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Image Credit: Boeing
Science Opportunities Enabled by NASA's Constellation System
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Interim Report
NASA’s Presentation on the Constellation Program
Non-Government Copyright Form
Government Copyright Form
Email us.
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Request for Information
To: Members of the Space Science Community
From: George Paulikas, Chair and Kathryn Thornton, Vice Chair
NRC Committee on Science Opportunities Enabled By NASA’s Constellation System
Date: March 6, 2008
The Space Studies Board and the Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board of the National Research Council (NRC) have begun a study of science opportunities enabled by NASA’s Constellation system of launch vehicles and spacecraft. The Committee on Science Opportunities Enabled by NASA’s Constellation System will first analyze a set of “Vision Mission” concepts provided by NASA. The results of this analysis will be included in an interim report to be completed by the end of April 2008. The mission concepts that the committee is analyzing for its interim report are listed on the committee’s website.
In order to obtain the greatest possible input of ideas from the community about potential mission concepts addressing space science research, we are soliciting input from the broad community concerning ideas for missions or programs that are uniquely enabled by NASA’s Constellation system. The capabilities of the Constellation system, some or all of which should be used in this input, are also available at the committee’s website. These missions or programs can include (but are not limited to): Earth sciences, solar system exploration, heliophysics, astronomy and astrophysics.
We invite you to write a concept paper for a new space-based mission or program, from existing or new vantage points, that promises to advance an existing or new scientific objective. Proposals that are selected by the NRC’s Committee on Science Enabled by NASA’s Constellation System will be asked to make a formal presentation at the committee’s third meeting June 9-11 in Boulder, Colorado.
The committee will analyze the following information for each mission concept:
1-Scientific objectives of the mission concept;
2-A description of the mission concept;
3-The relative technical feasibility of the mission concepts compared to each other;
4-The general cost category into which each mission concept is likely to fall;
5-Benefits of using the Constellation system's unique capabilities relative to alternative implementation approaches.
The committee will identify the mission concepts most deserving of future study. Identification of promising mission concepts by the committee does not imply future study funding by NASA.
The time horizon for the launch of possible missions should extend from 2020 to approximately 2035. These may include science missions benefitting from the unique capabilities of the Constellation system, or from human spaceflight enabled by Constellation missions in lunar orbit, other orbits, or missions to planetary objects. In addition, constellations of spacecraft or spacecraft that fly in formation with existing, planned, or future spacecraft may also be considered.
The committee will use two criteria for evaluating the concepts:
1-Does the concept offer a significant advance in a scientific field (“significant” is defined as providing an order of magnitude or more improvement over existing or planned missions)?
2-Does the concept have a unique requirement for Constellation system capabilities, e.g.
-Does use of the Constellation system’s elements make a previously impossible mission technically feasible?
-Does use of the Constellation system’s elements reduce mission risk or enhance mission success for a previously complicated mission?
-Does use of the Constellation system capabilities offer a significant cost reduction (i.e. 50% or more) in the cost of accomplishing the mission?
All responses will be considered non-proprietary public information for distribution with attribution. Those submitting responses must also fill out the relevant (i.e. government or non-government) NRC copyright form provided on the committee’s website.
The concept papers should be no longer than ten pages in length and provide the following items (by numbered sections), if possible:
1. A summary of the mission concept, including how it is uniquely enabled by the Constellation system.
2. A summary of the science goals, including a description of how the proposed mission will help advance science.
3. In addition to the two criteria listed above, other factors pertaining to the mission concepts may be used to evaluate and prioritize the candidate proposals:
a. Whether the mission has been identified as a high priority or requirement in previous studies, for example NRC reports;
b. How the mission contributes to important scientific questions facing space sciences today (scientific merit, discovery, exploration);
c. How the mission complements other space science systems;
d. NASA has asked the committee to analyze “the general cost category into which mission concept is likely to fall.” We recognize the lack of accuracy of cost estimates for space missions in the early conceptual stages of development. You may consider using the NASA Advanced Missions Cost Model located at http://cost.jsc.nasa.gov/AMCM.html to determine approximate costs.
e. Technology development required by the proposed mission;
f. Risk mitigation provided by use of the Constellation system.
Please submit the concept papers to the NRC by May 5, 2008. Papers should be submitted to constellationrfi@nas.edu.
Questions about the RFI may be directed to the study director, Dwayne A. Day (dday@nas.edu), or to us: (George.A.Paulikas@aero.org); (kt4n@virginia.edu). You can also contact Dr. Day by telephone at 202-334-3477, or by fax at 202-334-3701.
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NASA Workshop on Utilizing the Ares V for Astronomy
On April 26-27 NASA's Ames Research Center is sponsoring a workshop on concepts for utilizing the Ares V launch vehicle for astronomy. The workshop will include a complete overview on Constellation and on the Ares V, as well as presentations on how Ares V could facilitate or enhance astronomy missions. View the event website.
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Background
During the next decade, NASA will develop two new launch systems, the Ares I and Ares V, to implement the lunar exploration component of the Vision for Space Exploration and the NASA Authorization Act of 2005. The Ares I, capable of lifting 25MT to LEO, will be used to launch the Orion crewed vehicle, designed to extend the reach of human space flight and operations beyond low Earth orbit. The Ares V, envisioned to lift 125 MT to LEO, will launch the Earth Departure Stage and the human Lunar Lander to enable a human return to the Moon by 2020. Together, these systems comprise the Constellation system. Constellation may enable the implementation of space science investigations in the post-2020 time frame that are not within the Science Mission Directorate’s (SMD) current plans. The Science Mission Directorate (SMD) will shortly initiate a new round of decadal surveys by the National Research Council (NRC). While the first of these decadal surveys will focus on the 2010-2020 decade, it will be advantageous to have an expansive examination of possible opportunities in the post 2020-time period that could be enabled by the Constellation system. The NRC should consider these opportunities in the context of technology status and technical challenges confronting the scientific exploitation of Constellation.
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Statement of Task
The capabilities of the Constellation system will be provided by NASA and include increased launch payload mass and expanded shroud dimensions, as well as the ability to deliver and sustain humans beyond low Earth orbit for deep space servicing, robotic or human missions to Near Earth Objects, and lunar experiment deployment. The science areas to be considered by the study should include astrophysics, heliophysics, solar system science, and Earth science. Although some advanced science mission concepts have been analyzed in appreciable detail, the study should also capture additional concepts that have not been extensively analyzed, but appear promising.
The NRC will establish an ad hoc study committee to analyze the following information for each mission concept considered:
1. Scientific objectives of the mission concept and their relationship to the top-level scientific questions identified in the NRC’s most recent relevant decadal survey;
2. A characterization of the mission concept insofar as the maturity of studies to date have developed it;
3. The relative technical feasibility of the mission concepts compared to each other;
4. The general cost category into which each mission concept is likely to fall;
5. How the Constellation system can contribute uniquely to the mission concept’s implementation; and
6. Identification of the mission concept(s) most deserving of future study.
The time horizon for the survey of possible missions should extend from 2020 to approximately 2035.
The study will be conducted in two Phases. In Phase I, the NRC committee will consider mission concepts provided to the NRC by NASA. In Phase II, the NRC committee will consider additional mission concepts that may be provided by NASA or obtained through release of a Request for Information to the space and Earth science communities in general (including to professional societies).
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NASA Vision Mission Studies
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• Advanced Compton Telescope (ACT) |
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• Generation-X (Gen-X) Telescope |
• Single Aperture Far Infrared (SAFIR) Telescope |
• Kilometer Baseline Far-Infrared / Submillimeter Interferometer |
• Solar Polar Imager (SPI) |
• Modern Universe Space Telescope (MUST) |
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• Neptune Orbiter with Probes |
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• Nuclear-Powered Interstellar Probe (ISP) |
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Committee
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George A. Paulikas, chair
The Aerospace Corporation [Retired]
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Margaret Finarelli
George Mason University
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Kathryn C. Thornton, vice chair
University of Virginia
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Todd Gary
Tennessee State University
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Claudia J. Alexander
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
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Steven Howell
National Optical Astronomy
Observatories
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Steven V.W. Beckwith
University of California System
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Arlo U. Landolt
Louisiana State University and
Agricultural and Mechanical
College
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Mark A. Brosmer
The Aerospace Corporation
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Franklin D. Martin
Martin Consulting, Inc.
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Joseph A. Burns
Cornell University
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Spencer R. Titley
University of Arizona
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Cynthia A. Cattell
University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
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Carl Wunsch
Massachusetts Institute of
Technology
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Alan Delamere
Ball Aerospace and Technologies
Corporation [Retired]
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Staff
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Dwayne Day
Study Director
dday@nas.edu
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Victoria Swisher
Research Associate
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Celeste Naylor
Program Associate
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