ESA - Aurora Program

GCNRevenger · 2005-03-24 13:47:39

Four years of construction, almost ten times the mass of the ISS, over a dozen engines to fail... the crew spending an entire year just orbiting the planet waiting for the next window... for only a thirty-day stay on planet by half the crew?

I think somebody just took the old SEI "Battlestar Galactica" mission plan, tossed out NTR engines to apease the nuclearophobes, and switched to an opposition-class mission to keep the mass from going from rediculous to stupid.

How exactly are then planning to assemble this monster?

Can the ESA bigwigs really be serious about such a monstrosity?

RobS · 2005-03-25 10:21:51

I can't imagine that they are serious about this design. A month on Mars, minus a week at the beginning to adjust to gravity from zero gee and a week at the end to prepare for launch, so only two real weeks for work; at one 6-hour EVA every other day, that's seven EVAs total; 2 to prepare the landing site and set up things, so only five 6-hour EVAs to do geology, and only within a few kilometers of the landing site; pretty poor! The landing craft would use fuel cells for power (though they have an appendix about a possible surface reactor). They would use no ISRP; all takeoff fuel is landed with them. They will use no cargo flights because of the problem of missing the landing site. They use no aerobraking. They go into a low Mars orbit to reduce radiation exposure (Mars provides more shielding) but that means the spacecraft is in shadow half the time and needs a very large energy storage system of fuel cells and batteries, and it also means more TEI fuel. They do not assume transhab for the transit vehicle, so they're flying about five extra tonnes of aluminum structure with them. They assume LOX/hydrogen for TMI, but they're building their vehicle in earth orbit over a 4-5 year period and have a lot of boiloff. . . the problems go on and on.

-- RobS

GCNRevenger · 2005-03-25 10:54:32

It makes me cringe to think about it all... nothing wrong with carrying acent fuel if all you are returning is a manned capsule, but this is insane.

Who pays them to make up reports like this? Maybe we ought to let them know they are being swindled.

J.J. Moesker · 2005-03-25 15:36:56

It makes me cringe to think about it all... nothing wrong with carrying acent fuel if all you are returning is a manned capsule, but this is insane.
Who pays them to make up reports like this? Maybe we ought to let them know they are being swindled.

I have studied the report some time ago and must say that it includes a lot of interesting data. Especially if you consider the fact that they spend just 5 moths on it.

I do find it sad that given the whole ISRU debate they didn't really consider different mission architectures. My belief is that at ESA they aren't really taking the humans-on-mars thing seriously. They organize mars habitat workshops and all but if you look at this report it feels more like an academic thing.

In the introduction they state that it's just kick-off report to start the development of a more realistic mission. It basically summarizes where we are right now. So, in a later state the mission will spiral to a more 'doable' design which might be ISRU based.

Yang Liwei Rocket · 2005-07-10 06:23:49

I guess that the last part of the education question should be is: What is a reasonable cost per particular level achieved? To what proficiency level does that amount of education increase productivity versus on the job or some hybird of the two forms?
Which brings me back to why is space so costly, is it because we pay a design engineers cost for a laborer level of educational need?

student design workshop

http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Aurora/SEMI … 6BD_0.html

SpaceNut · 2005-07-11 05:10:41

Ah yes a foray it to being way off topic.

Nice link for roaming lunar habitats.

Yang Liwei Rocket · 2005-07-15 14:03:34

Here's an older discussion on it
http://www.newmars.com/forums/viewtopic … ...4;st=15

Yang Liwei Rocket · 2005-07-25 02:02:21

http://www.marstoday.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=17447

Germany has joined the Preparatory Phase of the European Space Exploration Programme Aurora. It thus becomes the twelfth country participating in the programme

http://www.marsdaily.com/

A futuristic design by Faber Maunsell and Hugh Broughton Architects has won the competition for the new British Antarctic Survey (BAS) Halley Research Station. In a very close-run contest, three finalists presented their ideas to a Jury Panel, technical advisory panel and BAS scientists.

Futuristic design wins competition for new Antarctic Research Station

The new modular station, elevated on ski-based jackable legs to avoid burial by snow, can be towed across the ice. The modules are simple to construct and can be re-arranged or relocated inland periodically as the ice shelf flows towards the sea. A central module packed with stimulating areas for recreation and relaxation is flanked by a series of modules designed to suit the changing needs of the science programmes. It features renewable energy sources and new environmental strategies for fuel, waste and material handling.

http://www.marstoday.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=17430

Arthur Clarke Mars Greenhouse Update, July 20, 2005

http://www.marstoday.com/news/viewsr.html?pid=17393

I have to say that this field season must have been the smoothest year so far for this project that started in 2002. We learn a lot every year, sometimes from mistakes that we make and sometimes from lessons learned from working in this harsh analog environment of the Canadian High Arctic.

Yang Liwei Rocket · 2005-09-28 12:14:10

Call to academia for innovative concepts and technologies for lunar exploration
http://www.esa.int/esaED/SEMCW28X9DE_index_0.html
ESA is currently in the process of defining a long-term European strategy for space exploration. As part of this activity, Alcatel Alenia Space Italia (AAS-I) is leading a study to identify potential European contributions to the exploration of the Moon, taking the international context into account. Within this framework and in line with the Aurora Exploration Programme, on behalf of ESA, AAS-I has issued a 'Call for Innovative Concepts and Technologies' addressed to academic institutions.

SpaceNut · 2005-10-05 09:30:19

A place in space

A substantial national budget and a leading position in ESA makes France Europe’s strongest space nation. But can it withstand increasing international competition?
The future of France’s space industry, largest among the European Union nations, is beholden to European policy, say its leaders, They warn that the region’s stagnant space budgets will leave the industry in a diminished competitive position if the situation does not change.

Trying to keep up is always hard to do on a fixed budget.

EuroLauncher · 2005-10-21 12:55:35

Valentina Tereshkova, the first woman in space, being briefed in ESOC's Main Control Room, 21 October 2005.
http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMMQD6Y3EE_index_1.html
Her visit comes on the eve of the 26 October launch of ESA's Venus Express spacecraft from the Russian Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan — the same launch point for Tereshkova's Vostok 6 launch in the predawn darkness of 16 June 1963. General Nicolas Kamanine, the then Deputy Chief of Staff of the Soviet Air Force, said of the talented, then-26-year-old astronaut: "Tereshkova is our female Gagarin".
"I wish the best of success for the Venus Express launch," said Ms Tereshkova. She asked many questions on ESOC's activities and ESA programmes, adding "I am impressed with the continuing cooperation between the Russian space agency and ESA, and hope to see a deeper relationship in the future."

News From A Space Phantom: The Continuation Of The Matroshka Experiment
http://www.spacedaily.com/news/iss-05zzzzt.html
A phantom, which was outside the International Space Station (ISS) for a year and a half, is now inside with the ISS crew. However this is no ghost story but a serious set of scientific experiments to monitor radiation levels inside and outside the ISS.
This Phantom is part of the ESA Matroshka experiment facility that was installed on the outside of the ISS on 27 February 2004 to measure radiation doses that astronauts experience during EVA activities.

Top officials and specialists from all space-faring nations meet at the first Space Safety Conference in Nice, France
http://www.esa.int/esaHS/SEMPXA6Y3EE_index_0.html
In recent years marked by increased cooperation among space-faring nations and the arrival of new players, such as Brazil and China, and the first steps towards private space tourism, there has however, been growing awareness that it is time to reform and harmonise the existing legal and regulatory framework for space safety and make it easier for the private sector to undertake the development of commercial space activities.

EuroLauncher · 2006-01-14 02:58:34

ESA going to Mars in 2011
12/12/2005 5:41:00 AM
By: ESA
The ministers from the 17 ESA Member States have decided to go ahead with the core programme of the European Space Exploration programme Aurora and its first robotic exploration mission to Mars, called ExoMars.
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?id=4132
Scheduled to be launched from Kourou to Mars in 2011, the ExoMars mission will deploy a highly mobile rover with an exobiology instrument suite and a drill that will reach soil samples up to two meters under the Mars surface in search of traces of extinct or still existing life.

Yang Liwei Rocket · 2006-03-07 16:43:40

Click
*Sweden joins. Italy increases its involvement. :up:
Canada is a "Cooperating State" and is increasing its contribution.
I decided to start a new thread for this. One pertaining to this program is in the wrong folder (Unmanned Probes), the other deals more with launch capabilities and technical issues -- then went off-topic.
Anyway...nice to know the competition is out there and growing.
--Cindy

Aurora is ESA’s first step in human space exploration outside the low Earth orbits used for the Russian space station MIR and the International Space Station (ISS).
http://www.aurora.rl.ac.uk/Aurora_info.htm
European Mars
http://www.martiansoil.com/archives/cat_esa.php
ESA Programs Discussion
http://marsdrive.com/node/187?PHPSESSID … 179d95e518
ESA's Aurora
http://lunartech.org/aurora/aurora.html

check out this video
http://a1862.g.akamai.net/7/1862/14448/ … _small.mov
detailed clip on Aurora

publiusr · 2006-03-08 15:01:02

What can you tell us of the proposed OURAL LV?

Yang Liwei Rocket · 2006-03-15 00:49:15

From what I've seen the joint OURAL LV is some sort of Ariane-M but it looks closer to the Angara design

Lunar Excursion Vehicle and Hub.
http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/CDF/SEMBIN7X9DE_1.html

Space policy: EU and Russia join forces and sign cooperation agreement
http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=19265

Italy plans to build a telescope on the moon to expand its knowledge of the universe, the Italian News Agency ANSA says.
http://www.physorg.com/news9589.html
The telescope will be built by robots and positioned in a lunar crater to give a new perspective on the Earth, Sergio Vetrella

The European Union and Russia signed an agreement on Friday to improve cooperation on space activities like satellite communications, future transport systems and developing new technology.
http://www.space-travel.com/reports/Rus … urope.html

ExoMars Session in the CDF
http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/CDF/SEMJHZNZCIE_0.html

The second trailblazer in Europe's sat-nav system, Galileo, is set for launch in the autumn, following the success of the first spacecraft.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4792792.stm
Mission managers are confident they now have enough data from the first satellite, Giove-A, to secure the network's allocated frequencies.
This means there is now no urgency to fly Giove-B, which was originally set for lift-off this spring.

Swedish plans to colonise space
http://eu.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=19252

Mars_B4_Moon · 2007-03-09 13:51:57

NEXT exploration mission - call for ideas

Yang Liwei Rocket · 2007-05-25 14:39:31

Europe's mission to Mars hangs in balance

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/05/21/exo_mars_vote/

New Mars Forums

Announcement

#51 2005-03-24 13:47:39

Re: ESA - Aurora Program

#52 2005-03-25 10:21:51

Re: ESA - Aurora Program

#53 2005-03-25 10:54:32

Re: ESA - Aurora Program

#54 2005-03-25 15:36:56

Re: ESA - Aurora Program

#55 2005-07-10 06:23:49

Re: ESA - Aurora Program

#56 2005-07-11 05:10:41

Re: ESA - Aurora Program

#57 2005-07-15 14:03:34

Re: ESA - Aurora Program

#58 2005-07-25 02:02:21

Re: ESA - Aurora Program

#59 2005-09-28 12:14:10

Re: ESA - Aurora Program

#60 2005-10-05 09:30:19

Re: ESA - Aurora Program

#61 2005-10-21 12:55:35

Re: ESA - Aurora Program

#62 2006-01-14 02:58:34

Re: ESA - Aurora Program

#63 2006-03-07 16:43:40

Re: ESA - Aurora Program

#64 2006-03-08 15:01:02

Re: ESA - Aurora Program

#65 2006-03-15 00:49:15

Re: ESA - Aurora Program

#66 2007-03-09 13:51:57

Re: ESA - Aurora Program

#67 2007-05-25 14:39:31

Re: ESA - Aurora Program

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