Nautilus-X
Encyclopedia
Nautilus-X is a multi-mission space exploration
vehicle imagined by the Technology Applications Assessment Team by NASA
.
The spacecraft
was designed for long duration (one to twenty four months) exo-atmospheric space journeys for a six-person crew. In order to limit the effects of microgravity on human health, the spacecraft is to be equipped with a centrifuge.
The spacecraft itself is relatively cheap by space system standards as it is projected to only cost US$3.7 billion. In addition, it may only need 64 months of work.
or Mars. To ease route planning of the whole mission, the station would be placed at the Lagrange point L1 or L2 of the Moon or Mars, depending on which location is to be visited.
It would also serve in case of emergency station and hospital for current mission crews.
Other objectives include:
or SpaceX
Dragon
docking ports and landing craft for destination worlds. In theory the engines and fuel can be swapped out depending on the mission. The spacecraft is also composed of an industrial slide-out airlock
unit and the command, control and observation deck.
On the other end of the docking port is the spacecraft's centrifuge
which is equipped with an external dynamic ring-flywheel
.
Behind the centrifuge are water and dihydrogen-slush tanks, storage units, which serve as radiation mitigating for the crew in the centrifuge, by creating safe zones. In the aft of the craft are the communication and propulsion systems.
The standard version of Nautilus-X has only three storage units. The Extended Duration Explorer version of Nautilus-X has more storage units.
.
Other innovations include facilities for a hydroponic farm and hangers for landing craft.
. This demonstrator also utilizes Hoberman sphere
inflatable and expandable structures.
If produced, this centrifuge will be the first in-space demonstration of sufficient scale centrifuge for artificial partial-g effects. The demonstrator would be sent using a single Delta IV or Atlas V
launcher. The full cost of such a demonstrator would be between US$83 million and US$143 million. It could be operational in less than 39 months after start.
The dimension of the demonstrator is for further study, but the two dimensions in debate are 9.1 metres (30 ft.) and 12.2 metres (40 ft.). The following table shows the partial-g gravity created by the centrifuge depending on its rotations per minute.
A kick motor (similar to the Hughes 376 spin-stabilizers used on ComSats) would be used to get the centrifuge to start and maintain the centrifuge's rotations. It will be designed to become a sleep module for the ISS crew.
Space exploration
Space exploration is the use of space technology to explore outer space. Physical exploration of space is conducted both by human spaceflights and by robotic spacecraft....
vehicle imagined by the Technology Applications Assessment Team by NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
.
The spacecraft
Spacecraft
A spacecraft or spaceship is a craft or machine designed for spaceflight. Spacecraft are used for a variety of purposes, including communications, earth observation, meteorology, navigation, planetary exploration and transportation of humans and cargo....
was designed for long duration (one to twenty four months) exo-atmospheric space journeys for a six-person crew. In order to limit the effects of microgravity on human health, the spacecraft is to be equipped with a centrifuge.
The spacecraft itself is relatively cheap by space system standards as it is projected to only cost US$3.7 billion. In addition, it may only need 64 months of work.
Objectives
The original goal of Nautilus-X is to be a stopover to long term missions for the MoonMoon
The Moon is Earth's only known natural satellite,There are a number of near-Earth asteroids including 3753 Cruithne that are co-orbital with Earth: their orbits bring them close to Earth for periods of time but then alter in the long term . These are quasi-satellites and not true moons. For more...
or Mars. To ease route planning of the whole mission, the station would be placed at the Lagrange point L1 or L2 of the Moon or Mars, depending on which location is to be visited.
It would also serve in case of emergency station and hospital for current mission crews.
Other objectives include:
- Support long term mission for 6 people
- Self-sustainable and self-powered for entire mission operation (1 - 24 months)
- Capable of space journeys and self-reliant
- Support manned celestial body descent and return
- Support external scientific payloads
- Fully space only vehicle (no atmosphere entering capability)
- Design a mutlipurpose crew vehicle which meets the requirement of NASA Authorization Act of 2010NASA Authorization Act of 2010The NASA Authorization Act of 2010 is a U.S. law which authorizes NASA appropriations for fiscal years 2011–2013 with the same top-line budget values as requested by President of the United States Barack Obama...
Design
The spacecraft is composed of a 6.5 by 14 metre main corridor. The spacecraft has a modular design, enabling it to be accommodated for any of a number of mission specific propulsion modules, manipulator arms, OrionOrion (spacecraft)
Orion is a spacecraft designed by Lockheed Martin for NASA, the space agency of the United States. Orion development began in 2005 as part of the Constellation program, where Orion would fulfill the function of a Crew Exploration Vehicle....
or SpaceX
SpaceX
Space Exploration Technologies Corporation, or more popularly and informally known as SpaceX, is an American space transport company that operates out of Hawthorne, California...
Dragon
Dragon (spacecraft)
The Dragon is a reusable spacecraft developed by SpaceX, a private space transportation company based in Hawthorne, California. During its unmanned maiden flight in December 2010, it became the first commercially-built and -operated spacecraft to ever be successfully recovered from orbit.The Dragon...
docking ports and landing craft for destination worlds. In theory the engines and fuel can be swapped out depending on the mission. The spacecraft is also composed of an industrial slide-out airlock
Airlock
An airlock is a device which permits the passage of people and objects between a pressure vessel and its surroundings while minimizing the change of pressure in the vessel and loss of air from it...
unit and the command, control and observation deck.
On the other end of the docking port is the spacecraft's centrifuge
Centrifuge
A centrifuge is a piece of equipment, generally driven by an electric motor , that puts an object in rotation around a fixed axis, applying a force perpendicular to the axis...
which is equipped with an external dynamic ring-flywheel
Flywheel
A flywheel is a rotating mechanical device that is used to store rotational energy. Flywheels have a significant moment of inertia, and thus resist changes in rotational speed. The amount of energy stored in a flywheel is proportional to the square of its rotational speed...
.
Behind the centrifuge are water and dihydrogen-slush tanks, storage units, which serve as radiation mitigating for the crew in the centrifuge, by creating safe zones. In the aft of the craft are the communication and propulsion systems.
The standard version of Nautilus-X has only three storage units. The Extended Duration Explorer version of Nautilus-X has more storage units.
Technologies
In order to deploy this huge spacecraft easily, it will consist of a variety of rigid and inflatable modules and solar dynamic arrays. The expandable modules are based on the technology used by the inflatable living quarters proposed by Bigelow AerospaceBigelow Aerospace
Bigelow Aerospace is a North Las Vegas, Nevada space technology startup company that is pioneering work on expandable space station modules. Bigelow Aerospace was founded by Robert Bigelow in 1998...
.
Other innovations include facilities for a hydroponic farm and hangers for landing craft.
Attributes
- Robust Environmental Control and Life Support and communication suite
- Large storage volumes (for food, mechanical parts or medical supplies)
- Real-time visual command & observe capability for crew
- Low crew irradiation
- Semi-autonomous integration of multiple mission specific propulsion units
ISS centrifuge demonstration
In order to assess and characterize influences and effects of the centrifuge relative to human reactions, mechanical dynamic responses and influences, the demonstration of a similar centrifuge is to be tested on the ISSISS
The ISS is the International Space Station.ISS may also refer to:* I See Stars, an American electronic rock band* ISS A/S, a Danish service company* Idea Star Singer, a Malayalam music reality show by Asianet TV...
. This demonstrator also utilizes Hoberman sphere
Hoberman sphere
A Hoberman sphere is a structure invented by Chuck Hoberman that resembles a geodesic dome, but is capable of folding down to a fraction of its normal size by the scissor-like action of its joints...
inflatable and expandable structures.
If produced, this centrifuge will be the first in-space demonstration of sufficient scale centrifuge for artificial partial-g effects. The demonstrator would be sent using a single Delta IV or Atlas V
Atlas V
Atlas V is an active expendable launch system in the Atlas rocket family. Atlas V was formerly operated by Lockheed Martin, and is now operated by the Lockheed Martin-Boeing joint venture United Launch Alliance...
launcher. The full cost of such a demonstrator would be between US$83 million and US$143 million. It could be operational in less than 39 months after start.
The dimension of the demonstrator is for further study, but the two dimensions in debate are 9.1 metres (30 ft.) and 12.2 metres (40 ft.). The following table shows the partial-g gravity created by the centrifuge depending on its rotations per minute.
| RPM | 9.1m (30 ft.) | 12.2m (40 ft.) |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | 0.08 | 0.11 |
| 5 | 0.13 | 0.17 |
| 6 | 0.18 | 0.25 |
| 7 | 0.25 | 0.33 |
| 8 | 0.33 | 0.44 |
| 9 | 0.41 | 0.55 |
| 10 | 0.51 | 0.69 |
A kick motor (similar to the Hughes 376 spin-stabilizers used on ComSats) would be used to get the centrifuge to start and maintain the centrifuge's rotations. It will be designed to become a sleep module for the ISS crew.