Venus Exploration using Piloted Flybys and Telepresence
From The Space Library
Author - G. Bonin et al
Co-Author(s) - G. Bonin; T. Kaya
JBIS Volume # - 60
Page # - 321-330
Year - 2007
Keywords - Venus, human exploration, flybys, patched conics
JBIS Reference Code # - 2007.60.321
Number of Pages - 10
[edit] Abstract
This paper investigates near-term, low-cost human expeditions to Venus using gravity assisted trajectories and telepresence. In this mission design, a crewed spacecraft is injected onto a near minimum-energy transfer to Venus, and upon arrival is targeted to perform a polar flyby manoeuvre which transforms its outbound trajectory into a heliocentric orbit that maintains close proximity to the planet for an extended period of time. From this vantage point, astronauts can utilize real-time surface communications to remotely operate a series of robotic Venusian explorers. At the conclusion of the mission, a second polar flyby is used to re-inject the spacecraft onto its original trajectory, which returns the crewed vehicle to Earth exactly two years after launch. Employing such gravity-assisted trajectories, an entire round-trip piloted flight to Venus can be accomplished using a single low-energy injection burn leaving Earth, with only minute (<1500 m/s velocity change) adjustments required subsequently. The proposed mission design can be accomplished with either dedicated spacecraft and Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV)-class boosters, or alternatively, with combinations of spacecraft and launch systems planned for NASA's current exploration systems architecture. It is concluded that the mission design proposed herein represents a simple, safe, and cost-effective method of exploring one of the most compelling worlds in our solar system, while simultaneously allowing humankind to extend its reach further into space.
To BUY this paper click here
JBIS is © 1934-2013 British Interplanetary Society - 
