NASA Outlines "Flagship" Technology Demonstrations 27
FleaPlus writes "As part of its new plans, NASA has outlined the initial series of large-scale 'flagship' technology demonstration (FTD) missions for developing and testing technologies needed for sustainable beyond-Earth exploration, complementing the smaller-scale ETDD missions outlined previously. The first four FTD missions (costing $400M-$1B each, about the cost of the recent Ares I-X suborbital rocket launch) are scheduled to launch between 2014 and 2016, demonstrating advanced in-space propulsion (next-generation ion propulsion and solar arrays), in-space propellant transfer and storage, a lightweight/inflatable mission module at the ISS (which will also test closed-loop life support), and an inflatable aeroshell for aerocapture at Mars. A multi-purpose robotic rendezvous and docking vehicle will also be developed to support these missions."
Re:Misleading (Score:3, Informative)
Did anyone else read "flagship technology" and picture a ship with solar sails? Well, if you did, you'll be disappointed.
You mean like the one that Japan launched yesterday?
http://www.planetary.org/blog/article/00002503/ [planetary.org]
http://www.centauri-dreams.org/?p=12588 [centauri-dreams.org]
Re:Seems kind of quick? (Score:4, Informative)
They couldn't have really developed all of this since the announcement of the cancellation of the Constellation program.
Seems more likely they just grabbed a bunch of already developed tech and slammed it together.
On the plus side, the fact that they're actually focusing on this tech which I heard they were developing years years ago, at least for the ion propulsion and inflatable structures, shows that NASA is finalyl getting off their feet and working on them.
Keep in mind all of these technologies have been on NASA's back-burner for a while (and most/all had their funding cut when Ares/Constellation started going over-budget). These "Flagship Technology Demonstrators" are also specifically targeted towards technologies which are already of mid-level maturity but have never been brought to the point that they could be tested in space before. There's a figure on page 2 of this document which does a pretty good job of explaining things:
http://nspires.nasaprs.com/external/viewrepositorydocument/cmdocumentid=230964/Section1.pdf [nasaprs.com]
New info on commercial crew and robot precursors (Score:3, Informative)
Right after I made the submission, it looks like NASA released info on Commercial Crew Transportation and the Exploration Precursor Robotic Missions. I probably won't make a separate submission (although someone else is more than welcome to), but the new docs are pretty interesting:
http://nspires.nasaprs.com/external/solicitations/solicitations.do?method=init&stack=push [nasaprs.com]
Re:Finally some real technology development (Score:5, Informative)
I totally agree with new approaches and new development. But I want to mention two things you might not be aware of.
Bigelow Aerospace has flown 2 inflatable Habitats since 2006. The foam they are made of was originally developed for the ISS, and tech transferred to a private company to develop it further.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bigelow_Aerospace [wikipedia.org]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TransHab [wikipedia.org]
Heck their Sundancer manned habitat might BE the tech demonstrator for inflatable habitats.
The VASIMR 200kw electric propulsion system tested on the ISS, can only run for 10 minutes on batteries that have to trickle charge because the ISS only has 110kw of solar power available.
So while these things aren't man rated yet, I can see where the tech demonstrators for these would be quick to put together with little 'new' development time.
Re:Finally some real technology development (Score:3, Informative)
Adding to what Tekfactory said, ISS regularly refuels in orbit. Heck, the docking interface of Progress has inbuilt means to transfer fuel.