Launch Structure Challenge - Background Humans landed on the moon in 1969 – Apollo 11 space flight. In 2003, NASA started a new program (Ares) to send humans back to the moon and on to Mars. The plan was for the Ares I crew launch vehicle to take the crew into Earth orbit. They would dock with the International Space Station, then be put into orbit by the Ares V launch vehicle for transport to the Moon.

Launch Structure Challenge - Background Ares I – Weigh 2 million pounds at lift-off – 325 ft. tall – Deliver crew to low Earth orbit – Produce 3.5 million pounds-force (15.6 megaNewtons) – 2-stage rocket First stage is a reusable solid rocket booster (similar to the Space Shuttle). It will burn for 126 seconds. Vehicle will be 37 miles above Earth, traveling at 2000m/s, and have lost 69% of it’s weight (burning up 1.4 million pounds of solid rocket fuel). Second stage is a liquid oxygen-liquid hydrogen engine similar to the upper stage engine of Saturn V, which propelled the Apollo missions to the Moon. It will burn for 464 seconds, producing 294,000 pounds (1.3 megaNewtons) of thrust to get the crew to 185 miles above the Earth. It will travel at 7800 m/s.

Launch Structure Challenge - Background Ares V – It is the heavy-lift cargo vehicle that gets crew and cargo to the Moon. – Weighs 7.4 million pounds at liftoff. – 360 feet tall. – Can carry 287,000 pounds to low Earth orbit. – Payload area is 32 feel in diameter, so can carry fairly massive payloads. – 2 stage rocket First stage – powered by two solid rocket boosters that fall to Earth after burn out. Goes to 87 miles above Earth. Second stage – powered by solid rocket boosters, but can get the rocket to the Moon.

Launch Structure Challenge - Background The structure used for launching the rockets must withstand great forces and temperatures. Cost limitations – must be reusable. Limitations on vehicle weight. – In the early 2000s, it cost $10,000 to lift one pound (0.5 kg) into orbit. – Current cost for 1 lb into orbit is around $5000 and depends on the spacecraft used. – How much will it cost to send you into orbit?

Launch Structure Challenge - Background Ares 1-X Ares V and Ares I conceptual