THE FUTURE PLANS OF NASA FOR HUMAN SPACE FLIGHT; MISSIONS, LAUNCH VEHICLES

1. THE FUTURE PLANS OF NASA FOR HUMAN SPACE FLIGHT; MISSIONS, LAUNCH VEHICLES

2. Why explore? • NASA wants to go to the moon again by 2020, going to the moon for extended periods of time will yield information about living and working in harsh environments, extended stays on the moon will be practice for stays on Mars • Since robotic missions to Mars have discovered evidence of water NASA wants to send humans to Mars to search for evidence of simple life forms

3. Ares 1 and 5 • Ares 1 and 5 rockets will be used to take humans to the moon and Mars • Ares is Mars’ counterpart in Greek mythology • Numbers 1 and 5 pay tribute to Saturn 1 and 5 of Apollo program

4. Ares 5 fact sheet • Primary mission: to transport large resources to space outside of Earth’s orbit • 145 ton capacity to low Earth orbit • 72 ton capacity to moon • Two stage vertical launching system • First stage consists of twin 5 segment reusable solid rocket boosters similar to Ares 1 • Between these rocket boosters is a liquid-fueled central booster also known as the core propulsion stage, it provides 5 RS-68 engines with liquid oxygen and hydrogen • Second stage is composed of a single J-2X engine also fueled by liquid oxygen and hydrogen

5. Ares 1 fact sheet • Primary mission: transport humans to earth orbit • Carries four to six astronauts • 25 ton payload capacity • Ares 1 first stage will burn polybutadiene or PBAN in 5 segments • First stage will launch the vehicle to an altitude of 200,000 ft in 2.5 minutes and at this point will be traveling at Mach 6.1 • Second stage is composed of one J-2x engine and raises the altitude to 63 miles • After the rockets are spent the crew exploration vehicle or CEV takes the crew to a circular orbit 185 miles above the earth

6. Mode to the moon