The Last Space Shuttle Mission July 8, 2011 QuickTime and a decompressor are needed to see this picture. Video: NASA
Where Are We Going? Low-Earth Orbit Interplanetary Travel Interstellar Travel Image: NASA
Where Are We Going? Low-Earth Orbit Interplanetary Travel Interstellar Travel Image: NASA
Low-Earth Orbit Current Low-Earth Orbit capabilities: International Space Station Russian Soyuz Chinese Shenzhou Images: NASA; Wikimedia (AAxanderr)
NASA Partnerships Instead of building low-earth orbit spacecraft, NASA is partnering with private companies.
NASA Partnerships Low-Earth Orbit capabilities in the works: Dragon (SpaceX, 2011) Cygnus (Orbital, 2012?) CST-100 (Boeing, 2015?) Images: SpaceX (used with permission); Orbital (via NASA); The Boeing Company (via NASA)
Dragon First launch and recovery December 8, 2010 Demo mission to ISS planned for November 30, 2011 Image: SpaceX (used with permission)
Low-Earth Orbit Outlook: We re already there! Image: NASA
Low-Earth Orbit Outlook: We re already there! Low-earth orbit travel will become cheaper and more accessible over the next decade. Image: NASA
Where Are We Going? Low-Earth Orbit Interplanetary Travel Interstellar Travel Image: NASA
Interplanetary Travel Obama s Projected Timeline: 2010s: development of low- Earth orbit vehicles Image: NASA
Interplanetary Travel Obama s Projected Timeline: 2010s: development of low- Earth orbit vehicles 2025: crewed missions into deep space Image: NASA
Interplanetary Travel Obama s Projected Timeline: 2010s: development of low- Earth orbit vehicles 2025: crewed missions into deep space 2030s: crewed missions to Mars and back Image: NASA
In the News: Space Launch System NASA has announced designs for a new heavy-lift rocketto reach beyond low-earth orbit. Image: NASA
In the News: Space Launch System Horsepower equivalent of 160,000 Corvette engines Weighs 5.5 million pounds, or the equivalent of 24 fully loaded 747s Payload of 77 tons, or the equivalent of 12 full-grown elephants Image: NASA
Challenges Propulsion Radiation exposure
Challenges Propulsion Radiation exposure
Limitations of Chemical Propellants Remember from Part I: 2 H 2 + O 2 2 H 2 O(g) + Energy
Limitations of Chemical Propellants Remember from Part I: 2 H 2 + O 2 2 H 2 O(g) + Energy How much energy? 1 lb H 2 7.5 days Image: Wikimedia (Inductiveload)
Limitations of Chemical Propellants Remember from Part I: 2 H 2 + O 2 2 H 2 O(g) + Energy Space Shuttle external tank carried over 200,000 pounds!
Limitations of Chemical Propellants Remember from Part I: Moon 384,403km 1x 8.5 hr Mars 74,799,000km 195x 6 mo Jupiter 893,000,000km 2,323x 13 mo Solar System 4,338,342,000km 11,286x 8 yr Proxima Centauri 42,000,000,000,000km 109,260,000x 78,000yr
Limitations of Chemical Propellants About two-thirds of the mass on an Earthto-Mars-to-Earth mission would be propellant - Review of Human Spaceflight Plans Committee Final Report, October 2009
Alternatives to Chemical Propellants Chemical reactions: same atoms, new molecules 2 H 2 + O 2 2 H 2 O(g) + Energy + +
Alternatives to Chemical Propellants Chemical reactions: same atoms, new molecules 2 H 2 + O 2 2 H 2 O(g) + Energy + + Nuclear reactions: new atoms 2 H 2 He + Energy +
Alternatives to Chemical Propellants Chemical reactions: same atoms, new molecules 2 H 2 + O 2 2 H 2 O(g) + Energy + + Nuclear reactions: new atoms 2 H 2 He + Energy + 400,000 x more energy
Alternatives to Chemical Propellants Chemical reactions: same atoms, new molecules 1 lb H 2 7.5 days Image: Wikimedia (Inductiveload)
Alternatives to Chemical Propellants Chemical reactions: same atoms, new molecules 1 lb H 2 7.5 days Nuclear reactions: new atoms 1 lb H 2 2,900 years! Image: Wikimedia (Inductiveload)
Propulsion If we ever really want to explore the solar system, it s going to have to be nuclear - John Grunsfeld, PhD, former astronaut Quote: AAAS NASA at a Turning Point http://membercentral.aaas.org
Challenges Propulsion Radiation exposure
Radiation Exposure On Earth we are protected by: Earth s magnetic field Image: NASA
Radiation Exposure On Earth we are protected by: Earth s magnetic field The atmosphere Images: NASA; NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center Conceptual Image Lab
Radiation Exposure Space station crew receives the equivalent of about 1 chest X-ray every 1-2 days. Images: NASA; Wikimedia (Nevit Dilmen)
Radiation Exposure Interplanetary astronauts will be outside the Earth s magnetic field and need protection from radiation. But radiation shields are heavy! Images NASA
Interplanetary Travel Outlook: The technological hurdles are probably surmountable Image: NASA
Interplanetary Travel Outlook: The technological hurdles are probably surmountable but will require long-term investment and research. Image: NASA
Where Are We Going? Low-Earth Orbit Interplanetary Travel Interstellar Travel Image: NASA, ESA, and the Hubble Heritage Team; A. Riess (STScI)
In the News: 100 Year Starship A DARPA program to develop a research and investment model that may one day allow us to build a starship Image: NASA
In the News: 100 Year Starship NOT a program to build a starship! Image: NASA
In the News: 100 Year Starship On 11/11/11, DARPA will award $500,000 to study what it will take to launch a starship 100 years from now. Image: NASA
Interstellar Travel 100 years isn t so crazy: Jules Verne published From the Earth to the Moon in 1865, 104 years before the Apollo landings. Images: Wikimedia; NASA
Interstellar Travel Outlook: If it happens, it is unlikely to be in our lifetimes Image: NASA, ESA, and the Hubble Heritage Team; A. Riess (STScI)
Interstellar Travel Outlook: If it happens, it is unlikely to be in our lifetimes but clever people are starting to think about it! Image: NASA, ESA, and the Hubble Heritage Team; A. Riess (STScI)
Where Are We Going? QuickTime and a decompressor are needed to see this picture. We are ready at last to set sail for the stars. ~ Carl Sagan Video: NASA
Toward the Final Frontier of Manned Space Flight Part I: How we got here: Background and challenges (Ryann) Part II: Why boldly go? Why not? (Luke) Part III: Where are we going? (Emily)
Thank you! SITN would like to acknowledge the following organizations for their generous support. Harvard Medical School Office of Communications and External Relations Division of Medical Sciences The Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) The Harvard Biomedical Graduate Students Organization (BGSO) The Harvard/MIT COOP Restaurant Associates