Construction of an International Construction of an International Space Vehicle Using the Space Vehicle Using the

Space StationSpace Station

Dan RoukosDan RoukosDan.Roukos@gmail.comDan.Roukos@gmail.com

ASTE 527ASTE 527

December 15, 2009December 15, 2009

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The Present Approach

• Single spacecraft to launch, travel, Single spacecraft to launch, travel, land, and re-enterland, and re-enter– Effective and simple for short missions Effective and simple for short missions – Historical success - moon landingsHistorical success - moon landings– May not support extended and permanent May not support extended and permanent

human presence in spacehuman presence in space– Ineffective for long duration missionsIneffective for long duration missions

• Manned lunar baseManned lunar base• Mars landingMars landing• Asteroids and NEOsAsteroids and NEOs

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Pressurized Volume

Credit: Marc H. Cohen – Testing the Celentano Curve

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What ISS Represents

• A spacecraft integrated in spaceA spacecraft integrated in space– Does not need to survive reentryDoes not need to survive reentry– Optimized for survival in spaceOptimized for survival in space

• Large habitable volumeLarge habitable volume• Recycling life supportRecycling life support

• The path to permanent human presenceThe path to permanent human presence– An endurance missionAn endurance mission– More time for mission activityMore time for mission activity– The methods to survive and thriveThe methods to survive and thrive

• International collaborationInternational collaboration

• Can this design can be evolved to Can this design can be evolved to support travel beyond LEO?support travel beyond LEO?

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A New Exploration Architecture

““For these long-duration missions, we need an For these long-duration missions, we need an entirely new spacecraft that I call the entirely new spacecraft that I call the Exploration Module, or XM. Unlike the Orion Exploration Module, or XM. Unlike the Orion capsule, which is designed for short flights capsule, which is designed for short flights around the Earth and to the moon, the XM around the Earth and to the moon, the XM would contain the radiation shields, artificial would contain the radiation shields, artificial gravity, food-production and recycling gravity, food-production and recycling facilities necessary for a spaceflight of up to facilities necessary for a spaceflight of up to three years.”three years.”

~Buzz Aldrin~Buzz Aldrin

USC• The International Space Vehicle (ISV)The International Space Vehicle (ISV)

– Built from ISS using the same methods already developedBuilt from ISS using the same methods already developed

• Optimized for space exploration and enduranceOptimized for space exploration and endurance– Radiation shieldsRadiation shields– Food productionFood production– 3 year closed loop systems3 year closed loop systems– Nuclear powerNuclear power– Artificial gravityArtificial gravity– Large Habitable VolumeLarge Habitable Volume– International Crew of 4International Crew of 4

• Capability:Capability:– Manned missions to the moonManned missions to the moon

• Lunar outpost supportLunar outpost support– Manned missions to NEOsManned missions to NEOs– Manned Missions to MarsManned Missions to Mars

A New Exploration Architecture

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Primary Modules and Docking

Altair Lander

Orion capsule

3x Secondary Module

Primary Module

Robotic Arm

Docking Node

USC• Counter rotating module sets create Counter rotating module sets create

artificial gravity in 8 modulesartificial gravity in 8 modules

• Modules serve:Modules serve:– Food productionFood production– Composting Composting – Living Living – Recreation Recreation – ExerciseExercise

• Angular momentum used to help Angular momentum used to help stabilize the S/Cstabilize the S/C

• Number of AG modules can be Number of AG modules can be configured to mission requirementsconfigured to mission requirements

Artificial Gravity Modules

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Environmental Room

Transparent Floor

Light Column

3X Hydroponic Trough A

rtif

icia

l Gra

vity

Vec

tor

Greenhouse Module

• 4x Greenhouse modules and 2x composters can 4x Greenhouse modules and 2x composters can provide for a crew of 4:provide for a crew of 4:– 100% air recycling100% air recycling– 100% water recycling100% water recycling– 50% caloric intake50% caloric intake

• Design modified from Design modified from Patterson and SadlerPatterson and Sadlerdesign of lunar design of lunar greenhouse (Universitygreenhouse (Universityof Arizona)of Arizona)

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Nuclear Rockets and EPS

2X Prop Tanks

RTG Power Module

Radiators

Thermal Shield

Nuclear Thermal Rocket Module

Truss StructureTruss can be lengthened per radiation shielding requirements

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Nuclear Thermal Rocket

• Significant development in 1960s to ~TRL 7Significant development in 1960s to ~TRL 7• Demonstrated ISP > 900Demonstrated ISP > 900• Thrust from 25,000 lbs to 210,000 lbsThrust from 25,000 lbs to 210,000 lbs• 60 restarts with 10 hours of operation60 restarts with 10 hours of operation

Credit: Ernest Robinson

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ISV Build Sequence

Primary Module and

Docking Node

ISS Node 3 with pressurized docking port

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Integration of 3x secondary modules

Vehicle dockedto ISS

Integration of 2x rotating nodes

Integration of 8x AG modules

Run artificial gravity test program

0-5 year timeline

ISV Build Sequence

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Integration of thermal shield

Integrate powermodule

Build up truss Segment

Integrate and certifytank/prop system

Integration of nuclear rocket

Connect prop system

Integration of radiator panels

5-10 year timeline

ISV Build Sequence

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ISV Build Sequence

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Merits and Opportunity

• Long duration manned presence at mission destinationsLong duration manned presence at mission destinations– MoonMoon– NEOsNEOs– MarsMars

• Teaches us the methods to survive and thriveTeaches us the methods to survive and thrive

• ISV program to drive development of key technologiesISV program to drive development of key technologies– Artificial GravityArtificial Gravity– Closed loop life support Closed loop life support – Nuclear thermal rocketsNuclear thermal rockets

• Increased international collaborationIncreased international collaboration– International participation by sending two foreign astronauts to lunar International participation by sending two foreign astronauts to lunar

surfacesurface

• Self replicating platformSelf replicating platform– ISV can be used to construct ISV 2.0ISV can be used to construct ISV 2.0

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Risks and Limitation

• Aggressive technology incorporationAggressive technology incorporation

• ISV will require lengthy servicing in LEO ISV will require lengthy servicing in LEO between missionsbetween missions

• Long build durationLong build duration– Opportunity cost in ISS utilizationOpportunity cost in ISS utilization

• Single point failureSingle point failure

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The Path Forward

““We choose to go to the moon in this decade We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to that challenge is one that we are willing to accept...”accept...”

~ JFK~ JFK

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Backup - ISS