News Lockheed Martin presents Jupiter Space Utility Vehicle for ISS Resupply & Beyond

[IronRain]

Lockheed Martin has put forward a new spacecraft design for potential use in future International Space Station cargo missions plus a wide range of applications beyond simple cargo resupply flights. The Jupiter spacecraft – a multipurpose platform with robotic arm and propulsion capability – coupled with an Exoliner as cargo carrier would build the cargo-configuration of the vehicle, however, Jupiter is also envisioned to support future deep space habitats or in orbit-servicing missions.

Lockheed Martin Space System proposes to meet NASA’s requirements of robustness and reliability with its Jupiter concept that also provides NASA and potential other customers with an option for use in other applications in Earth orbit or in Beyond Earth Orbit missions, all grown under the framework of the ISS cargo program.
Jupiter itself will use flight-proven technology, adapting systems from the MAVEN spacecraft currently orbiting Mars to create a satellite platform that will be fitted with a robotic arm from MDA Robotics and Automation, the company that manufactured the Canadarm of the Space Shuttles and Canadarm2 currently in use aboard the Space Station.

The Exoliner would be provided by Thales Alenia Space, based on the ATV spacecraft that in turn shares commonality with a number of US-Segment modules of ISS that were also manufactured by Thales. Overall, Jupiter aims to create a multi-purpose space system by combining flight-proven components with decades of flight history to reduce the overall risk of the program and guarantee a high degree of robustness.

Jupiter would measure 4.4 meters in diameter, standing nearly three meters tall to be mated with a spacecraft consisting of a Mission Support Module, Unpressurized Cargo Carrier and Pressurized Cargo Carrier about 6.7 meters tall.

Lockheed’s proposal calls for Jupiter launching with the first cargo Exoliner atop an Atlas V 500 series rocket and conduct a rendezvous with ISS, being grappled by the Station’s robotic arm, not unlike the current fleet of USOS visiting vehicles. After the completion of the cargo mission, the trash-filled Exoliner would be transported away from ISS by Jupiter, linking up with a Centaur Upper Stage carrying the next cargo module containing fresh supplies to be exchanged with the old Exoliner on Jupiter by using the robotic arm to have Centaur de-orbit the old Exoliner and Jupiter head back to ISS to deliver the next batch of cargo.

Jupiter is named after a locomotive that made history as one of the two locomotives meeting at Promontory Summit in 1869 to commemorate the completion of the first transcontinental railroad.
Lockheed is envisioning the Jupiter spacecraft to have a similar role – like the locomotive traveling the entire length of the transcontinental line, the spacecraft could traverse interplanetary shipping lanes. Other applications of Jupiter could be satellite servicing missions including orbital reboosting, the support of space habitats in the form of cargo delivery or as a propulsion and guidance module, and as a host for satellites to be deployed in orbit or as service module for space-based instruments.

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Source:
http://www.spaceflight101.com/lockh...utility-vehicle-for-iss-resupply--beyond.html

 

[PhantomCruiser]

This looks very similar to what they'd planned to use if their submission for the COTS competition would have been accepted.

Looks pretty cool, and it's versatile. But let's see if they build it. That's a lot of money to spend on something that burns up on de-orbit. What's the going rate of Canadarms?


That being said, I still want one

 

[RisingFury]

It's a lot of money to spend on the capability to do something that a few other companies and providers have the capability of doing and might be available in 5 years...

I think the next big thing should be a company that designs a manned capsule for exploration beyond Earth orbit and markets that to NASA. Nobody's done that except for NASA itself. And NASA is expensive and slow...

 

[DaveS]

This looks very similar to what they'd planned to use if their submission for the COTS competition would have been accepted.

Looks pretty cool, and it's versatile. But let's see if they build it. That's a lot of money to spend on something that burns up on de-orbit. What's the going rate of Canadarms?


That being said, I still want one

The Jupiter service spacecraft is reusable, it stays on-orbit. Only the Exoliner is expendable.
Here's the official Lockheed-Martin webpage: http://www.lockheedmartin.com/us/ssc/crs2.html

 

[C3PO]

The Jupiter service spacecraft is reusable, it stays on-orbit.

And that's IMHO the correct way to reuse a space craft. Maybe refuelable would be a better buzz-word for the future.

 

[fsci123]

So it's basically like our dragonfly. It's seems to be pretty innovative with the whole idea of multiple launch-one vehicle cargo delivery. I could see this being used post 2018.

 

[fsci123]

I had some time to ponder the details of this announcement. It's a pretty awesome plan because it combines the cargo transport vessel with an orbital propellant depot...which is something we've all been waiting for. I think the exoliner could undercut the cost of a spacex dragon.

In the shadows of this announcement, SNC plans to unveil a cargo version of its dream chaser spacecraft on the 17th. Hopefully this can breath some new life into the shuttle replacement.