Aeronautics and space report of the president nasa. The orbital transfer vehicle otv concept definition and system analysis study was conducted by general dynamics space system division gdss, a companyfunded effort under the direction of nasa harshall space flight center. National aeronautics and space administration orbital debris. The structure of the seismic vehicles will be exposed to. Spacex is targeting launch of otv5 from launch complex 39a lc39a at nasa. Pdf electric propulsion for lunar exploration and lunar. Future orbital transfer vehicles otv requirements for nasa, military, and commercial exploitation of space will require improvements and technological developments such as increased performance, increased. Commercial space transportation developments and concepts introduction federal aviation administration office of commercial space transportation 1 2007 was a year of continued steady.
Isaac newton discussed the use of a cannon to attain orbit in 1687 in his principia mathematica the very book that defined classical physics and provided the theoretical basis for space travel and rocketry. A single engine installation necessitates moving the engine further aft andor relocation of the engine gimbal point to accommodate vehicle control requirements. It carries the required payload from a launch vehicle upper stage. The orbital tug is perhaps the most common, yet least glamorous spacecraft. Orbital transfer vehicle concept definition and system analysis study volume ii otv concept definition and evaluation book 4 operations august 1985 rev 1 july 1987 prepared by.
Understanding the orbital transfer vehicle trade space. The otv uses low thrust nuclear electric propulsion nep. This study was conducted by general dynamics space systems division gdss under company funds from october 1984 through august 1986 for nasa marshall space flight center don saxton nasa msfc otv study manager. From l2 space shuttle to everything that is not already in a specific l2 home. In november 1985 martin and boeing were finishing their orbital transfer vehicle study contracts. Otv4 the x37b conducted its fourth mission in 2015 from cape canaveral. Boeing x37 otv orbital test vehicle unmanned low earth. Pdf electric propulsion for manned mars exploration. The effect of temperature on nasa 11b alloy at a strain rate of 0.
The air forces x37b orbital test vehicle mission 4 landed at nasa s kennedy space. The x37b orbital test vehicle 3 otv3 safely landed on runway 12 at vandenberg air force base in california at 16. Here is a general diagram of nuclear rocket engine cycles, and the material in this pdf gives a good description of the design. Mtv is complemented by the orbital transfer vehicle otv for space orbital missions. The boeing x37, also known as the orbital test vehicle otv, is a reusable robotic spacecraft. Mdo approach for early design of aerobraking orbital. Subsystem trade studies, boeing aerospace company, nasa contract nas836108, nasa cr183544, rev. The x37 is operated by the united states space force for orbital spaceflight missions intended to demonstrate reusable space technologies. The targets may be cooperative designed for servicing. Pages in category nasa vehicles the following 19 pages are in this category, out of 19 total. One of the key developments during his tenure was the beginning of the haystack radar measurements of the 1 10 cm orbital debris. A new orbital transfer vehicle otv propulsion system will be required to meet the needs of space missions beyond the mid1990s. The development of a reusable and spacebased orbital transfer vehicle otv necessitates an integral approach toward structural and propulsion subsystems design. It is delivered to orbit on top of an expendable launch vehicle and spends several months in orbit before returning to earth as a spaceplane gliding to a landing on a.
The fleet sizes for the chemical and electric propulsion systems are estimated. Otvs also facilitate the maintenance of satellites in orbit by retrieving existing platforms for repair, refueling, or rearming. The otv then transports the helium 3 payloads to an orbit about a small moon of the planet. It is a 120%scaled derivative of the earlier boeing x40. The concept of aeroassistance originates from the early 60s, and aeroassisted otvs have been thoroughly studied especially in the 19751995 period.
Mass of the otv is modeled as being directly proportional to power. After the shuttle was flying, nasa began studying the tug again, now dubbed the orbital transfer vehicle otv. Conceptual analysis of a lunar base transportation system. Clark took part in the conference, along with about 300 other engineers, scientists, and enthusiasts. An 800 km orbit was selected as it is a high enough altitude to prevent the atmospheric drag from affecting the nep otv refs. As envisioned, the advanced otv will be used in conjunc tion with the space shuttle, space station and orbit maneuvering vehicle. Newton used the following thought experiment to explain the principle of orbits around the earth see illustration. The array is assumed to be based on the present slasr. While mated with the crew module, it also provides water and air. A computer program that sizes the orbital transfer vehicles otvs, lunar landers, lunar ascenders, and the manned capsules was developed. Nuclear otv commercial transport diagram by williamblack. Keeley rr program manager initial phase martin marietta astronautics group p. L2 spacex section all vehicles, all missions past, present and longterm future including all pads and all facilities, exclusive hires photosvideo and highlevel discussionevaluation.
The craft is categorized as an orbital test vehicle and therefore takes on the acronym of otv in publication. Engine contractors are being assisted by vehicle contractors to define the requirements, interface conditions, and. A computational code, based on a full navierstokes solution to the aerobrake flowfield problem, was developed and permitted detailed study of proposed aerobrake designs. The x37 now stands as the dimensionally smallest and lightest of all of the orbitalminded spacecraft ever flown it is decidedly smaller than the original nasa space shuttle fleet. However nasa had now decided to pursue development of the less ambitious orbital maneuvering vehicle first. Ares orbital debris program office optical measurements. Pdf advanced highpower electric propulsion systems can significantly enhance piloted mars missions. Orbital transfer vehicles the national academies press. After mtvs park satellites in low orbits, otvs provide the additional thrust needed to push the payloads into higher energy orbits. Orbital transfer vehicles and outer planet moon base options find, read and cite all.
Itis to be designated as the x37b orbital test vehicle. Detailed estimates of the orbital transfer vehicles otvs masses and their propellant masses are presented. Orbital transfer vehicle engine integration study core. Commercial orbital transportation services demonstrations disposal or return. Pdf on jul 21, 2008, bryan palaszewski and others published atmospheric mining in the outer solar system. An analytical optimization of electric propulsion orbit transfer vehicles article pdf available june 1993 with 86 reads how we measure reads.
Nasa intends to provide the iss as the orbital destination and active test bed if the iss visiting vehicle requirements are satisfied. This consists of a cluster of vasimrtm engines, a solar array, and a relatively small propellant tank needed for the return flight from the moon without cargo. The principal objectives of the lsp are to provide safe, reliable, costeffective and onschedule launch services for nasa and nasasponsored scientific and applications payloads seeking launch on elvs. The case for mars conference drew its name from the title of benton clarks 1978 mars isru paper see chapter 6. Air forces x37b orbital test vehicle otv on its fifth mission. An orbital transfer vehicle, or space tug, is one instance of a broad class of vehicles that can perform a variety of onorbit servicing functions. The boeing x37b, also called x37 orbital test vehicle otv is a reusable unmanned spacecraft that is manufactured by boeing and operated by the united states air force. The design of an aeroassisted vehicle is a very multidisciplinary task, because the maneuver capability of the vehiclehence its payload massdepends on a complex tradeoff between the different subsystems, including the rocket.
Nasa conducted advanced studies of what was then called the space tug in the early 1970s. Nasalerc is sponsoring industry studies to establish the technology base for an advanced engine for orbital transfer vehicles for mid1990s ioc. Concepts of operations for a reuaable launch vehicle. Newtons orbital cannon british gunlaunched orbital launch vehicle. Based on nasa s x37 design, the unmanned otv is designed for vertical launch to low earth orbit altitudes where it can perform long duration space technology experimentation and testing.
X 37b orbital test vehicle landed at nasa s kennedy space center. The capability of the space shuttle will be enhanced by use of the highenergy centaur to provide payload transfer to higher orbits geosynchronous, etc. Future requirements and applications for orbital transfer. This report summarizes the phase 2 results of the orbital transfer vehicle concept definition and system analysis study. Lunar seismic vehicles shall separate from the otv after lunar orbit insertion and descend to the surface of the moon. However all elements of nasas future vision of space exploration were cancelled to allow funds for development of the space shuttle.
Orbital transfer vehicle concept definition and systems analysis study volume 2. The simplest function of such a vehicle would be to observe space assets, hereafter referred to as targets, in situ. The launch vehicle shall place the orbital transfer vehicle otv on a trans. It is boosted into space by a launch vehicle, then reenters earths atmosphere and lands as a spaceplane. Air force announced today that it is developing an orbital test vehicleotv, based on the design of a nasa x37 craft. The demonstrations will culminate with a crewcargo transportation miss to and from a leo test bed for the orbital phase of the mission.
Otv concept definition volume ii, book 4 operations. Pdf an analytical optimization of electric propulsion. The shuttles slingships, fiercely clawing their way out of the gravity well, are dramatic, but never get higher than leo, whereas most orbital activities, such as the space stations and spacedocks, take place at higher orbits. Rewritten requirements document national space grant. This program consists of an interative technique to solve the rocket equation successively for each velocity correction delta v in a mission. Nasas launch services program lsp was established at kennedy space center to support the agencys expendable launch vehicle elv missions.
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