts Development ...........................................................................7 2.1.4 Task 4 Develop and Assess Options for Mars Transportation Systems Concepts....................................7 2.1.5 Task 5 Mars Astrotel Model Analysis (MAMA) Development and Life Cycle Costing .............................8 2.1.6Task 6 Identify Pathways to Architecture Development.............................................................................8 2.1.7 Task 7 Planning and Reporting...................................................................................................................9 2.2 SUMMARY OF WORK ACCOMPLISHED...............................................................................................................9 2.2.1 Task 1 Cyclic Orbit and Celestial Mechanics Concepts Research..........................................................15 2.2.2 Task 2 Advanced Aero-assist Technology Studies....................................................................................16 2.2.3 Task 3 In Situ Resource Systems Concepts Development .........................................................................16 2.2.4 Task 4 Develop and Assess Options for Mars Transportation Systems Concepts..................................17 2.2.5 Task 5 Mars Astrotel Model Analysis (MAMA) Development and Life Cycle Costing ...........................19 2.2.6Task 6 Identify Pathways to Architecture Development...........................................................................19 2.2.7 Task 7 Planning and Reporting.................................................................................................................20 3KEY CONCEPTUAL DESIGN DEFINITIONS, ASSUMPTIONS AND REQUIREMENTS ....................21 3.1 DEFINITIONS.....................................................................................................................................................21 3.1.1 Mars Base ...................................................................................................................................................21 3.1.2 Astrotels ......................................................................................................................................................21 3.1.3 Spaceport ....................................................................................................................................................21 3.1.4 Taxi..............................................................................................................................................................21 3.1.5 Shuttle..........................................................................................................................................................21 3.1.6Lunar and Phobos Propellant Tankers......................................................................................................22 3.1.7 Cargo Freighter..........................................................................................................................................22 3.1.8 Propellant Augmentation Tanks (PATs)....................................................................................................22 3.1.9 In situ Resource Production Plants ...........................................................................................................22 3.2T RANSPORTATION SYSTEM ASSUMPTIONS .....................................................................................................22 3.2.1 Timeframe of Mars Base ............................................................................................................................22 3.2.2 Mars Base ...................................................................................................................................................22 3.2.3 Lunar Base..................................................................................................................................................23