Update on the Ares V to Support Heavy Lift for U.S. Space Exploration Policy
- Paper number
IAC-08.D2.8.1
- Author
Mr. Phil Sumrall, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, United States
- Coauthor
Mr. Stephen A. Cook, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), United States
- Year
2008
- Abstract
When NASA’s Ares V cargo launch vehicle begins flying late next decade, its capabilities will significantly exceed the 1960s-era Saturn V. It will send more crew and cargo to more places on the lunar surface than Apollo and will support a permanent lunar outpost. Moreover, it will restore the United States’ heavy-lift capability, which can support human and robotic exploration for decades to come. The Ares V is part of an exploration architecture that includes the Ares I crew launch vehicle, Orion crew exploration vehicle, and Altair lunar lander. The Ares V will loft the Earth departure stage (EDS), carrying the Altair lander, into low Earth orbit (LEO). The Ares I will put Orion into a rendezvous orbit. Once Orion docks with Altair, the EDS will initiate a trans-lunar injection (TLI) burn to head toward the Moon. According to the latest configuration studies, Ares V will be approximately 361.9 feet tall and will deliver 128.8 metric tons (283,913 pounds) to LEO or 54.2 metric tons (119,521 pounds) to TLI. The Ares V first stage propulsion system consists of a core stage powered by five commercial liquid hydrogen/liquid oxygen (LH2/LOX) RS-68 engines, flanked by two five-segment solid rocket boosters (SRBs) based on the Ares I first stage. Atop the core stage is the EDS, powered by a single J-2X upper stage engine based on the Ares I upper stage engine. Ares V remains in a pre-design analysis cycle stage pending a planned late calendar 2010 Authority to Proceed (ATP). However, Ares V benefits from the decision to use heritage hardware as a point of departure for the Ares vehicles and from the goal to seek commonality between the two launch vehicles. Most Ares V-specific work to date has focused on the core stage’s commercial RS-68 engine, currently in use on the Delta IV launch vehicle. Ares V requirements will benefit from a current Air Force effort improve the thrust and efficiency of the engine. NASA is pursuing additional changes to extend exhaust nozzle life, reduce free hydrogen on the launch pad, and reduce helium usage. The Ares Project continues refining the Ares V design through a variety of internal studies. This paper will provide background information on the Ares V architecture and a status report on the latest technical and programmatic progress of the vehicle.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-08.D2.8.1.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
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