Ares V

Infobox rocket


caption = Artist's impression of an Ares V during SRB separation
name = Ares V
function = Cargo Launch Vehicle
manufacturer = "TBD" (stage I) "TBD" (stage II)
country-origin = United States
height = convert|381|ft|m|abbr=on
alt-height =
diameter = convert|10|m|ft|abbr=on
alt-diameter =
mass =
alt-mass =
stages = 2
LEO-payload = convert|188000|kg|lb|abbr=on
alt-LEO =
payload-location = TLI
payload = convert|71100|kg|lb|abbr=on
alt-payload =
status = In Development
sites = Kennedy Space Center, LC-39A
launches = 0
first = Scheduled for 2018
boosters = 2
boostername =
5-segment or 5.5-segment Shuttle-derived SRB
boosterengines = 1 solid
boosterthrust = TBC
boostertime = TBC
boosterfuel = APCP (solid)
stage1engines = 5 or 6 RS-68B [ [http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/constellation/ares/aresV/index.html Overview: Ares V Cargo Launch Vehicle] , NASA. Retrieved 30 September 2008.]
stage1thrust = TBC
alt-stage1thrust =
stage1SI =
stage1time = TBC
stage1fuel = LH2/LOX
stage2name = Earth Departure Stage
stage2engines = 1 J-2X
stage2thrust =
alt-stage2thrust =
stage2SI =
stage2time =
stage2fuel = LH2/LOX

The Ares V (formerly known as the Cargo Launch Vehicle or CaLV) is the cargo launch component of Project Constellation. Ares V will launch the Earth Departure Stage and Altair lunar lander when NASA returns to the Moon, which is currently planned for 2019. [cite news |url=http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=4859 |title=NASA sets Orion 13 for Moon Return |first=Daniel |last=Handlin |publisher=NASA SpaceFlight.com |date=2006-10-11 |accessdate=2007-01-12] The Ares V will complement the Ares I, which is being designed as a crew launch vehicle. The Ares V will be able to carry about 188 tonnes (414,000 lb) to Low Earth orbit (LEO) and 71 tonnes (157,000 lb) to the Moon.Cite web |url=http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/constellation/ares/aresV/index.html |title=Overview: Ares V Cargo Launch Vehicle |publisher=NASA] Ares V, Ares IV, and Ares I are named after Ares, the Greek deity.

Design

The Ares V is being designed as a heavy-launch vehicle capable of sending large-scale hardware and materials to the Moon and supplying needed staples to sustain a human presence beyond Earth orbit. Ares V is a two-stage rocket: the first stage utilizes both solid and liquid propulsion with the second stage using a single J-2X rocket engine.

The first stage has two separate types of engines. Like the Space Shuttle, the Ares V will use both liquid-fueled and solid-fueled engines simultaneously. The solid rockets will use two Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Booster-derived rockets, which will have five and a half segments Cite web |url=http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=5451 |title=Study reveals a six RS-68 and 5.5 segment booster for Ares V |publisher=NASAspaceflight.com |date=2008-06-15] [http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?channel=space&id=news/required022708.xml "NASA Needs A Bigger Ares V"] , Aviation Week & Space Technology, February 27, 2008.] instead of the four currently used on the Space Shuttle. Additionally, the Ares V will use six RS-68B liquid-fueled engines attached to the bottom of a new core derived from the Space Shuttle External Tank. Originally, NASA intended to use five Space Shuttle Main Engines instead of the RS-68s. NASA changed to the RS-68 in 2006 due to the engine's reduced cost and simplicity compared to the SSME, and its higher thrust. The RS-68 was developed in the 1990s to be a competitively priced engine for the EELV expendable launch system.

The second stage, similar to the S-IVB upper stage used on the Saturn IB and Saturn V rockets, is known as the Earth Departure Stage (EDS). The EDS would feature a single J-2X rocket engine (also used as the second-stage engine for the Ares I) that will maneuver the Altair lunar lander or any large-sized payload into a circular orbit. On lunar missions, the EDS will then fire its engine for a second time to place the combined Orion spacecraft and Altair lunar lander onto a trajectory to the Moon.

The Ares V capacity (approximately 188 tonnes) would be in the same class as the American Saturn V and Soviet/Russian Energia rocket and would be capable of supporting manned expansion to the Moon as well as to Mars. It can also support a manned Orion expedition to a Near-Earth asteroid, as well as boost an 8 to 16-meter successor of the Hubble Space Telescope to the Sun-Earth L₂ point.

Ares V's role in Project Constellation

Ares V will be the cargo launch component of Project Constellation. Unlike the Saturn V and Space Shuttle, where the crew and cargo were launched together on the same rocket, Project Constellation is planned to use two separate launch vehicles, the Ares I and the Ares V, for crew and cargo respectively. This allows the two launch vehicles to be optimized for their respective missions. Constellation therefore combines the Lunar Orbit Rendezvous used by Apollo with the Earth Orbit Rendezvous mode.

The Ares V rocket is NASA's new heavy-lift launch vehicle. It is being designed to launch the Earth Departure Stage and Altair lunar lander as well as being the platform to launch new modules for the International Space Station, NASA's proposed lunar outpost and any human missions to Mars in the future.

Development of the rocket and its Earth departure stage will be led by the Marshall Space Flight Center. The Ames Research Center is responsible for the Ares V integrated health management system supports in developing its payload shroud. Glenn Research Center leads the development of the lunar lander ascent stage as well as Ares V power system, thrust vector control system and payload shroud. Langley Research Center as a lead role on Ares V aerodynamics. [ [http://www.space.com/news/071030-sn-ares-fieldassign.html NASA Assigns Field Center Roles for Ares 5, Lunar Lander] , SPACE.com]

Further roles

Although the Ares V is a medium to long term project, NASA is planning to deploy its lift capability in a range of projects,Cite web |url=http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/constellation/ares/space_telescopes.html |title=Thinking Big About Space Telescopes |publisher=NASA] along the lines of the now defunct Apollo Applications Program.

One proposal is to build an 8 to 16-meter Advanced Technology Large-Aperture Space Telescope ["Where Will Astronomy Be In 35 Years?" Astronomy Magazine, August, 2008] to be placed in the Sun/Earth L2 point. It would be a significant increase in dimension and performance over the Hubble Space Telescope and the Ares V vehicle will be able to carry this to its destination in a single shot.

Early concepts

While the Ares V is a relatively new proposal from NASA, a similar vehicle has been proposed for years to replace the obsolete Saturn V heavy launcher.Fact|date=July 2008

In the book "The Case for Mars", Robert Zubrin discussed a possible future heavy launch vehicle named "Ares". [Zubrin, Robert & Wagner, Richard. 1997. "The Case for Mars". Page 61ss] In the book the rocket would have consisted of the Space Shuttle's External Tank powered by three SSME and a second stage powered by RL-10 engine.

See also

* Ares I
* Ares IV
* Comparison of heavy lift launch systems
* Shuttle-Derived Launch Vehicle
* Direct Launch Vehicle

References

External links

* [http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/constellation/ares/aresV.html NASA Ares V Cargo Launch Vehicle page]
* [http://www.tallgeorge.com/projectconstellation.php A Visual History of Project Constellation]
* [http://trs-new.jpl.nasa.gov/dspace/bitstream/2014/40251/1/06-2976.pdf Can we power future Mars missions?]