The Utilization of Launch Vehicles Core Stages and Propellant Depots for Human Space Exploration

Abstract

A crewed mission to a near earth asteroid would yield both scientific and engineering advancements. Visiting one or several of these objects would not only validate technologies that could later be used to visit the Moon or Mars, but would also develop our scientific understanding of asteroids and the solar system. This study proposes an architecture that represents a paradigm shift in the way space exploration is conducted. By including the commercial space industry in this mission and encouraging competition, NASA can realize significant cost savings and schedule improvements. This architecture uses a commercial launch vehicle core stage, which can reach orbit if a rocket is launched with no payload, as the in space propulsion system for both outbound and inbound burns. Refueling the core stage with commercial launch systems separates the propellant from the mission-critical elements, and using multiple commercial partners shortens the mission life cycle time and increases mission reliability. Removing expensive and unnecessary systems and supplementing NASA hardware with existing commercial systems brings the program under the current human space exploration budget. Furthermore, this architecture is also extensible to other destinations of interest for human exploration.

Cis-Lunar Reusable In-Space Transportation Architecture for the Evolvable Mars Campaign

“…Previous studies have identified the potential for the intersection of chemical propulsion, in-space storage, and propellant transfer to enable missions to Mars [4][5][6][7] . These studies have considered the application of those three capabilities to supporting Mars missions similar to the Design Reference Architecture 5.0 8 .…”