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In a recent paper, \u201cBenefits Stemming from Space Exploration,\u201d ISECG states, \u201cFuture space exploration goals call for sending humans and robots beyond Low Earth Orbit and establishing sustained access to destinations such as the Moon, asteroids and Mars.<\/p>\n
\u201cSpace agencies participating in the International Space Exploration Coordination Group (ISECG) are discussing an international approach for achieving these goals, documented in ISECG\u2019s Global Exploration Roadmap.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat approach begins with the International Space Station (ISS), and leads to human missions to the surface of Mars.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Aiming for a 2017 debut with Orion, NASA\u2019s Space Launch System (SLS) currently has just two missions specified in its manifest, while further missions remain undefined.<\/p>\n
![\"Z42\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Z421.jpg\")
However, NASA\u2019s Exploration Systems Development (ESD) team has crafted design reference missions (DRMs), hypothetical missions that present glimpses into NASA\u2019s next era of human spaceflight.<\/p>\nSeveral of NASA\u2019s DRMs involve sending humans to near-Earth asteroids (NEAs), while other missions involve lunar flybys and landings. The DRMs culminate with the eventual goal of reaching Mars. While the conceptual missions vary in complexity, most DRMs require components that are currently at \u201cnotional\u201d developmental stages, thereby lacking official designs or manufacturers.<\/p>\n
As NASA works to direct its resources toward the development of SLS and Orion, the agency has indicated a desire to allocate the design and construction of currently \u201cnotional\u201d mission components to its international partners.<\/p>\n
![\"Z651\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Z651.jpg\")
Using components from its Automated Transfer Vehicles (ATVs), the European Space Agency (ESA) is slated to construct the majority of Orion\u2019s service module.<\/p>\nMeanwhile, NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden has sought BEO mission contributions from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI).<\/p>\n
In addition to serving NASA\u2019s overall goal of conquering deep space, internationally developed BEO mission components would allow NASA\u2019s international partners to play guaranteed roles in reaching BEO destinations.<\/p>\n
![\"Z4\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Z48.jpg\")
Building on the expertise that the world\u2019s space agencies have individually accrued through decades of operation, international BEO missions could echo the same global unity and shared technology that have allowed the ISS to operate successfully for over a decade.<\/p>\nOne notional BEO mission component is the deep space habitat (DSH), a \u201cpressurized environment in which crew members live and work during extended transit phases and while at exploration destinations for longer duration missions.\u201d
\nThe DSH \u201cprovides all of the resources necessary to support the crew members during [the transit] timeframe and carries additional supplies and spares for the rest of the stack,\u201d according to NASA\u2019s most recent Concept of Operations (Con Ops) document (L2).<\/p>\nWith JAXA\u2019s H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV), ESA\u2019s ATV, and Roscosmos\u2019 fifty-year history of making modular space vehicles, there are a range of proven vehicles constructed that could serve as technological precedents for the DSH.<\/p>\n
![\"Z514\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Z514.jpg\")
Another notional component, the Space Exploration Vehicle (SEV), is described by NASA as a \u201cmodular vehicle that combines a pressurized cabin and crew member support equipment, a propulsion\/consumables unit, and robotic support packages.\u201d<\/p>\nSimilarly, the notional Robotics and EVA Module (REM) is envisioned as an \u201c\u2019add on\u2019 airlock to other destination elements, consisting of a suitlock with two suitports, at least one robotic arm with a grapple fixture and EVA positioning end effectors, an international docking system standard interface, an external equipment pallet, a crew lock, and mounting points to which elements and payload hardware can be mounted.\u201d<\/p>\n
NASA\u2019s international partners could answer a call to develop the SEV and REM.<\/p>\n
The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) offers a long history of successes in robotics, including the development of the ISS\u2019 Mobile Servicing System (MSS), and JAXA\u2019s Hayabusa asteroid probe demonstrated Japan\u2019s ability to return samples from BEO destinations.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, JAXA, ESA and Roscosmos could all contribute to the success of the SEV and REM using their recent experience building pressurized ISS modules.<\/p>\n
![\"Z68\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Z68.jpg\")
The Solar Electric Propulsion (SEP) element is yet another BEO mission component that remains notional.<\/p>\nConsisting of \u201clarge solar arrays\u201d and \u201cHall Effect Xenon (Xe) thrusters,\u201d the SEP element is a \u201chighly efficient, electrically driven method of propulsion\u201d that \u201creduces propellant mass required for more advanced missions,\u201d according to NASA. Solar-electric propulsion successes by NASA\u2019s partners include JAXA\u2019s Hayabusa and ESA\u2019s SMART-1 satellite.<\/p>\n
While ISECG advocates the technological advantages of global space cooperation, the group looks back to Earth for the ultimate benefits of collaboration, stating, \u201cWhen nations work together on challenging space missions, this promotes international cooperation beyond the realm of space.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt aligns interests and forges relationships that further peace and stability on Earth.\u201d<\/p>\n
(Images: Via L2 content from L2\u2019s SLS and Orion specific L2 section, which includes, presentations, videos, graphics and internal updates on the SLS and HLV, available on no other site. Other images via NASA and Aerojet)<\/p>\n
(L2 is \u2013 as it has been for the past several years \u2013 providing full exclusive SLS coverage. To join L2, click here: http:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/l2\/)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
With the International Space Station (ISS) in its 12th year of occupation, space agencies are looking to model the Station\u2019s success in future missions to beyond Earth orbit (BEO) destinations. Many components needed for NASA\u2019s envisioned BEO missions are still merely conceptual, allowing the possibility of international cooperation in developing them. Cosmic Collaborators: While international […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":30316,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-39736","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39736"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=39736"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39736\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/30316"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=39736"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=39736"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=39736"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}