A Manned Asteroid Mission, a Prelude to a Manned Mars Programme

Abstract

While humankind does have some long-duration spaceflight experience, it is still lacking a truly long-duration deep space manned spaceflight mission, for both its challenge and the important experience gained. Current thinking is that this mission has to be modest, cost-effective, and international in its scope. Its target could be a near Earth asteroid (NEA), such as the now famous Eros. A basic (or reference) mission was suggested by Zubrin. The so called Gaiashield mission could be achieved with several current expendable launchers, combined with two dedicated Space Shuttle launches. Gaiashield is envisioned for two astronauts with sufficient reserves for a 900 day long spaceflight. Such a mission could be devised using mainly western (US, European) components or mainly Soviet/Russian components. In the latter case, these could be a FGB module or a Salyut-like core module for food, water, and fuel storage. Included would be an upgraded Soyuz crew return vehicle. Most useful of all would be the reintroduction of the heavy lift vehicle Energia, because it could also be used for future heavy cargo transportation, especially for future manned Mars flights. Another type of mission could combine the use of the Russian launcher Energia with a habitation module such as a modified Transhab inflatable module, combined with a derivative of the Multi-purpose Logistics Module (used in the International Space Station). A derivative of Apollo or a Soyuz-type capsule could form the crew return vehicle.