As a group of nine Astronautical Engineering majors, we have identified a problem of great concern. It involves the scarcity of strategic materials and the possibility that our supply will be cut off. The Prospector's Proposal is our solution. This proposal involves a prospecting mission to the asteroid belt, specifically Ceres. Using heavy lift vehicles, we will put our spacecraft into orbit where it will be assembled. A nuclear drive will provide propulsion for the unmanned probe. A landing craft will transport a mobile unit to the surface. This unit will collect samples that may contain sufficient quantities of the necessary materials to justify future mining. We have set a launch date for Spring 2001.
Comments
Exploration Missions: Lunar and Mars
Session Chairman: Jimmy Underwood, Director of Mission Studies, Office of Exploration, NASA HQ, Washington, D.C.
Session Organizer: Dennis Mathews, Advanced Projects, Technology and Commercialization Office, NASA KSC
Paper Session III-B - The Prospector's Proposal: Research Advancing Survivability Through Resource Options
As a group of nine Astronautical Engineering majors, we have identified a problem of great concern. It involves the scarcity of strategic materials and the possibility that our supply will be cut off. The Prospector's Proposal is our solution. This proposal involves a prospecting mission to the asteroid belt, specifically Ceres. Using heavy lift vehicles, we will put our spacecraft into orbit where it will be assembled. A nuclear drive will provide propulsion for the unmanned probe. A landing craft will transport a mobile unit to the surface. This unit will collect samples that may contain sufficient quantities of the necessary materials to justify future mining. We have set a launch date for Spring 2001.
Comments
Exploration Missions: Lunar and Mars
Session Chairman: Jimmy Underwood, Director of Mission Studies, Office of Exploration, NASA HQ, Washington, D.C.
Session Organizer: Dennis Mathews, Advanced Projects, Technology and Commercialization Office, NASA KSC