Ares V and Future Very Large Launch Vehicles to Enable Major Astronomical Missions

Paper number

IAC-08.D2.8.2

Author

Dr. Harley Thronson, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, United States

Coauthor

Dr. Stephanie Langhoff, NASA - Ames Research Center, United States

Coauthor

Dr. H. Philip Stahl, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, United States

Coauthor

Dr. Daniel Lester, University of Texas at Austin, United States

Year

2008

Abstract

The current NASA architecture planned to return humans to the lunar surface includes the Ares V heavy lift launch vehicle designed primarily to carry the Altair lunar lander and to be available before about 2020. However, the capabilities of this system (and its variants) are such that adapting the vehicle to launch very large optical systems could achieve major scientific goals that are not otherwise possible. For example, an 8-m monolith UV/visual/IR telescope appears able to be launched to the Sun-Earth L2 location by an Ares V with a 10-m fairing. Even larger apertures that are deployed or assembled in space seem possible, which may take advantage of other elements of NASA’s future human spaceflight architecture. Alternatively, multiple elements of a spatial array or two or three astronomical observatories might be launched simultaneously. That is, Ares V appears to offer the astronomy communities an opportunity to put into orbit extremely capable observatories, in addition to being a key element of NASA’s current architecture for human spaceflight.

For the past year, a number of scientists and engineers have been evaluating concepts for astronomical observatories that take advantage of future large launch vehicles, including the science goals of such missions and design modifications to the vehicle to enable the observatories. In parallel, members of the Solar System science communities have likewise been considering what major science goals can be achieved if new, extremely capable launch systems become available.

In this presentation, we report on the results of a recent workshop and other developments that have led to an improved understanding of the science goals that can be achieved with Ares V and other future large launch vehicles.

Recent work on this topic may be found at http://futureinspaceoperations.com.  

Abstract document

IAC-08.D2.8.2.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-08.D2.8.2.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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