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While the opening two missions of the Space Launch System (SLS) and Orion (Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle) are currently manifested for trips around the Moon, the bulk of the schedule for the 2020s remains undefined, bar indicators that the roadmap would include missions to Near Earth Asteroids (NEA) and eventually Mars.<\/p>\n
A Gateway would provide numerous supporting elements to a wide-ranging roadmap, not least an initial target of the Moon\u2019s surface, but also via the potential for international collaboration, as overviewed in documentation into a crewed return to the moon \u2013 part of an ambitious plan put forward under the Boeing banner.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/Z318.jpg\" "\\"Z3\\"")
Such a deep space platform would be located at Earth-Moon Lagrange (EML) point 1 or 2, after being built from pre-launched hardware, providing the host station for a Lunar Lander (potentially reusable) \u2013 which would also be launched by the SLS.<\/p>\nThe Gateway would first be constructed at the ISS, mainly using the Node 4\/DHS (Docking Hub System), an orbiter external airlock, an MPLM (Multi-Purpose Logistics Module) habitat module, and an international module.<\/p>\n
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Once constructed, a space tug \u2013 powered either by solar electric or chemical propulsion \u2013 would be utilized to raise the platform to the EML point.<\/p>\n
Such a proposal claims to have the platform ready for the arrival of crewed missions via the SLS by 2022.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/A510.jpg\" "\\"A510\\"")
While questions remain on the schedule of SLS\u2019 availability, a potential solution to some of the challenges of enabling a space platform in the first place have been forwarded by Aerojet, promoting their current Solar Electric Propulsion technology \u2013 the same technology which enjoyed a staring role in the rescue of the Advanced Extremely High Frequency satellite (AEHF-1).<\/p>\nDespite a nominal launch atop of an Atlas V \u2013 incidentally aided by three of Aerojet\u2019s strap on solid rocket boosters \u2013 in August, 2010, a failure of the satellite\u2019s subsystem resulted in the AEHF-1\u2019s hydrazine-fueled liquid apogee engine (LAE) failing to carry out the required burns to place it correctly into Geostationary Orbit.<\/p>\n
Thanks to some clever work via the satellite\u2019s United States Air Force controllers and AEHF-1 teams, the $2 billion bird was saved via the ingenious use of the two smaller engines \u2013 namely the hydrazine-fueled Reaction Engine Assemblies (REAs) and later by the xenon-fueled Hall Current Thrusters (HCTs) \u2013 despite their primary role being one of positional stability on orbit.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/Z512.jpg\" "\\"Z5\\"")
The HCT thrusters \u2013 small motors that use electricity and xenon gas as propellant \u2013 do not have a large thrust level, but sport some amazing stamina, allowing them to fire over and over again for thousands of times.<\/p>\nWhile these motors can look forward to providing positional stability for upcoming satellites, along with long-distance trips with deep space spacecraft \u2013 a role Aerojet\u2019s electric propulsion has successfully carried out on a huge range of spacecraft (a large amount remain operational today \u2013 click image for larger graphic) \u2013 a potential marriage between SEP and the Exploration Gateway plan has been promoted by the Californian company.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/Z416.jpg\" "\\"Z4\\"")
\u201cWe believe that Aerojet\u2019s current Solar Electric Propulsion technology, such as that used to rescue AEHF, is immediately applicable to a key role in Human Space,\u201d noted Julie Van Kleeck, Aerojet Vice President, Space & Launch System in an interview with NASASpaceflight.com.<\/p>\n\u201cFor example, a 25-40 kW SEP vehicle using current technology can pre-position a human-tended habitat at L-2 to support initial Orion missions. This approach would provide an immediate deep space destination for astronauts, and L-2 is an excellent way-station to the rest of the solar system.\u201d<\/p>\n
Playing to one of SEP\u2019s strengths, such a vehicle would be relatively low in mass \u2013 when compared to its liquid propellant counterparts \u2013 aiding the launch vehicle used to loft such a vehicle en-route to its in-space role, while reducing the need for numerous refueling stations to assist thirsty spacecraft \u2013 otherwise known as propellant depots.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/Z68.jpg\" "\\"Z6\\"")
\u201cIn addition to delivering habitat modules to L-2, this 25-40 kW SEP vehicle enables an affordable and sustainable logistics transportation system for an L2 human outpost,\u201d added Ms Van Kleeck. \u201cAdditionally this same vehicle supports a wide range of other potential destinations such as L-1, a 70,000 km way-station and lunar orbit. <\/p>\n\u201cThe dramatic reduction in in-space propellant requirements enabled by SEP results in a 2X reduction in launcher delivery requirements to complete a mission, which will reduce the need for architectures like propellant depots.\u201d<\/p>\n
In recommending SEP technology for a role in NASA\u2019s opening salvo of exploration missions, Aerojet believe they can assist as a facilitator towards enabling and supplying a platform, which itself would provide a key element of a viable exploration plan.<\/p>\n
\u201cA near-term operational SEP mission using current technologies serves three critical functions for human spaceflight,\u201d Ms Van Kleeck noted.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/Z78.jpg\" "\\"Z7\\"")
\u201cFirst, it provides an affordable transportation approach for the first deep-space destination for Orion. Second, it establishes mission operation techniques and capabilities necessary for deep-space exploration. Third, it provides a low-risk platform on which to validate subsystem\/component technologies for follow-on vehicles. <\/p>\n\u201cThese three critical outcomes, which follow the building block approach used over the past 50 years in the human spaceflight program, are why Aerojet recommends this near-term use of current technology Solar Electric Propulsion.\u201d<\/p>\n
Aerojet also have ambitions with the key component of the current exploration plan, via the upcoming evaluations into the advanced boosters which will provide the long-term assist of SLS\u2019 ride uphill during first stage.<\/p>\n
An article on Aerojet and SLS, along with other items of interest, will be forthcoming.<\/p>\n
(Images: Via Aerojet, NASA and L2 content, driven by L2\u2032s fast exapanding SLS specific L2 section, which includes, presentations, videos, graphics and internal updates on the SLS and HLV, available on no other site.)<\/p>\n
(L2 is \u2013 as it has been for the past several years \u2013 providing full exclusive SLS coverage, available no where else on the internet. To join L2, click here: http:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/l2\/)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Aerojet \u2013 famous for being a key element of numerous launch vehicle and satellite propulsion systems \u2013 believe their Solar Electric Propulsion (SEP) technology can be positively applied to an Exploration Gateway Platform \u2013 which has been touted as a potential \u2013 and often favored \u2013 approach in NASA\u2019s ongoing studies into a long-term exploration […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":30418,"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":[9148,4881,419,9034,640,9025,624],"class_list":["post-40216","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-aerojet","tag-exploration","tag-gateway","tag-hlv","tag-orion","tag-sep","tag-sls"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40216"}],"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=40216"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40216\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/30418"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=40216"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=40216"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=40216"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}