Shuttle-Derived Launch Vehicle
Ares was the name of a planned in the meantime set Constellation program NASA launchers series should use the elements of the current space shuttle. Two models were planned: a light beam in the 25- ton class for the transport of the manned spaceship Orion named Ares I, and heavy for carrying heavy load transport for the manned moon and Mars program called Ares V.
The Constellation program and with it the development of the rocket was set by the Obama administration for financial reasons. The concepts of the Ares IV and Ares V sometimes based on the development of future support system Space Launch System.
Origin of the name
The names were announced by NASA on 30 June 2006. In January 2007, NASA announced the concept study of a third rocket, the Ares IV, known. This uses components of both missiles and to promote people without detours to the moon.
The name Ares is borrowed from the name of the Greek war god Ares, which is associated with Mars. The numbering of the Ares - carrier should be based on the former Saturn I and Saturn V rockets of the Apollo moon program. Since the Ares IV used parts of the two models, their numbers were used. Previously, the carriers were known by the provisional designation Shuttle Derived Launch Vehicle ( SDLV ).
Ares I
The support Ares I was planned in two stages and would have a payload capacity of about 24.5 tons for a low Earth orbit with an inclination of 28.5 ° ( path of the Hubble telescope ) and 22.9 tons for a orbital inclination of 51.6 ° ( orbit of the ISS ) had. As height 99 m were planned at a diameter of 3.66 m and 5.48 m the first stage of the second stage. The Ares I rocket would have initially served to launch the Orion spacecraft, but was also planned later also carry other payloads into space, for example, a supply vehicle (see H-2 Transfer Vehicle).
The first stage was planned as one from an extended to a fifth fuel segment space shuttle solid rocket. This segment should be reusable, and would have been recovered after the parachute landing in the Atlantic and prepared for reuse. The avionics based on the Atlas rocket. A special adapter should connect to the advanced level. The second stage would have liquid hydrogen (LH2 ) and liquid oxygen (Liquid Oxygen - " LOX " ) burned and would have been powered by a J- 2X engine from Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, whose predecessor already in the upper stage of the Saturn V was used. It would also include in an instrument unit, the steering and reaction control system of the lower level. In addition to befände the payload capsule. Was located at the tip of a rescue Ares I rocket in order to draw the space capsule with the astronauts in the event of a false start from the danger area can.
On 4 January 2007, NASA completed an initial review of the system requirements for the Ares I, which is a critical point in their development. It was confirmed that the design concept of the Ares I met the program requirements.
On 10 September 2009, the first ground test firing of the five -segment booster at the test site in Promontory (Utah ) was successfully performed after a first attempt on August 25 was canceled twenty seconds before the planned ignition 2009. Reason for discontinuation was a faulty fuel supply of an APU, which provides the energy for thrust vector control.
A first suborbital test flight (Ares IX ) with only the first ( with only four filled booster segments ) and a second stage dummy was held on 28 October 2009.
Ares V
The heavy beams Ares V was initially intended only for the use of unmanned. According to the original concept they should transport about 130 tons of payload into low earth orbit. The carrier befände with its height of 109 m in roughly the same order of magnitude as the former moon rocket Saturn V. The central stage of the rocket had a tank used based technologically on the external tank of the space shuttle, however, would have about 10 m an enlarged diameter and has five RS -68 engines of the Delta IV for the drive. In addition, they should be supported at the start of two fünfsegmentigen solid boosters of the Space Shuttle. The upper stage, also called Earth Departure Stage (EDS ), would have been powered by a J- 2X engine. Both the central stage and the upper stage work with the high-energy propellant combination LOX/LH2. Primary payload should first be the Altair lunar lander.
In June 2008, NASA presented a revised concept for the Ares V: Thus, the carrier will now be about six feet longer and get a sixth RS -68 engine. These changes Ares V will be able to transport a total of about 71 tons of payload to the moon or 188 tonnes in a low earth orbit.
Ares IV
Since January 2007, drew the NASA Ares IV as another family member into consideration, which would have consisted of the central stage of the Ares V and the upper stage of the Ares I and should only be used for lunar orbit missions. With this rocket, both the Orion spacecraft and the Altair lunar lander in direct lunar orbit could be started. There then would the ships, as opposed to Ares-I-/Ares-V-Szenario dock, together. In this way it would also be possible to start a rescue ship, it should be similar to a disaster like Apollo come 13. The Ares IV was originally only a proof of concept without concrete implementation plans. After the termination of the Constellation program by Barack Obama in 2010, it was decided shortly thereafter by the Congress of the United States to incorporate parts of the Ares concept further. The resulting future support system Space Launch System is based in the Broad on the concept of the Ares IV