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NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS) 20080038679: Ares V and Future Very Large Launch Vehicles to Enable Major Astronomical Missions PDF

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8-25-08 draft 59th International Astronautical Congress IAC-08-A5.3.6 ARES V AND FUTURE VERY LARGE LAUNCH VEHICLES TO ENABLE MAJOR ASTRONOMICAL MISSIONS Harley A. Thronson Astrophysics Science Division NASA Goddard Space Flight Center [email protected] Daniel F. Lester Department of Astronomy University of Texas [email protected] Stephanie R. Langhoff Chief Scientist NASA Ames Research Center [email protected] Randy Correll Ball AeroSpace [email protected] H. Philip Stahl NASA Marshall Space Flight Center [email protected] 1 8-25-08 draft ABSTRACT The current NASA architecture intended to return humans to the lunar surface includes the Ares V cargo launch vehicle, which is planned to be available within a decade. The capabilities designed for Ares V would permit an 8.8-m diameter, 55 mT payload to be carried to Sun-Earth L locations. That is, this vehicle could launch very large optical systems to achieve major 1,2 scientific goals that would otherwise be very difficult. For example, an 8-m monolith UV/visual/IR telescope appears able to be launched to a Sun-Earth L location. Even larger 2 apertures that are deployed or assembled seem possible. Alternatively, multiple elements of a spatial array or two or three astronomical observatories might be launched simultaneously. Over the years, scientists and engineers have been evaluating concepts for astronomical observatories that use future large launch vehicles. In this presentation, we report on results of a recent workshop held at NASA Ames Research Center that have improved understanding of the science goals that can be achieved using Ares V. While such a vehicle uniquely enables few of the observatory concepts considered at the workshop, most have a baseline mission that can be flown on existing or near-future vehicles. However, the performance of the Ares V permits design concepts (e.g., large monolithic mirrors) that reduce complexity and risk. 2 8-25-08 draft 1. WORKSHOP BACKGROUND AND GOALS (4) Is there a trade-off between mass and complexity that could reduce launch risk and, On April 26th and 27th, 2008, NASA Ames thereby, the cost of building large telescopes? Research Center, directed by Dr. Peter Worden, hosted a two-day workshop entitled The results of this workshop has been “Astronomy Enabled by Ares V.” The provided to the National Research Council’s primary goal of the workshop was to begin Science Opportunities Enabled by NASA's the process of bringing the Ares V designers Constellation System study effort, which is together with senior representatives of the currently underway. astronomical community to discuss the feasibility of using the Ares V cargo launch 2. WORKSHOP SUMMARY vehicle, a major element in NASA’s Constellation Program, to launch large The workshop began with an overview of the observatories. This paper reports on the Constellation program and the role of future essential results and recommendations of the NASA launch vehicles. One of the essential workshop. A complete report of the ground rules of the workshop was that workshop has been produced by Langhoff, changes in the Ares V cargo launch vehicle Lester, Thronson, and Correll (2008) [1]. cannot compromise its primary mission of transporting the Altair lander and supplies to All presentations and discussions at the the lunar surface. workshop referred to the Ares V design concept at that time. The design and even The large lift mass capability of Ares V the name “Ares V” could change in the (approximately 55 metric tons to Sun-Earth future. Nevertheless, we believe this L ) and large fairing (8.8 meter interior 1,2 workshop opened up astronomical trade diameter) opens up new telescope design space for any future generation heavy-lift possibilities that could significantly enhance launcher. the future scientific missions of many kinds. As it transpired, most of the observatory Key questions at the workshop included: concepts that were discussed at the workshop are limited by volume, not mass, and many (1) Are there telescope concepts or missions of the missions could take advantage of a capable of breakthrough science that are “taller” fairing than the baseline design. The either enabled or significantly enhanced by length of the Ares V fairing is ultimately the capabilities of an Ares V cargo launch constrained by the height of the Vehicle vehicle? Assembly Building (VAB). (2) What demands do large telescopes place While an Ares V cargo launch vehicle on the payload environment of the Ares V, uniquely enables a few of the telescope such as mass, volume, fairing shape, concepts considered at the workshop, most cleanliness, acoustics, etc.? have a baseline mission that can be flown on existing or near-future heavy-lift launch (3) What technology and environmental vehicles. However, the large fairing and lift issues need to be addressed to facilitate capabilities of the Ares V open up new launching observatories on an Ares V? design flexibility, for example large mono- 3 8-25-08 draft lithic mirrors of reduced complexity and The workshop clearly showed that the Ares have no risk of deployment. Such larger- V has considerable potential to do aperture telescopes offer much higher breakthrough astronomy. It is also likely that sensitivity and spatial resolution than it could advance the Earth science and telescopes that can be launched with current planetary science goals of NASA. A follow- launch vehicles. This is particularly on workshop on solar system science important for studies of the early Universe applications was held at NASA Ames August and for imaging exosolar planetary systems. 17 and 18, 2008. The results of that workshop will be reported on separately. While it is too early in the design cycle of the Ares V for a definitive understanding of 3. WORKSHOP PRESENTATIONS its launch environment, designing to a AND DISCUSSION launch environment comparable or better than the Shuttle was considered a good 3.1. The Ares V Cargo Launch Vehicle metric. Since the main engines can be throttled, it is expected that the acoustic and The workshop began with an overview of the dynamic loads can be kept within acceptable Constellation Program by Steve Cook, Ares limits. Project Manager at NASA MSFC. The discussion here attempts to capture some of One recurring theme that had not been the key points made in his presentation, and included in the workshop agenda was the to set the stage for the science cases that importance of on-orbit servicing of follow. More in-depth and authoritative astronomical observatories. The recent accounts of the rapidly unfolding success of the Defense Advanced Research Constellation and Ares programs exist on the Projects Agency’s (DARPA) Orbital web, for example, at Express demonstrated that on-orbit servicing http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/constell can be done autonomously if the telescopes ation/ares/aresV.html. The key focus of the are designed for standard servicing Constellation Program is to deliver both functions. For almost two decades, the cargo and humans to the lunar surface by Hubble Telescope servicing missions have 2020. At the same time, it has been dramatically increased the scientific value of increasingly recognized that such transport the telescope by implementing improved systems can straightforwardly access other instruments and detector technology. The interesting destinations such as Ares V cargo launch vehicle and other Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (GEO), the Constellation assets could enable servicing Sun-Earth and Earth-Moon Lagrange of satellites either with robots or with (libration) points, and some asteroids. astronauts. It is precisely because Ares V and other future large vehicles can launch Key elements of the Ares V cargo launch extremely large, capable, and expensive vehicle were adopted for the workshop. The telescopes that on-orbit servicing to repair payload fairing is being designed to carry and upgrade those telescopes appears to add the Altair lunar lander. One of the primary considerable value. This subject is further focuses of the workshop was to determine discussed in Section 3.5.1 and is what demands launching large astronomical recommended to be the subject of follow-on observatories might place on the size of the workshops. fairing. There may be some design flexibility in the fairing as long as it carries 4 8-25-08 draft out its principal mission of transporting concepts for all of the key elements of the Altair to the lunar surface. Other elements of Ares V including the EDS, the core stage, the Ares V presented at the workshop the notional instrument unit, the EDS J-2X include the Earth Departure Stage (EDS), a engine, the SRBs, and the upgraded RS-68 loiter skirt, an interstage, and then the core engine. As all this information is available stage powered by five Delta IV derived RS- on-line 68 LOX/LH2 engines and two solid rocket (http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/constel boosters. The Ares V presented at the lation/main/index.html) and not critical to workshop is being designed to use many of how an Ares V could be used to launch large the major components being developed for telescopes, we omit the details here. the Ares I crew launch vehicle. For example, However, the element of the Ares V that the first-stage 5-segment solid rocket seems most important for astronomical boosters, the J-2X upper stage engine, and missions is the shape and interior dimension the instrument unit, will all have heritage on of the upper stage fairing. Sumrall presented Ares I. This adaptation is intended to a shroud shape trade study that they had greatly reduce schedule and cost risks, as done within the restriction of a 9.7-m barrel well as development and life-cycle costs. height. This barrel height is required to accommodate the current Altair lunar lander 3.2. Overview of Ares V Performance configuration. They considered many shapes, but selected the biconic shroud Phil Sumrall, the NASA MSFC Advanced shown as their baseline. A critical dimension Planning Manager for the Ares Projects is the 8.8-m diameter interior of the barrel. Office, gave a two-part presentation on Ares The maximum length of the barrel is V, providing first a mission and vehicle constrained to 18.7 m by the height of the overview, and then a description of per- Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) at formance. Again, we emphasize that this is a Kennedy Space Center (KSC). Increasing current snapshot of an on-going program. the barrel length to this maximum reduces The Ares V cargo launch vehicle, which is the payload mass capability slightly. For primarily being designed to place large example, the payload to Sun-Earth L is 2 masses on the lunar surface, is intended to reduced from 55.8 to 55.1 mT by using the have greater payload capacity to low Earth extended fairing. For astronomical missions, orbit (LEO) (~140 metric tons (mT)) than the longer notional shroud was generally any previous vehicle, including the Saturn favored (see later discussion), because these V. The Orion crew exploration vehicle (CEV), missions are usually constrained by volume, which is launched separately on an Ares I not payload mass. crew launch vehicle, performs a rendezvous and docking with the EDS. Finally, the EDS Preliminary analyses indicate that the trans-lunar injection (TLI) burn sends the payload environment (e.g., acoustic loads, Altair lunar lander/CEV on to the Moon. A vibration, cleanliness, etc.) should be loiter skirt, which is connected to the EDS, comparable to other heavy launch vehicles supports a four-day loiter period in LEO. and thus unlikely to negatively impact Presumably, on an Ares V mission used to launching large telescopes. This is discussed launch an observatory, this loiter skirt and in more detail for specific missions in the loiter period would not be required, which following sections. would add further to the payload capacity. 3.2 Lessons from HST: Maximizing the Sumrall discussed in detail the design 5 8-25-08 draft Value of Large Investments the apex of discovery potential. The importance of on-orbit servicing in Frank Cepollina (NASA GSFC) presented a extending the lifetime and science paper discussing the lessons that have been capabilities of a telescope could not have learned from the Hubble Space Telescope been made more dramatically, according to (HST) servicing missions. [2] He began with Cepollina. a quote from NASA Administrator, Michael Griffin, who observed, “It is dumb to launch Looking toward the future, Cepollina complicated, expensive telescopes into outlined a concept for a piloted Orion space that cannot be serviced.” With the servicing vehicle. He discussed the opportunity that Ares V and other future possibility of a servicing arm attached to large systems presents to launch very large Orion and controlled telerobotically by and potentially expensive telescopes, it is onboard astronauts. His mission concept was especially useful to consider on-orbit to replace an instrument of a large telescope servicing as a means of expanding their at its operational location at Sun-Earth L 2 scientific productivity. point or, alternatively, at the more accessible Earth-Moon L jobsite [Ref. 3 and this 1 The thesis of Cepollina’s talk was that HST conference] using an augmented Orion and servicing missions have dramatically Lunar Surface Access Module (LSAM). increased the scientific value of the Cepollina reported on a study that compared telescope. Periodic changes in instruments to costs of a series of expendable new focus on new scientific questions, and the telescopes versus a regularly serviceable implementation of new instrument detector telescope, which indicated that the servicing technology, result in a continuing scenario was less costly overall. He ended by rejuvenation of the scientific performance of emphasizing that the time is now to start this popular mission, and an enhanced pace studying how elements of the Constellation of innovation and discovery. Cepollina program such as the Orion crew exploration described the history of on-orbit servicing vehicle could contribute to the major science missions beginning with the Solar goals by extending human and robotic Maximum Repair Mission. To date, there servicing missions to the next generation have been nine servicing missions to a telescopes; that is, if we can do servicing variety of LEO satellites, which have shown missions with the Shuttle, why not with that a satellite’s design (e.g., standardized Orion? modularity) is the single most significant aspect of cost apart from launch costs. Of 3.4. Telescope Concepts/Missions these nine there have been four servicing missions to HST, each time resulting in new The Ares V cargo launch vehicle could be a scientific discoveries and an explosion of significant enhancement for astronomical scientific papers. The SM4 servicing observations by allowing for much larger mission planned for late 2008 will add the telescopes, which in turn enables much Cosmic Origins Spectrograph and Wide fainter objects to be studied. In this section, Field Camera 3, again extending the science we summarize the presentations on seven capabilities of the telescope. To date, there astronomical concepts that are either enabled have been over 6000 refereed papers by or significantly enhanced by the generated from HST data. With the availability of an Ares V cargo launch completion of SM4, Hubble will again be at vehicle. 6 8-25-08 draft A key message of Lester’s presentation was 3.4.1 Emerging Pathways for the the importance of servicing the spacecraft. Single-Aperture Far-Infrared For this to be feasible, the spacecraft would Telescope (SAFIR) with an Ares V. have to be modular to facilitate the replacement of the focal plane science Dan Lester (University of Texas) discussed instruments, spacecraft systems, and the solar how an Ares V cargo launch vehicle could shield. Instrument upgrades are particularly enhance the Single Aperture Far Infrared important in the FIR, for which detector Telescope (SAFIR) concept. The large sensitivity and array sizes are undergoing interior diameter of the Ares V shroud rapid improvement. Lester described a allows for a large single-substrate servicing concept where the telescope is (monolith) primary mirror diameter of brought back from its optimal operating approximately 8 m. SAFIR is designed to location at Sun-Earth (SE) L to Earth-Moon 2 obtain spectra in the far infrared (FIR) (~20- (EM) L , which is much more convenient for 1 300 μm) using high-performance focal plane human travel. Transit from SE L to EM L 2 1 FIR sensors. The entire telescope is cooled requires only a few tens of meters/sec delta- to less than 10 K by both passive and active V [3]. means. SAFIR will explore the FIR universe with higher sensitivity and spatial resolution 3.4.2. ATLAST: The Roadmap than previously achieved, providing new to an 8-m to 16-m UV/Optical insights into the cosmic history of star Space Telescope formation and nucleosynthesis. [4, 5] Marc Postman (Space Telescope Science With an Ares V, the single-substrate 8-m Institute) described a concept for both an 8-m mirror could be launched with no and 16-m UV/Optical Space Telescope that deployment mechanisms required. This could be deployed from an Ares V. The could significantly reduce complexity, risk, Advanced Technology Large-Aperture Space deployment design, and integration and Telescope (ATLAST) would have unprecedented sensitivity and angular testing, which translates into reduced cost. resolution in the optical region. It could Since SAFIR is diffraction limited at 20 μm, investigate a wide range of important the optics will be lighter than, for example, astronomical issues, such as how the present the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). Universe formed, how galaxies form, and how The launch mass is only 10 mT or ~20% of planetary systems form from circumstellar the launch capacity of Ares V for a mission disks. [6] In conjunction with a separately to Sun-Earth L . This would allow 2 launched external occulter or a high- significant augmentations to the observatory performance coronagraph to block the light such as more/larger instruments, as well as from the central star, it would be able to an enhanced spacecraft. Simple scaling of characterize the atmospheres of exosolar the SAFIR baseline concept, but with a planets. The 16-m ATLAST, in particular, JWST-like deployable primary mirror, would be able to obtain spectra of the would allow a ~20-m diameter telescope atmospheres of Earth-like planets in the with 10 times the sensitivity and 2–3 times habitable zone of thousands of candidate stars. the spatial resolution to be accommodated by an Ares V cargo launch vehicle. As in the previous talk by Dan Lester, Postman also discussed the tradeoff between mass and mission complexity. Reducing 7 8-25-08 draft complexity reduces risk and cost, thus an The Stellar Imager concept calls for a space- Ares V could reduce the overall cost of the based UV/Optical Fizeau interferometer with mission by allowing a less-complex a variable maximum baseline of 100 up to observatory. For example, the Ares V 1000 m. The interferometer is proposed to be enables a fully deployed 8-m or folded located near Sun-Earth L to enable precision 2 segmented 15- to 20-m telescope in a single formation flying. The baseline concept launch. However, this would require the consists of 30 1-m mirror elements focusing “tall” option Ares V fairing. Without an light into a single beam-combining hub. The Ares V, multiple launches, complex folded baseline concept can be launched on a Delta- optics, and/or on-orbit assembly would be IV Heavy. The Ares V cargo launch vehicle, the only alternatives for deploying a with its much larger fairing volume, enables telescope larger than about 7 m in diameter. larger mirror elements, which dramatically Postman ended his presentation by improves sensitivity and reduces observation discussing the technology developments that times. This increases the science need to be made prior to launch. Designing productivity, especially for fainter extra- the mission to enable on-orbit servicing was galactic sources and for astroseismic observa- also identified as a high priority. tions. In addition to larger mirrors, a single launch of an Ares V could also include more 3.4.3 Stellar Imager (SI): Viewing than one hub and a reference the UV/Optical Universe in High metrology/pointing control spacecraft. This Definition would greatly increase the operational efficiency and robustness of the mission. The Ken Carpenter (NASA GSFC) discussed value of in-situ servicing, such as refueling Stellar Imager, which is a space-based and repairing or replacing damaged UV/Optical interferometer with over 200 hardware, was also emphasized for this times the resolution of the Hubble Space mission. Telescope. With its combination of high angular resolution, dynamic imaging, and 3.4.4 Generation-X: A Mission spectral energy resolution, it is capable of Enabled by Ares V performing breakthrough science in the UV/Optical spectral region. Science goals Roger Brissenden (Smithsonian include an improved understanding of solar Astrophysical Observatory) discussed an X- and stellar magnetic activity and ray telescope concept known as Generation- understanding accretion mechanisms in X [7]. The science goals include studying sources ranging from planet-forming the early universe where the first black systems to black holes. The sub-milli- holes, stars, and galaxies formed, as well as arcsecond angular resolution enables the their evolution with cosmic time. The study of dynamical structure and physical telescope would also provide new insights processes in currently unresolved sources into the physics of matter in extreme such as active galactic nuclei (AGN), environments. Key parameters in the supernovae, planetary nebulae, and baseline concept are that the effective area at interacting binary stars. SI is also capable of 1 keV be 50 m2 and the angular resolution imaging transits of exosolar planets across be 0.1 arcsec. To meet the effective area their stellar disks. It is a candidate large- requirement of 50 m2 requires about 104 m2 class strategic mission for the mid-2020s. of glass area. This, in turn, requires thin mirrors (~0.1–0.2 mm) to meet mirror 8 8-25-08 draft spacing and launch mass requirements, combiner with a one-kilometer baseline although the mass is less of an issue with the constrained by tethers. The interferometer is Ares V launch payload capacity. Since the designed to achieve an angular resolution of requirements on effective area imply a 12-m 50 milli-arcsec over a wavelength range of diameter mirror, this would require either 40–640 μm, simultaneously obtaining multiple launches and assembly, multiple spectral and spatial information using a satellites, or a single monolithic mirror that double-Fourier technique. This would allow could only be launched on an Ares V. spatial resolution in the FIR that is comparable to HST at optical wavelengths. The original mission concept using a Delta- Science priorities include studies of the first IV Heavy called for six identical 8-m stars (whose light is redshifted into the FIR), diameter telescopes, each carried as six galaxy evolution, star formation, and segments to fit in the fairing. The Ares V planetary and debris disks. The spectrometer enables a simplified and more cost-effective is designed with sufficient sensitivity to map mission concept. The baseline concept calls high-redshift extra-galactic sources. for a partially filled 16-m diameter mirror, which folds to fit within a 10-m fairing. The The SPECS mission could be launched on a X-ray telescope is delivered directly to Sun- Delta 4 Heavy, but the larger fairing of the Earth L , and the estimated spacecraft mass Ares V could be significantly enhancing. 2 of 22 mT is far less than the 55 mT Ares V This would allow different packaging capability to this location. Since the options, which would in turn lead to a much telescope is volume-limited, not mass- simpler deployment scheme. In addition, the limited, the mass margin enables design Delta 4 Heavy launch limits SPECS to a pair freedom for the optics, structure, supporting of 4-m monolithic mirror telescopes. While electronics, and the science instruments. The this would achieve the SPECS stated science ideal situation would be to have a fully filled goals, an Ares V would allow for both more ~12-m monolithic mirror that would need no and/or larger collector telescopes. Other deployment, thereby reducing cost and risk. potential benefits would be to use the larger launch payload of an Ares V to carry more Brissenden ended his presentation by propellant for a longer mission lifetime and discussing some of the technology to perhaps add a servicing spacecraft that developments that would be needed to could do both refueling and repair and enable the Generation-X mission. replacement. DARPA’s Orbital Express Significant improvements to the mirror mission demonstrated such a capability in figure control are required to achieve the 2007. high-angular resolution mission parameter. 3.4.6. The Dark Ages Lunar 3.4.5 Submillimeter Probe of the Interferometer Evolution of Cosmic Structure (SPECS) Spectrometer Enabled by Joseph Lazio (NRL) gave a presentation on Ares V the Dark Ages Lunar Interferometer (DALI) concept, a telescope designed to conduct Stephen Rinehart (NASA GSFC) discussed cosmological observations of the so-called the SPECS far-infrared (FIR) interferometry “Dark Ages” of the early universe and, mission [8,9] This system consists of 4-m potentially, of the Epoch of Reionization. collector telescopes and a Michelson beam The Ares V is likely to be required for the 9 8-25-08 draft DALI concept, both because the extreme blocked in this location. The current antenna faintness of the desired signal requires concept consists of dipoles deposited on substantial collecting area (and, hence, polyimide film. Each rover would unroll the mass), and because the desired site for the polyimide film rolls for its station, then telescope is the far side (i.e., anti-Earthward remain in place to serve as a “transmission side) of the Moon. hub,” beaming the signals from its station to a central processing facility. Elements of the The ground state of the hydrogen atom has Constellation architecture, both the Ares V the famous 21-cm hyperfine transition. After and the cargo version of the Altair lander, recombination, about a half-million years present an attractive means of deploying the after the Big Bang, the dominant component large launch mass of the telescope, which is of the intergalactic medium (IGM) is atomic dominated by the antennas and rovers. hydrogen, and the predicted temperature of the gas eventually drops below that of the 3.4.7. Starshades in the Ares V cosmic microwave background (CMB). Even well into the Epoch of Reionization, Tupper Hyde (NASA GSFC) reviewed the the IGM remains dominated by neutral next generation missions intended to hydrogen, although a more complicated characterize exosolar planets using a star- temperature evolution is predicted as the shade, which Ares V might enable. He first stars and black holes form and heat and discussed the sequence of missions to ionize the IGM. Depending upon the characterize exosolar planets beginning with redshift, the hyperfine transition should be the baseline New Worlds Observer seen in either absorption or emission against Spectroscopy mission to characterize planets the CMB, and would serve as a at low spectral resolution. This mission could cosmological probe in much the same way be carried out with current heavy-lift launch that the CMB itself has been over the past vehicles. The next most advanced mission is four decades. Importantly, the redshifted 21- Life Finder that would carry out medium cm transition may offer the opportunity to resolution spectroscopy (R ~ 10000) of the follow the evolution of the Universe during atmospheres of exosolar planets. This would this crucial epoch. Secondary science require a large 8- to 16-m telescope in includes studying the magnetospheric conjunction with a starshade. Here an Ares V emission from exosolar planets and cargo launch vehicle would be enhancing, but heliophysics. not absolutely essential. The next most ambitious mission called Planet Imager, The baseline DALI concept calls for a large which requires multiple telescopes to carry number (hundreds) of antenna “stations,” out large-baseline imaging interferometry with each station consisting of 100 antennas. plus starshades, could only be carried out The nominal location is the Tsiolkovsky with an Ares V or an equivalently capable crater. The stations would be deployed with vehicle. robotic rovers, and signals from the stations would be transmitted via laser links to a In all of these mission concepts, the correlator. The Moon’s far side may be the starshade is used as an external occulter to only place in the inner solar system where block the light from the star. The telescope these observations can be carried out, due to needs to be large enough to collect enough strong terrestrial (human-generated) light from the planet and needs to be far emissions in the radio that are effectively enough away from the starshade to have a 10

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