Orion asteroid mission?

[SpaceKiwi]

It showed on TV here a couple of months ago, at a time guaranteed to miss most of the interested viewing public. It strikes a nice balance between the need to tell a compelling story, yet be anchored in believable and achievable science.<br /><br />My biggest criticism would be the 'crew mutiny' aspect of the story. I found that to be something less than 'real'. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em><font size="2" color="#ff0000">Who is this superhero?  Henry, the mild-mannered janitor ... could be!</font></em></p><p><em><font size="2">-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</font></em></p><p><font size="5">Bring Back The Black!</font></p> </div>

 

[docm]

You have a tin can full of type "A" personalities a billion miles from home being told what to do by a piezo speaker that may or may not know its backside from a hole in the ground re: the situation at hand and you don't expect a bit of rebellion now and then? <img src="/images/icons/tongue.gif" /><br /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[JonClarke]

It's already happened on Skylab and on some of the Russian missions.<br /><br />Jon <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>Whether we become a multi-planet species with unlimited horizons, or are forever confined to Earth will be decided in the twenty-first century amid the vast plains, rugged canyons and lofty mountains of Mars</em>  Arthur Clarke</p> </div>

 

[j05h]

> It's already happened on Skylab and on some of the Russian missions. <br /><br />That's the difference between a 2-week mission and a multiple month expedition. You can't micromanage the crew's time for months on end. Also, everything takes longer than expected and items pile up on the list as things don't get done. in the end you have a crew saying "no way" while Mission Control or TSUP screams at them...<br /><br />Josh <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <div align="center"><em>We need a first generation of pioneers.</em><br /></div> </div>

 

[willpittenger]

It also happened when Lovell took his biosensors off during Apollo 13. The rest of the crew promptly followed suit. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <hr style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em" />Will Pittenger<hr style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em" />Add this user box to your Wikipedia User Page to show your support for the SDC forums: <div style="margin-left:1em">{{User:Will Pittenger/User Boxes/Space.com Account}}</div> </div>

 

[willpittenger]

My main complaint had to do with the shear number of stops. A planetary tour works nicely for a TV show with at least some educational goals. However, for a real live mission, from a crew health and propellant standpoint, a trip to just one planet makes more sense. This is especially true for Mars or a complex system like Saturn (with all the moons) that you want to explore for a while. The longer you stay, the more science you get done. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <hr style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em" />Will Pittenger<hr style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em" />Add this user box to your Wikipedia User Page to show your support for the SDC forums: <div style="margin-left:1em">{{User:Will Pittenger/User Boxes/Space.com Account}}</div> </div>

 

[docm]

Health, yes as was shown by the crewmember that got cancer. Shielding can only do so much.<br /><br />Propellant, no. IRRC it was powered by an advanced ion or plasma drive, which means very little fuel to go a very, very long ways. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[willpittenger]

The engine might not be available. Then what? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <hr style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em" />Will Pittenger<hr style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em" />Add this user box to your Wikipedia User Page to show your support for the SDC forums: <div style="margin-left:1em">{{User:Will Pittenger/User Boxes/Space.com Account}}</div> </div>

 

[JonClarke]

Like I said, it was not perfect. I don't think in the real world you would do such a grand tour. Planet specific missions would be more useful.<br /><br />Jon <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>Whether we become a multi-planet species with unlimited horizons, or are forever confined to Earth will be decided in the twenty-first century amid the vast plains, rugged canyons and lofty mountains of Mars</em>  Arthur Clarke</p> </div>

 

[docm]

<i><b>The engine might not be available. Then what?</b></i><br /><br />IMO that's more a matter of willpower and finances than anything else. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[erioladastra]

"That's the difference between a 2-week mission and a multiple month expedition. You can't micromanage the crew's time for months on end. Also, everything takes longer than expected and items pile up on the list as things don't get done. in the end you have a crew saying "no way" while Mission Control or TSUP screams at them... "<br /><br />I think this is a little generalized from a few examples in the past. Depending on how you define micromanage, we do do that on ISS. Long term missions are so complicated you have to do it to some extent. The crew's time is pretty tightly scheduled. However, except for time critical items, they sometimes shuffle activities at their discretion. As long as people correctly estimate a task duration things usually work out right. Sure every now and then (i.e., not everything) you run into a problem and something runs long but that is more the exception. You regulate this by limiting the length of the crew day. Things bleed over but you don't continue to have things pile up over weeks. By a weeks end you are pretty much on schedule. Now this also means you have to develop a realistic long term schedule. Things that need to get done but not by a particular time can be job jarred for crew spare moments. We are wiser now and I guarantee you Mission Control will never yell at a crew member. In fact MCC tried to be very careful so the crew doesn't feel presured. TsUP, well they won't yell but the crew members definitely know the pressure they are under.

 

[erioladastra]

"Health, yes as was shown by the crewmember that got cancer. "<br /><br />What was shown? Crew members have gotten cancer and crew members have not. I don't think the stats show anything at this stage of low numbers.

 

[willpittenger]

I should also point out that the craft shown dragged along to Venus and Mars a lander that was useless until they reached Io. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <hr style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em" />Will Pittenger<hr style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em" />Add this user box to your Wikipedia User Page to show your support for the SDC forums: <div style="margin-left:1em">{{User:Will Pittenger/User Boxes/Space.com Account}}</div> </div>

 

[docm]

Yup. Would have made sense to launch the landers sepately into parking orbits. Would have saved mass/increased speed in the manned ship given the same engines. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[willpittenger]

Or you could have a larger crew. (A larger crew would require more space and consumables.) <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <hr style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em" />Will Pittenger<hr style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em" />Add this user box to your Wikipedia User Page to show your support for the SDC forums: <div style="margin-left:1em">{{User:Will Pittenger/User Boxes/Space.com Account}}</div> </div>