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Project 5S: A Safe Stepping Stone into the Solar SystemThe human exploration program, at least in NASA, has been directed to move beyond the Moon and travel on a flexible path into the solar system. Reaching a Near-Earth Asteroid (NEA) is a major human space flight goal but such missions have tight times and life-support requirements that require huge steps from current capabilities. An objective between the Moon and a NEA is needed. Example interim objectives are the Lagrangian points in either the Sun-Earth or Earth-Moon (EM) system. The nearest of these points beyond the Moon is E-M L2. The Lagrangian points are empty (as far as we know). As objectives for human flight,it has been argued that they suffer from a lack of public interest and of meaningful objectives for astronaut operations. To provide a physical target, a robotic spacecraft could retrieve a small NEA and bring it to a Lagrangian or other nearer-Earth point to be accessed and utilized for human-mission objectives. This paper reports on the results of a recently completed study of an asteroid retrieval mission sponsored by the Keck Institute for Space Studies (KISS) at the California Institute of Technology. The study included an evaluation of potential targets, mission objectives, mission and system design, and potential capture mechanisms. The study concluded that, while challenging, there are no fundamental show stoppers and that such a mission would be possible with technology expected to be available in this decade. The final destination selected (for safety and mission operations) was high lunar orbit. Two options for target selection are considered: (i) retrieving a small (7 meter) NEA with a mass of order 500,000 kg, and (ii) taking a similar size boulder of a large known carbonaceous NEA. Several areas of technology and program requirements were identified, but the most important conclusion was that this approach enables meeting a goal of humans going to a NEA by the mid-2020s. The advantages and benefits for human exploration are considerable as are the advances that would be made in space-resource utilization and science for further exploration and development of the solar system. The combination of the robotic mission to move the asteroid and the human mission to go to its new destination and conduct astronaut operations there would provide a boost and purpose to human space flight.
Document ID
20150008758
Acquisition Source
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Document Type
Conference Paper
External Source(s)
Authors
Brophy, John
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Culick, Fred
(California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Dimotakis, Paul
(California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Friedman, Louis
(Planetary Society Pasadena, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
May 26, 2015
Publication Date
October 1, 2012
Subject Category
Spacecraft Design, Testing And Performance
Lunar And Planetary Science And Exploration
Report/Patent Number
IAC-12,A5,4,11,x13356
Meeting Information
Meeting: International Astronautical Congress
Location: Naples
Country: Italy
Start Date: October 1, 2012
End Date: October 5, 2012
Sponsors: International Astronautical Federation
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other
Keywords
asteroid retrieval
SEP
ISRU
asteroid mining

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