Subscribe free to our newsletters via your
. 24/7 Space News .




STATION NEWS
Lockheed Martin reveals new method for resupplying space station
by Brooks Hays
Washington (UPI) Mar 14, 2015


disclaimer: image is for illustration purposes only

Lockheed Martin has a new plan for resupplying the International Space Station, and it includes the use of a tugboat-like craft called Jupiter. As the defense contractor and aerospace company explains it, Jupiter would serve as deliveryman, garbageman, satellite deployment specialist and astronaut transport vehicle -- all in one.

The most immediate use for Jupiter will be as a cargo ferry, shuttling supplies back and forth to ISS. But unlike other cargo vehicles that start and end their mission on the Earth's surface -- like SpaceX's Dragon capsule -- Jupiter will hang out in space 24/7.

Jupiter would begin its life by delivering a cargo load in a container the size of a rail car called the Exoliner. After delivering the Exoliner, Jupiter will chill out in low Earth orbit, perhaps serving other purposes -- like deploying satellites -- until it's time to deliver another cargo load.

When another resupply mission comes along, Jupiter will both take out the trash for ISS and deliver the space station the new Exoliner. Jupiter would all the while be accompanied by a detached robotic arm to assist in the various handoffs.

"Just imagine a future of interplanetary shipping lanes to the Moon and Mars, bustling autonomous spacecraft carrying supplies, scientific instruments and construction materials for habitats," Jim Crocker, vice president and general manager of Space Systems Company International, said in a company press release that likened their plans to a 21st century Transcontinental Railroad in space.

"Picture commercial hosted payloads and cube sats, sharing space with NASA instruments and reducing costs," Crocker said. "Picture a fleet of space habitats, serving as orbiting labs and helping Orion astronauts on their journey to Mars."

The new space architecture won't necessarily revolutionize how cargo is delivered to ISS. And it's unclear whether the method will save time or money. But Jupiter has the advantage of versatility. In an aerospace industry that's become increasingly crowded, Lockheed seems to be making the long play.

A versatile system like Jupiter could ultimately find a way to make itself useful in a variety of future NASA missions.

"Although our priority is going to be servicing the International Space Station and providing the ability to carry commercial payloads and deploy small satellites, we're also designing this system from the beginning to be able to do deep-space missions," Josh Hopkins, the company's space exploration architect, told reporters at a press briefing on Thursday night.

In other words, if NASA awards this ISS delivery contract to Lockheed, it could set the company up for more success down the line.


Thanks for being here;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5 Billed Monthly


paypal only


.


Related Links
Station at NASA
Station and More at Roscosmos
S.P. Korolev RSC Energia
Watch NASA TV via Space.TV
Space Station News at Space-Travel.Com






Comment on this article via your Facebook, Yahoo, AOL, Hotmail login.

Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle




Memory Foam Mattress Review
Newsletters :: SpaceDaily :: SpaceWar :: TerraDaily :: Energy Daily
XML Feeds :: Space News :: Earth News :: War News :: Solar Energy News





STATION NEWS
Astronauts return to Earth on Russian Soyuz spaceship
Miami (AFP) March 12, 2015
Two Russian cosmonauts and an American astronaut returned to Earth aboard a Soyuz space capsule after spending six months at the International Space Station. Yelena Serova, Alexander Samokutyaev and Barry Wilmore landed in snowy Kazakhstan just after sunrise on Thursday morning. "The Expedition 42 crew is back on Earth," said NASA commentator Rob Navias on the US space agency's live broa ... read more


STATION NEWS
Billionaire Teams Up with NASA to Mine the Moon

China Gets One Step Closer to Completing its Ambitious Lunar Mission

Core work: Iron vapor gives clues to formation of Earth and moon

Application of laser microprobe technology to Apollo samples refines lunar impact history

STATION NEWS
Mystery Giant Mars Plumes Still Unexplained

NASA Challenge Invites Students to Help Design Journey to Mars Systems

Taking a Closer Look at Purple-Bluish Rock Formation

Have you ever used a camera on board an interplanetary spacecraft

STATION NEWS
Intergalactic GPS Will Guide You through the Stars

Space soprano plans first duet from ISS

Planetary Society Announces Test Flight for Privately Funded LightSail Spacecraft

Orion's Launch Abort System Motor Exceeds Expectations

STATION NEWS
China's Space Laboratory Still Cloaked

China has ability but no plan for manned lunar mission: expert

Tianzhou-1 cargo ship to dock with space lab in 2016

China's test spacecraft simulates orbital docking

STATION NEWS
Testing astronauts' lungs in Space Station airlock

Astronauts return to Earth on Russian Soyuz spaceship

International Space Station 'Lost' Without Russia Says NASA Chief

US astronauts speed through spacewalk at orbiting lab

STATION NEWS
THOR 7 being fueled for Arianespace's dual-payload April mission

Arianespace wins SES-15 launch contract

45th Space Wing unveils multi-vehicle launch support center

Soyuz Installed at Baikonur, Expected to Launch Wednesday

STATION NEWS
Scientists: Nearby Earth-like planet isn't just 'noise'

'Habitable' planet GJ 581d previously dismissed as noise probably does exist

Exorings on the Horizon

Planet 'Reared' by Four Parent Stars

STATION NEWS
NASA Goddard Provides Superfast Sensors for New MMS Mission

Spaceflight Industries Raises $20 Million to Accelerate Growth

Understanding The Electromagnetic Environmental Effects On Space Systems

German govt okays bill to boost electronic appliance recyling




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2014 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement All images and articles appearing on Space Media Network have been edited or digitally altered in some way. Any requests to remove copyright material will be acted upon in a timely and appropriate manner. Any attempt to extort money from Space Media Network will be ignored and reported to Australian Law Enforcement Agencies as a potential case of financial fraud involving the use of a telephonic carriage device or postal service.