A team of NASA researchers and experts in planetary defense unveiled an exciting proposal for exploring near-Earth asteroids (NEAs) using SpaceX’s Starship, the Falcon Heavy rocket, and the Dragon capsule. The proposal was made during the 8th IAA Planetary Defense Conference held in Vienna, Austria, a couple months ago in early April. Cosmic Chronicles recently found a document at NASA’s Technical Reports Server repository with information outlining their proposal.

The team behind the proposal consists of distinguished individuals from various fields: Lindley Johnson, NASA’s inaugural Planetary Defense Officer, renowned for his previous role as Near Earth Object Programs Executive in the Planetary Sciences Division; Rob Landis, currently serving as a program executive in NASA’s Planetary Defense Coordination Office (PDCO); Paul Abell, the esteemed Chief Scientist for Small Body Exploration in the Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science Division at the Johnson Space Center; Dan Mazanek, a seasoned Senior Space Systems Engineer based at NASA Langley Research; Brent W. Barbee, an accomplished Aerospace Engineer within NASA’s Navigation and Mission Design Branch; and Daniel R. Adamo, a recognized authority in human space flight trajectory design and operations with extensive experience in associated operations concept formulation, training, documentation, and software development. 

They shared their insights on “Prospects for Future Human Space Flight Missions to Near-Earth Asteroids,” with a presentation that outlined a groundbreaking plan for asteroid exploration.

At the core of their proposal lies the upcoming NASA Near-Earth Object (NEO) Surveyor space telescope. This advanced tool is designed to fulfill NASA’s mission of cataloging at least 90% of NEOs larger than 140 meters, helping us better understand and mitigate potential Earth impactors. Additionally, NEO Surveyor plays a crucial role in identifying accessible NEAs suitable for both robotic and human missions. The massive telescope could be launched by SpaceX’s Starship in the future, however, the agency is still developing the Surveyor and has not officially announced launch provider. It’s estimated to be ready for launch by late-2027.

Near-Earth Asteroids are not just hazardous but also scientifically valuable, potentially containing resources like water. The researchers highlighted that NEA missions can advance four key aspects:

• Science: Enhancing our knowledge of the Solar System’s formation and evolution.
• Exploration: Enabling human exploration beyond the Moon’s vicinity.
• Resources: Developing the capability to use resources found on these asteroids.
• Planetary Defense: Mitigating the risk of asteroid impacts.

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The proposal presented an exemplary mission concept using SpaceX’s Starship and Falcon Heavy vehicles for a crewed exploration of a known NEA (near-Earth asteroid) named 2001 FR85. The mission would involve using SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket to launch astronauts on a Dragon capsule that would dock to a Starship in orbit. The technical details are complex; they estimated the mass requirements for the mission, considering factors like crew size, mission duration, cargo, and propellant, as shown in the presentation images below.

The NASA researcher’s mission concept involves departing from and returning to a high-Earth orbit (HEO), minimizing the energy needed for travel. The mission duration would be around 152 days, including crew loiter time in HEO before and after the mission. The proposed mission aims to transport a crew of three atop a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket “taxi” (as described in the graphic below) that would take them to the Starshop waiting in orbit. Then the Starship would take the crew to the NEA.

The Starship, which functions as the spacecraft for the mission, would carry equipment and survival supplies. The mission’s propulsion system, using liquid oxygen and methane, would help navigate the spacecraft, both for the main propulsion and precise control. Starship is under development to be the world’s most powerful and capable spacecraft that will be able to perform complex missions.

Once at the NEA destination, the crew would spend 16 days there while conducting teleoperated operations and extravehicular activities (EVAs). The document proposes that the the crew would transfer from Starship back to Dragon to return to Earth with a parachute-assisted ocean landing because NASA believes this is the safest way for astronauts to return (as of today, until Starship becomes operational and human certified for landing). The cargo and resources carried would include equipment for operations, spares, and samples collected from the NEA.

The researchers emphasized that this mission would serve as a test for more ambitious undertakings, such as missions to Mars or other NEAs. The relatively short mission duration and manageable propulsion requirements make it a stepping stone towards expanding humanity’s presence in the solar system.

Looking forward, upcoming NEO survey instruments like NASA’s NEO Surveyor are expected to discover larger NEAs that could be explored with even less energy and time, further advancing our understanding of the solar system and our ability to utilize its resources. In essence, this proposal presents an exciting opportunity to leverage SpaceX’s Starship for exploring and learning from near-Earth asteroids, paving the way for humanity’s deeper ventures into space.

Author’s note: Thanks for reading Cosmic Chronicles. Write your thoughts in the comment section below. If you have story suggestions or feedback, Direct Message me on social media 𝕏: Evelyn Janeidy Arevalo @JaneidyEve. Read the most recent stories featured below. Thank You.