Launching Science Science Opportunities Provided by NASA's Constellation System (2009) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:
Summary
Summary
Pages 1-8
The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.
From page 1... ...
Virtually all of the science mission concepts that could take advantage of Constellation's unique capabilities are likely to be prohibitively expensive. Several times in the past NASA has begun ambitious space science missions that ultimately proved too expensive for the agency to pursue.
|
From page 2... ...
As a result, the committee determined that the agency needs to continue efforts to attract and advance ideas for space and Earth science missions in general, and should develop a method for soliciting potential mission concepts. Recommendation: NASA should solicit further mission concepts that are most likely to benefit from the capabilities of the Constellation System in each of the space and Earth science disciplines: astronomy and astrophysics, Earth science, heliophysics, and planetary science.
|
From page 3... ...
Recommendation: NASA should consider further study of the following mission concepts: Advanced Technology Large-Aperture Space Telescope, Dark Ages Lunar Interferometer, Exploration of Near Earth Objects via the Crew Exploration Vehicle, Generation-X, Modern Universe Space Telescope, Stellar Imager, and Titan Explorer. Two missions that were placed in the category of "deserving" to be considered for further study did not receive the higher rating (i.e., they were not placed in the "more deserving" category)
|
From page 4... ...
Telescoped Low for coronagraphic observation Exploration >5 High for instruments Yes The Orion vehicle is the only U.S. spacecraft envisioned of Near Earth Low for human factors that will be capable of operating beyond low Earth Objects via the such as radiation orbit.
|
From page 5... ...
Telescopec detectors Solar Polar ∼1 High for instruments Yes Propulsion options enabled by Ares V should be Imagerc Propulsion not studied considered. in sufficient detail Solar Probe 2d 1-5 High for science, Yes Ares I and Ares V launch vehicles could enable instruments, and spacecraft to be placed in an orbit that could bring it mission concept close to the Sun, accomplishing the major science goals.
|
From page 6... ...
Finding: Science missions enabled by the Constellation System will increase the strain on the capabilities of the Deep Space Network. HUMAN AND ROBOTIC SERVICING Various proposers of observatory mission concepts suggested to the committee that large, expensive observatories might benefit from servicing, which would allow them to operate for decades and to be upgraded with the latest instruments.
|
From page 7... ...
Finding: The Ares I will not provide capabilities significantly different from those provided by existing launch vehicles. Although the Orion spacecraft is being designed primarily for transporting astronauts to and from the International Space Station and to and from the Moon, it will possess additional capabilities, such as the ability to carry secondary payloads, including deployable satellites.
|
From page 8... ...
Recommendation: If NASA wishes to use the Constellation System for science missions, it should preserve the capability for Orion to carry small scientific payloads and should ensure that the Ares V development team considers the needs of scientific payloads in system design. The Constellation System offers great potential for space science missions, but the costs of the types of missions evaluated in this report may be unaffordable.
|
Key Terms
This material may be derived from roughly machine-read images, and so is provided only to facilitate research.
More
information on Chapter Skim is available.