Piloted Operations at a Near-Earth Object (NEO)
- Paper number
IAC-08.B3.5.4
- Author
Mr. Rob Landis, NASA Johnson Space Center, United States
- Coauthor
Dr. David Korsmeyer, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)/Ames Research Center, United States
- Year
2008
- Abstract
In late 2006, NASA's Constellation Program sponsored a study to examine the feasibility of sending a piloted Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV) to a near-Earth object (NEO). NEOs are small asteroids and comets that have perihelion distances less than 1.3 AU. Some of these objects have heliocentric orbits similar to Earth’s, which makes them suitable targets for rendezvous missions utilizing the Orion CEV. A significant advantage of this type of mission is that it strengthens and validates the infrastructure of the United States Space Exploration Policy, and is complementary to the already-planned human lunar activities circa 2020. Sending a piloted expedition to a NEO not only demonstrates the broad utility of the Constellation Program’s Orion CEV and Ares launch systems, but would be the first human expedition to an interplanetary body beyond the Earth-Moon system. Such a mission would not only provide a great deal of technical and engineering data on spacecraft operations for future human space exploration, but would also provide the capability to conduct an in-depth scientific investigation of a NEO. Essential physical and geochemical properties of these objects can best be determined from a dedicated mission. In addition, a crewed vehicle would be able to test several different sample collection techniques, and target specific areas of interest via extra-vehicular activities (EVAs) much more capably than a robotic spacecraft. Such capabilities greatly enhance any scientific return from this type of mission. A mission to a NEO would also have practical applications for in situ resource utilization (ISRU) and planetary defence, two issues that will be relevant in the not-too-distant future as humanity begins to explore, understand, and utilize the solar system. This relatively deep space operation will present unique challenges for the crew, spacecraft, and ground control teams that are not present in the lunar mission environment. Executing several such piloted NEO missions will enable NASA to gain crucial deep space operational experience, which is a necessary prerequisite for the eventual human missions to Mars. These scientific and practical aspects, along with the programmatic and operational benefits of a human venture into deep space, make missions to NEOs using the designed Constellation systems a compelling prospect.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-08.B3.5.4.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
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