NOVA Thesis Project by Zijian Li

DREA FUTUR 004

OUR FUTURE LIES IN SPACE. FINDING SOLUTIONS FOR SPACE EXPLORATION IS OUR GOAL, MISSION, AND DREAM.

AM RE

005

TABLE OF CONTENTS

THE FORERUNNER

THE DREAM CHASER

THE STAR

THE SPACEFLIGHT EXPERIENCE

THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT

01 02 03 04 05

008

054

094

132

164

30 FORCE

1 . 0G

0% +10

THE FORERUNNER

0100

0050

-5

0000

-10

225 N AV TO

008

+10

-10

DIR.

W+11.0 13s

>>>>

0200

0100

0001

STATU

READY ACC.

MISSION

009

CHAPTER 01 – THE FORERUNNER

010

011

NAS CHAPTER 01 – THE FORERUNNER

012

THE NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION (NASA), AN ENGINE OF INNOVATION AND INSPIRATION, AS WELL AS THE WORLD’S PREMIER SPACE EXPLORATION AGENCY, IS WHERE WE FOUND OUR MOTIVATION.

013

CHAPTER 01 – THE FORERUNNER

THE GLORY OF THE NASA ERA It started with the space race. In the 1950s, America, and soon after, the Soviet Union, announced plans to build the first satellite and launch it into orbit around earth. The Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1 on Oct. 4, 1957, and America caught up by launching Explorer 1 on January 31, 1958, which documented the existence of radiation zones. A few months later, the United States government created NASA to oversee the nation’s space program and aeronautics and aerospace research. NASA began operations on October 1, 1958, replacing the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), which was originally created in 1946. NASA has led many space exploration programs, such as the Mercury program which sent Americans into space for the first time, and the Apollo program which enabled mankind’s first footsteps on the moon, during its 30 years of space shuttle missions.

014

015

CHAPTER 01 – THE FORERUNNER

016

017

CHAPTER 01 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; THE FORERUNNER

PROJECT MERCURY 1959â&#x20AC;&#x201C;1963

Project Mercury was the first human spaceflight program of the United States. It ran from 1959 through 1963 with two goals: putting a human in orbit around the Earth, and doing it before the Soviet Union, as part of the early space race. It succeeded in the first but not the second: in the first Mercury mission on 5 May 1961, Alan Shepard became the first American in space; however the Soviet Union had put Yuri Gagarin into space one month earlier. John Glenn became the first American to reach orbit on February 20, 1962, during the third manned Mercury flight. Glenn was the third person to reach orbit, after Gagarin and Soviet Titov.

TOP: Mercury 7 was being Launched. RIGHT: Ed White, the first American space walker, which took place on Mercury 7.

018

019

CHAPTER 01 – THE FORERUNNER

020

THE

PIONEERS 05

021

CHAPTER 01 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; THE FORERUNNER

PROJECT GEMINI 1961â&#x20AC;&#x201C;1966

Project Gemini was the second human spaceflight program of NASA, the civilian space agency of the United States government. Gemini was conducted between projects Mercury and Apollo, with ten manned flights occurring in 1965 and 1966. Its objective was to develop space travel techniques in support of Apollo, which had the goal of landing men on the Moon. Gemini achieved missions long enough for a trip to the Moon and back, perfected extra-vehicular activity (working outside a spacecraft), and orbital maneuvers necessary to achieve rendezvous and docking. All manned Gemini flights were launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida using the Titan II Gemini launch vehicle.

TOP: Gemini 7 as seen from Gemini 6 in December 1965. RIGHT: Gemini 8 on Earth orbits.

022

023

CHAPTER 01 – THE FORERUNNER

PROJECT APOLLO 1961–1972

The Apollo program was the third human spaceflight program carried out by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the United States’ civilian space agency. First conceived during the Presidency of Dwight D. Eisenhower as a three-man spacecraft to follow the one-man Project Mercury which put the first Americans in space, Apollo was later dedicated to President John F. Kennedy’s national goal of “landing a man on the Moon and returning him safely to the Earth” by the end of the 1960s, which he proposed in a May 25, 1961 address to Congress. Project Mercury was followed by the two-man Project Gemini (1962–66). The first manned flight of Apollo was in 1968 and it succeeded in landing the first humans on Earth’s Moon from 1969 through 1972.

TOP: A Saturn IB rocket launches Apollo 7, 1968. RIGHT PAGE: Apollo 15 Lunar Module Pilot James Irwin salutes the U.S. flag.

024

025

CHAPTER 01 – THE FORERUNNER

THE

026

STEP

027

CHAPTER 01 – THE FORERUNNER

SKYLAB 1965–1979

Skylab was a space station launched and operated by NASA (the space agency of the United States) and was the U.S.’s first space station. Skylab orbited the Earth from 1973 to 1979, and included a workshop, a solar observatory, and other systems. It was launched unmanned by a modified Saturn V rocket, with a mass of 169,950 pounds. Three manned missions to the station, conducted between 1973 and 1974 using the Apollo Command/ Service Module (CSM) atop the smaller Saturn IB, each delivered a three-astronaut crew. On the last two manned missions, an additional Apollo / Saturn IB stood by ready to rescue the crew in orbit if it was needed.

TOP RIGHT: The inside of Skylab LOWER RIGHT: astronaut owen garriott performs eva during skylab.

028

APOLLO-SOYUZ TEST PROJECT 1972–1975

The Apollo–Soyuz Test Project (ASTP), in July 1975, was the first joint U.S.–Soviet space flight, and the last flight of an Apollo spacecraft. Its primary purpose was as a symbol of the policy of détente that the two superpowers were pursuing at the time, and marked the end of the Space Race between them that began in 1957. The mission included both joint and separate

scientific experiments (including an engineered eclipse of the Sun by Apollo to allow Soyuz to take photographs of the solar corona), and provided useful engineering experience for future joint US–Russian space flights, such as the Shuttle–Mir Program and the International Space Station.

01 TOP: The illustration shows the first international human spaceflight. LOWER LEFT: The Apollo spacecraft, as photographed by the Soyuz crew. LOWER RIGHT: The Soyuz spacecraft, as photographed by the Apollo crew.

029

CHAPTER 01 – THE FORERUNNER

SPACE SHUTTLE PROGRAM 1972–2011

NASA’s Space Shuttle Program, officially called Space Transportation System (STS), was the United States government’s manned launch vehicle program from 1981 to 2011. The winged Space Shuttle orbiter was launched vertically, usually carrying four to seven astronauts (although eight have been carried) and up to 50,000 lb (22,700 kg) of payload into low Earth orbit (LEO). When its mission was complete, the Shuttle could independently move itself out of orbit using its Orbital Maneuvering System (it oriented itself heads down and tail first, firing its OMS engines, thus slowing it down) and re-enter the Earth’s atmosphere. During descent and landing the orbiter acted as a re-entry vehicle and a glider, using its RCS system and flight control surfaces to maintain attitude until it made an unpowered landing at either Kennedy Space Center or Edwards Air Force Base.

TOP: A view of the very complicated Space Shuttle cockpit, just before takeoff. RIGHT: launch of the Space Shuttle. Columbia.

030

031

CHAPTER 01 – THE FORERUNNER

032

033

CHAPTER – THE FORERUNNER CHAPTER01ONE – IN THE BEGINNING

INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION 1993–PRESENT

The International Space Station is a habitable artificial satellite in low Earth orbit. It follows the Salyut, Almaz, Skylab and Mir stations as the ninth space station to be inhabited. The ISS is a modular structure whose first component was launched in 1998.[8] Now the largest artificial body in orbit, it can often be seen at the appropriate time with the naked eye from Earth. The ISS consists of pressurised modules, external trusses, solar arrays and other components. ISS components have been launched by American Space Shuttles as well as Russian Proton and Soyuz rockets. Budget constraints led to the merger of three space station projects with the Japanese Kibo module and Canadian robotics. In 1993 the partially built components for a Soviet/Russian space station Mir-2, the proposed American Freedom, and the proposed European Columbus merged into a single multinational programme.

034

035

CHAPTER 01 – THE FORERUNNER

UNMANNED PROGRAMS

More than 1,000 unmanned missions have been designed to explore the Earth and the solar system. Besides exploration, communication satellites have also been launched by NASA. The missions have been launched directly from Earth or from orbiting space shuttles, which could either deploy the satellite itself, or with a rocket stage to take it farther.

TOP LEFT: It’s an artist’s rendering shows the Galileo orbiter arriving at Jupiter on Dec. 7, 1995. LOWER LEFT: A artist’s rendering of Pioneer 11 orbiter. RIGHT: a self-portrait of curiosity rover on Mars.

036

037

CHAPTER 01 – THE FORERUNNER

038

039

CHAPTER 01 – THE FORERUNNER

END OF AN ERA, AND THE DAWN OF A NEW The retirement of the Space Shuttle spells the beginning of the end of US astronaut corps; 50 years after its birth, the astronaut program – an iconic American venture – is undergoing a transformation. Now that the astronauts’s main ride into space has been retired and funding for true manned space exploration shrink to almost nothing, the astronaut corps will become smaller, its role redefined, and more of the space duties will likely be turned over to commercial spaceflight companies.

040

In the meantime, there is certainly evidence of what haste does to a program such as NASA, when safety is inadvertently compromised in order to meet a packed schedule. NASA is essentially the sole means to get cargo into orbit, but it cannot remain so. Explorers and entrepreneurs will seek out alternative means of sending equipment and humans into space, and shifting this burden to the commercial sector makes sense. This is especially true because private companies can fund their own hardware - this takes the burden off the taxpayers, who only really see the failures of the space program, and not its enormous benefits. Eventually, the private sector will reveal the true benefits of space travel, which isn’t just economic, as satellites such as Hubble continually show us.

041

CHAPTER 01 – THE FORERUNNER

THE FUTURE OF NASA

Exploration

Aeronautics

NASA is designing and building the capabilities to send humans to explore the solar system, working toward a goal of sending humans to a captured, relocated asteroid in the next decade and landing humans on Mars in the 2030s. We will build Orion with a capacity to take four astronauts on three week missions.

Based on a fresh look at the future of aviation – as well as global trends in technology, the environment and economics – NASA’s aeronautical innovators have chartered a new strategic vision for its aviation research programs. The vision ensures the agency’s aeronautical research projects will enable the United States to maintain its leadership in the sky and sustain aviation so that it remains a key economic driver and cultural touchstone for the nation.

NASA also is making progress with the development of the Space Launch System (SLS) - an advanced heavylift rocket that will provide an entirely new national capability for human exploration beyond Earth’s orbit. SLS takes advantage of heritage hardware while also using modern manufacturing process such as friction-stir welding and adaptive manufacturing. We are developing the technologies we will need for human exploration of the solar system, including solar electric propulsion, refueling depots in orbit, radiation protection and high-reliability life support systems.

042

What this means for the flying public is that NASA’s contributions to aviation will be even more relevant as ongoing research leads to new aircraft, improved mobility and safety, less strain on the environment, and an all-around better experience in the sky. From developing new air traffic management tools and designing quieter aircraft that fly at supersonic speeds, to writing innovative problem solving software that improves aviation safety, NASA’s legacy of nearly a century of aviation research continues.

Technology

Science

NASA is developing the technologies to enable human and robotic exploration within our solar system and beyond. These range from advanced solar electric propulsion and large-scale solar sails to new green propellants and composite cryogenic storage tanks for refueling depots in orbit. We are demonstrating the space technologies that will spawn new knowledge and capabilities to sustain our future missions.

NASA is conducting an unprecedented array of missions that will seek new knowledge and understanding of Earth, the solar system and the universe. NASA has observatories in Earth orbit and deep space, spacecraft visiting the moon and other planetary bodies, and robotic landers, rovers, and sample return missions.

NASAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s science vision encompasses questions as practical as hurricane formation, as enticing as the prospect of lunar resources, and as profound as the origin of the universe.

NASA leads the nation on a great journey of discovery, seeking new knowledge and understanding of our sun, Earth, solar system, and the universe out to its farthest reaches and back to its earliest moments of existence. NASAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Science Mission Directorate and the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s science community use space observatories to conduct scientific studies of the Earth from space, to visit and return data and samples from other bodies in the solar system, and to peer out into the vast reaches of the universe and beyond.

043

PRIVA INDUS CHAPTER 01 – THE FORERUNNER

THE PRIVATE SECTOR OF SPACE EXPLORATION IS SLOWLY BUT SURELY BECOMING INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT.

044

ATE STRY

045

CHAPTER 01 – THE FORERUNNER

THE RISING OF PRIVATE SPACE INDUSTRY There are relatively few moments in history when virtually the entire public is in agreement that an event is “historic” at the time the event actually happens. Most great events that are ultimately deemed to be historic by historians, tradition, and public consensus are seen as being historymaking moments only in hindsight, frequently after the passing of many years or even many decades. We recently were lucky enough to observe an event in space history that was widely deemed historic from the moment it occurred: the successful launch on May 22 of the Dragon capsule by private firm Space Exploration Technologies Inc. (SpaceX), its docking with the International Space Station (ISS) on May 25, and its safe return to Earth and recovery on May 31. The achievement was compounded by the fact that the capsule was carried onboard SpaceX’s own Falcon 9 rocket. Like no other event in the recent history of space exploration, the success of the Dragon spacecraft captured the public’s attention and, in today’s information-driven world, just as importantly caught the attention of the world’s news media. Aviation Week & Space Technology summarized the importance of the event in its one-word cover headline:

046

047

CHAPTER 01 – THE FORERUNNER

IT’S NOT AN EXAGGERATION TO SAY THAT 2012 HAS REALLY BEEN AN INFLECTION POINT. Former astronaut Michael Lopez-Alegria said at the eighth annual International Symposium for Personal and Commercial Spaceflight.

048

2013

“TRAILBLAZER.” Former astronaut Michael Lopez-Alegria, who currently serves as the president of the Commercial Spaceflight Federation, described the flight of Dragon as “the spark that will ignite a flourishing commercial spaceflight marketplace.”

NASA has sponsored competitions for commercial vehicles to carry both cargo and crew to the International Space Station, which currently relies on Russian spacecraft for transportation in the wake of the space shuttle’s retirement. The SpaceX cargo launch on early August 2013 was the first of 12 scheduled delivery missions for the firm, and other companies like Orbital Sciences plan to begin cargo flights soon.

049

CHAPTER 01 – THE FORERUNNER

050

051

CHAPTER 01 – THE FORERUNNER

THE

FIRST COMMERCIAL SPACE FLIGHT

052

053

30 FORCE

2 . 0G

1.5

20% +10

0200

0150

0100

+10

THE DREAM CHASER +5

-5

0050

0000

-10

250 SAR TO

054

-10

DIR.

W + 16 . 0 25s

>>>>

0700

0600

300

0540

0500

0400

MISSION

STATU

S TA R T IN G ACC.

055

CHAPTER 02 – THE DREAM CHASER

WE ARE NOVA, THE ORBITAL OPERATOR In February 2012, aeronautics and astronautics expert Dr. Martin Weston presented the following concept of sustainable space exploration: “Space elevators are a radical new way to access space less expensively than possible with chemical rocket technology. The technology offers solutions to many of the problems facing the world today, including the need for clean, renewable energy.” With this inspiring concept, the famous investor, Hayden Garrett, invited Dr. Martin Weston, materials scientist Dr. Michael Byron, and astronomer Dr. Branson Taylor to make up his advisory group. With their persuasion, America’s leading aerospace companies, including Lockheed Martin, Boeing, and United Technologies Corporation, combined their big plans to successfully found NOVA in August 2016. Hayden Garrett believes that high prices and high energy consumption behind chemical space launches are driven, in part, by unnecessary bureaucracy. He stated that one of his goals is to build the space elevator as the next generation’s way of sending goods and people into space. He believes that the future of space exploration depends on the development of space elevator technology.

056

057

DREAM CHAPTER 02 – THE DREAM CHASER

REA 058

WE DREAM ABOUT THE SPACE EXPLORATION OF TOMORROW AND PLAN ON MAKING THAT DREAM COME TRUE.

ALITY

059

CHAPTER 02 – THE DREAM CHASER

FOLLOW THE FORERUNNER NOVA Space Technology & Industry Company is a global, Pan-American aerospace technology and space transportation corporation. Our consortium was created by combining America’s leading aerospace technology companies and spaceflight manufacturers. The company is pooling resources from America’s space industry to achieve the dreams of the general population and commercial space exploration. We employ incremental approaches, from developing new materials to creating new ways to go into outer space, with each progressive step while building on our prior work. NOVA is developing a variety of technologies with a focus on generating a new space shuttle and space elevator for the new space age.

060

Initially, NOVA focused on exploring new ways to go into space. We proposed a bold plan to build the first space elevator and, with help from NASA, we built a test lab in our California-based facility in 2020. In 2028, Carbontube, a subsidiary company of NOVA, announced that their first commercial-grade carbon nanotube was in production. Due to a breakthrough in material technology, NOVA and NASA decided to complete the space elevator’s initial construction phase by 2033.

061

CHAPTER 02 – THE DREAM CHASER

THE

FIRST STEP SPACE MISSION IN OUR

062

063

CHAPTER 02 – THE DREAM CHASER

THE SPACE ELEVATOR’S CONCEPT The first concept for a space elevator was published in 1895 by Konstantin Tsiolkovsky. He proposed a free-standing tower that would reach from the surface of earth to the height of geostationary orbit. Like all buildings, Tsiolkovsky’s structure would be under compression, supporting its weight from below. Since 1959, most ideas for space elevators have focused on purely tensile structures, with the weight of the system held up from above. With tensile concepts, a space tether reaches from a large mass (the counterweight) beyond geostationary orbit to the ground. This structure is held by tension between earth and the counterweight like an upside-down plumb bob. With earth’s relatively strong gravity, technology has been incapable of manufacturing tether materials sufficiently strong and light enough to build a space elevator. However, recent concepts for a space elevator are notable for their plans to use carbon-nanotubebased or boron-nitride-nanotube-based materials as the tensile element in the tether design. With the measured strength of these compounds being higher in comparison to their densities, they may promise to make an earth-based space elevator possible. 064

065

CHAPTER 02 – THE DREAM CHASER

THE

LIFTER TO SKY

066

067

CLIMB CHAPTER 02 – THE DREAM CHASER

FUTUR 068

BING

THE SPACE ELEVATOR IS THE MOST SUSTAINABLE SOLUTION FOR FUTURE SPACE EXPLORATION PROJECTS. IT IS THE BRIDGE TO FUTURE SPACE DEVELOPMENT.

069

CHAPTER 02 – THE DREAM CHASER

THE SPACE ELEVATOR SHAFT IS ESSENTIALLY A LONG CABLE THAT EXTENDS FROM OUR PLANET’S SURFACE INTO SPACE WITH ITS CENTER OF MASS AT GEOSTATIONARY EARTH ORBIT.

070

The first â&#x20AC;&#x153;baselineâ&#x20AC;? design will use 20 ton climbers. But, by making the tether thicker (which can be done by using the space elevator, itself) we can cultivate the space elevator to lift 100 or even 1,000 tons at a time. In addition to launching payloads into orbit, the space elevator can also use its rotational motion to inject them into planetary transfer orbits. This will enable us to launch payloads to Mars once per day, for example. Imagine the kinds of infrastructure we can set up there. Imagine waiting for the first settlers to arrive. Looking back from the year 2100, the construction of the space elevator will be considered the true beginning of the Space Age, much like how the advent of the airplane or steamboat heralded the true commercial use of the sky and sea.

071

CHAPTER 02 – THE DREAM CHASER

CONSTRUCTION OF THE SPACE ELEVATOR LOW EARTH ORBIT

OBJECT

EARTH INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION

DIAMETER 12,756KM ( 7, 9 2 6 M I )

GPS ROTATION VELOCIT Y 1,674KM/H 072

(1,040 MPH)

CABLE

OBJECT

C L IM B E R

G E O S TAT IO N A R Y O R BI T / G E O

S PA C E P OR T

WEIGHT CAPACITY

AT TITUDE

1–10 TONS

35,786 KM

96,000 KM

(22,236 MI)

(59,652 MI)

ORBIT SPEED

COUNTERWEIGHT

300 KM/H

11,069 KM/H

(180 MPH)

(6,877 MPH)

073

CHAPTER 02 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; THE DREAM CHASER

SPACE ELEVATOR: HOIST TO THE HEAVENS The space elevator is the most promising space transportation system on the drawing boards today. It combines scalability and low costs with ride quality and safety to deliver truly commercial-grade space access practically comparable to taking a train ride into space. Rocket-based space launch systems are inherently limited by the physics of rocket propulsion. More than 90 percent of the rocketâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s weight is propellant and the rest is split between the weight of the fuel tank and the payload. It is very difficult, if not impossible, to make such a vehicle safe or low cost and a target cost of $1,000 per kilogram is proving to be impossible to reach. In comparison, airliners charge about one dollar per pound.

074

The space elevator is based on a thin vertical tether that stretches from the ground to a mass far out in space. Electric vehicles (climbers) will drive up and down that tether. The rotation of the earth will keep the tether taut and capable of supporting the climbers. The climbers will travel at speeds comparable to a fast train and they will not carry fuel on board. Rather they will be powered by a combination of sunlight and laser light projected from the ground. Climbers will launch once per day with the space trip lasting several days.

075

CHAPTER 02 – THE DREAM CHASER

HOW TO DRIVE THE SPACE ELEVATOR

LASER

076

OBJECT

S PA C E E L E VAT OR P L AT F OR M

C L IM B E R ( L O W E R AT M O S P H E R E )

DRIVER

ENERGY SOURCE

GALLIUM ARSENIDE

(GaAs) LASER BEAM

(GaAs) LASER

POWER

DRIVEN BY

2.4 MEGAWAT TS

PHOTOVOLTAIC CELL

SOLAR

CABLE

OBJECT

MESOSPHERE

C L IM B E R ( IN O U T E R S PA C E )

ALTITUDE

ENERGY SOURCE

50–80KM

SOLAR POWER

(31–50 MI) DRIVEN BY SOLAR PANEL 077

CHAPTER 02 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; THE DREAM CHASER

FROM PLANNING TO REALITY NOVA believes that the future orbital mission relies on the development of the space elevator. NOVAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s goal is to build a space elevator system for further space duties. To make this happen, the space elevator must grow beyond a paper plan and into real construction. To better understand the concept of the space elevator, think of the game tetherball in which a ball is attached to a pole by a rope. In this analogy, the ball is the counterweight, the pole is the earth, and the rope is the carbon nanotubes composite ribbon. Now, imagine sending the ball around the pole in a perpetual spin that is so fast it keeps the rope taut. This is the general idea behind the space elevator. The counterweight spins around the earth, keeping the cable straight and allowing the robotic climbers to ride up and down the ribbon.

078

The building process can be simplified into three stages. First, rockets or spacecraft will be launched to deliver materials, including the ribbon, into the low earth orbit. Secondly, after delivering the material, one end of the ribbon will be lowered back to earth and the spaceport will start rising into a geostationary orbit. In the last stage, the spaceport will arrive at the geostationary orbit and the ribbon will connect to the anchor point on earth

079

CHAPTER 02 – THE DREAM CHASER

080

TOURIS + MISSIO

SPACE TOURISM WILL BECOME THE NEXT POPULAR MARKET AND THE SPACE ELEVATOR WILL BE THE NEXT MILESTONE FOR THE SPACE INDUSTRY. IN COMBINING THE TWO, OUR NOVA ORBITS PROJECT WILL BE BORN.

ONS

081

CHAPTER 02 – THE DREAM CHASER

CONSTRUCTION PROFILE OBJECT

OBJECT

S PA C E P OR T

L A U NC H B A S E

OBJECT

NO VA S TA R C A R R IE R ( F UL L )

A NC H O R S TAT IO N

OBJECT

NO VA S TA R C A R R IE R ( E M P T Y ) OBJECT

G UID E R OC K E T

082

S TA G E 3

S TA G E 2 05

S TA G E 1

STAGE 1

STAGE 2

STAGE 3

T R A N S P OR T ING

R E L E A SIN G

C O NNE C T ING

USE CARRIER TO

USING GUIDE ROCKET TO

RISING SPACEPORT TO

TRANSPORT BUILDING

T O W EL E VAT OR C A BL E

GEOSTATIONARY ORBIT

MATERIALS

TO THE ANCHOR

BUILDING CABLE

BUILDING SPACEPORT

COMPLETE BUILDING

RELEASING MECHANISM

AS A COUNTERWEIGHT

SPACEPORT

083

CHAPTER 02 – THE DREAM CHASER

084

KEEP MOVING

085

JOIN TH ADVEN OF RISI AN NEW CHAPTER 02 – THE DREAM CHASER

086

HE NTURE ING TO W ORBI NOVA ORBITS PROJECT IS NOT ONLY A SPACE TOURISM, IT ACTUALLY BUILD THE FUTURE OF SPACE EXPLORATION.

087

CHAPTER 02 – THE DREAM CHASER

088

INTRODUCE THE NOVA ORBITS PROJECT 04

NOVA has been thinking about the best way to begin operations to make the space elevator a reality. After years of planning, the final solution was bornâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;the NOVA Orbits Project. The NOVA Orbits project combines space tourism with the space elevator. Our spacecraft will carry both passengers and payloads to the low earth orbit. The passengers will come away with remarkable memories on their spaceflight experience and we will be able to begin constructing the space elevator.

In the NOVA Orbits mission, passengers will be both space tourists and investors in the space elevator project. This introductory investment opportunity will provide smoother operations for the space elevator project and will also benefit NOVAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s future space duties.

089

CHAPTER 02 – THE DREAM CHASER

TIMELINE OF NOVA ORBITS PROJECT PROJECT

2 0 16

2 0 16 LAUNCH BASE

2017

2 0 18

2 0 19

BUILDING SPACEPORT

2020

2021

2022

2023

NOVA SPACEPOR T COMPL E T ED, F OL L O W ED B Y 5 Y E A RS IMPROVEMENT AND EXTENSION

2 0 16

N O VA S TA R PROTOT YPE

2017

2 0 18

2 0 19

BUIL DING NOVA S TA R PRO T O T Y PE

2020

2021

2022

2023

T ES T ING NOVA S TA R PRO T O T Y PE

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

N O VA S TA R C A R R IE R

A N C H O R S TAT ION

090

S PA C E E L E VAT OR

2033

2024

2025

2026

2027

2028

2029

2030

2031

2032

2033

04 2024

2025

2026

2027

2028

2029

2030

2031

2032

2033

2024

2025

2026

2027

2028

2029

2 03 0

2031

2 03 2

2033

BUIL DING FIRS T NOVA S TA R T C A RRIER

FIRS T NOVA S TA R MISSION

02 2024

2025

2026

2027

2028

2029

2 03 0

2 03 1

2 03 2

2033

BUIL DING SPACE EL E VAT OR A RCHER S TAT ION

2024

2025

2026

2027

2028

2029

2030

2031

2032

2033 091

CHAPTER 02 – THE DREAM CHASER

SUPPO MATT 092

WITH INVESTORS’ SUPPORT, THE NOVA ORBITS PROJECT CAN BE CARRIED OUT MORE SMOOTHLY.

ORT TERS

093

100 FORCE

110

130

4 . 0G

120

AUTO PILOT

70%

1000 +5

+10

THE STAR

0900

800

0700

0 0600

094

900

DIR.

S +2 5 . 0 180s

>>>>

37000

36000

34500

33000

MISSION

32000

STATU

IN A ACC.

095

NOVA 096

A STAR

NOVA STAR WILL BE THE LARGEST SPACE CRAFT EVER BUILT. ITS DESIGN WILL MAKE IT USEFUL FOR CARRYING TOURISTS INTO SPACE AND BACK TO IMPLEMENT SPACE TOURISM, AS WELL AS DELIVERING CARGO TO FURTHER OUR SPACE MISSION.

097

CHAPTER 03 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; THE STAR

THE DREAM CARRIER

The NOVA Star, our first commercial spacecraft, is the best choice for the NOVA Orbits project operations. Its revolutionary design makes it safer and more comfortable to fly into space. The NOVA Star is a reusable, low earth orbit spacecraft. Its components include the spacecraft and a launch vehicle. The launch vehicle will be used to jettison the NOVA Star before it arrives in orbit. The NOVA Star is designed to carry up to 16 passengers and four crews into orbit. With a hotel-like interior design, it differs from the look of previous space tourism expeditions.

098

099

CHAPTER 03 – THE STAR

100

101

CHAPTER 03 – THE STAR

LIVERY DESIGN

102

103

CHAPTER 03 – THE STAR

REVOLUTIONARY SPACECRAFT DESIGN The development of new material and technology helped shape our designs for the NOVA Star. These improvements took the space flight to a whole new level. The new material to be used on the NOVA Star will improve its performance and safety during its space trips. The thermal protection system uses large scale reinforcing carbon–carbon material, which protects the spacecraft during the re-entry process. A titanium-alloy body construction will reduce the spacecraft’s weight, improving its flight performance and reducing the costs associated with launching the payloads into orbit. NOVA Star’s power source comes from four hybrid rockets and two high-bypass turbofan jet engines. The hybrid rockets have some of the most advanced technology in space exploration. They have the highest performance ratings and the highest safety levels. The jet engines are for NOVA Star’s return to earth’s atmosphere. They will make the spacecraft more controllable in the final landing process, producing a safer trip to and from space.

104

OBJECT

T H E R M A L P R O T E C T ION SYSTEM (TPS)

L IG H T–W E IG H T F R A M E S A ND S H E L L

MATERIAL: REINFORCED

TITANIUM ALLOY

CARBON-CARBON (RCC)

TEMPERATURE RESISTANCE:

DENSIT Y:

2,300F

4.54G/CM3

OBJECT

H Y B R ID R O C K E T

HIG H – B Y PA S S T UR B OFA N E NGINE

T HRUS T:

2,994 KN

320 KN X 2

CHAMBER PRESSURE: 3212 PSI

105

CHAPTER 03 – THE STAR

ONE – THE DREAM

106

THE

BEAUTY OF PRECISION

107

CHAPTER 03 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; THE STAR

THE NEXT GENERATION PROPELLER TECHNOLOGY NOVA Star uses two next generation propellers in launch and orbit flight, The hybrid rocket and the hall effect thruster. Hybrid rocket is the rocket with a rocket motor which uses propellants in two different states of matter - one solid and the other either gas or liquid. The Hybrid rocket concept can be traced back at least 75 years. It exhibit advantages over both liquid rockets and solid rockets especially in terms of simplicity, safety, and cost. Because it is nearly impossible for the fuel and oxidizer to be mixed intimately. Like liquid rockets and unlike solid rockets they can be shut down easily and are simply throttle-able. The theoretical specific impulse performance of hybrids is generally higher than solids and roughly equivalent to hydrocarbon-based liquids. Hall thrusters trap electrons in a magnetic field and then use the electrons to ionize propellant, efficiently accelerate the ions to produce thrust, and neutralize the ions in the plume.

108

109

CHAPTER 03 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; THE STAR

HYBRID ROCKET ENGINE

ADVANTAGE OF HYBRID FUEL

110

C O M PA R E T O

S O L ID R O C K E T S

L IQ UID R O C K E T

SIM P L ICI T Y

Chemically Simpler Tolerant of processing errors

Mechanically Simpler Tolerant of fabrication errors

SAFETY

Reduced chemical explosion hazard

Reduced fire hazard Less prone to hard-starts

O P E R A B IL I T Y

Throttling, Start/Stop/Restart Capability

Operation requires only a single liquid

P E R F O R M A NC E

Higher Specific Impulse

Higher fuel density Easy inclusion of high-energy additives

E N V IR O N M E N T

No perchlorates required Non-toxic exhaust products

Solid fuel presents reduced contamination hazard

COST

Reduced development costs Reduced recurring costs

05 OBJECT

O X IDI Z E R TA NK LIQUID PROPELLANT IN PRESSURE VESSEL

PROPELL AN T: NITROUS OXIDE

IG NI T E R

OBJECT

F U E L GR A IN

SOLID PROPELLANT IN COMBUSTION CHAMBER

PROPELL AN T: H Y D R O X Y L-T E R M I N A T E D

POLY BU TA DIENE ( H T PB )

NO Z Z L E 01

EXHAUST

111

CHAPTER 03 – THE STAR

112

113

CHAPTER 03 – THE STAR

HALL EFFECT THRUSTER

T O P V IE W

OBJECT

M A G N E T IC C OIL GAUSS OF RADIAL MAGNETIC FIELD: 100–300 G

OBJECT

ANODE GAS D IS T R IB U T OR XENON GAS

OBJECT

THRUSTER EXHAUST T HRUS T: 83MN 114

( AT 300 V, 15K W )

R A DI A L M A G NE T IC F IE L D

O P E R AT ING T IM E

10 , 5 0 0 H

T O TA L IM P U L S E

3 , 3 9M N / S

S TA R T/ S T O P C Y C L E

7, 3 0 9

X E NO N T H R O U G H P U T

1 47 K G

SID E V IE W 04

OBJECT

A NOD E G A S DIS T R IB U T O R XENON GAS

R A DI A L M A G NE T IC F IE L D

A X I A L E L E C T R IC F IE L D 03

OBJECT

M A G NE T IC C OIL GAUSS OF RADIAL MAGNETIC FIELD: 100–300 G

01 OBJECT

T HR U S T E R EXHAUST T HRUS T: 83MN ( AT 300 V, 15K W )

115

CHAPTER 03 – THE STAR

02 – NOVA STAR

AN EVOLUTIONARY FLIGHT EXPERIENCE NOVA Star will redefine the feeling of space travel. The interior of this spacecraft was designed to feel like a hotel to make the trip more comfortable. The concept of the interior design comes from the beauty of simplification. It allows the passenger ample focus on outer space, while remaining comfortable inside. The lighting system is an important part of the interior’s design. Light blue lighting with a little purple tint will enhance the outer space feel to the design and enhance the theme of space tourism. NOVA Star’s better flight performance will also help improve the flight experience through lower g-forces during the launch and reentry process and less vibrations while in orbit.

116

117

CHAPTER 03 – THE STAR

THE

OF SPACE

119

CHAPTER 03 – THE STAR

FLOOR PLAN OF NOVA STAR

OBJECT

F L IG H T D E C K 2 PILOTS 2 ENGINEERS

ACCESS TO THE COMMUNICATION CABIN

OBJECT

PA S S E NG E R D E C K 16 PASSENGERS

16 INDIVIDUAL PREMIER CLASS SUITES

120

OBJECT

L AVAT O R Y 2 TOILETS 3 SINKS 1 SHOWER

04 ACCESS TO THE MISSION CABIN

02 OBJECT

L O U NGE ACCESS TO THE

OBSER VAT ION DOME

PUBLIC SPACE WITH ON–FLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT

121

CHAPTER 03 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; THE STAR

The trip will last three to four days which will make every passengerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s personal space an important priority. Premium seating will allow passengers to sit and lie down comfortably. A moveable panel will enable the seating section to change from an opened to closed space. The in-flight crews will be experts on space science and technology. They will provide detailed tours upon arriving in orbit creating a great opportunity to learn more about space. The in-flight entertainment will also include wireless internet access so passengers can keep in touch with people on earth and share their experiences.

122

123

CHAPTER 03 – THE STAR

OBJECT

APPLICATION

OB S E R VAT ION D OM E

O B S E R VAT IO N

MATERIAL:

DIMENSION

FUSED SILICA GLASS

6,52M X 1.83M (21.3 FT X 6.0 FT)

124

THICKNESS:

33MM (1.3 INCH)

39MM (1.53 INCH)

OBSERVATION DOME 04

One of the best and most important designs of the NOVA Star is the observation dome. It is a bubbleshaped, frameless dome on the top of the spacecraft. The dome actually pops out of the spacecraft, which gives the passengers almost a 360 degree view of space without the risks of a spacewalk. The observation dome is made up of fused silica glass which is strong enough to keep passengers safe during the whole trip and also has the highest transparency rate.

125

CHAPTER 03 – THE STAR

THE

SURROUNDING 126

127

CHAPTER 03 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; THE STAR

CARGO MISSION

One important part of the NOVA Orbits project is delivering the materials needed to build the space elevator. This specific mission requires the spacecraft to have a cargo area to carry the payloads. The NOVA Star has a giant cargo area on the lower level of the spacecraft. It has almost twice as much space as NASAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s previous space shuttles, allowing it to carry more complexly shaped construction materials. The cargo mission will also place the emergency rescue vessel on board. This vessel is the plan-B emergency plan. It will also improve the safety of this trip.

128

OBJECT

F L IG H T D E C K

PA S S E NG E R D E C K

CONTROL ROOM

INDIVIDUAL SUITES

N AVIG AT ION DECK

LOUNGE

CREW CHAMBER

04 LENGH T: 16 F T

LENGH T: 7 8 F T

HEIGH T: 11 F T

HEIGH T: 12 F T

OBJECT

CREW CHAMBER

MIS SIO N C A R G O

L AVAT OR Y

PAY LOAD:

SLEEPING BAG

80,045 POUNDS

COUNCIL ROOM

(36,307 KG)

LENGTH: 8 FT

LENGTH: 94 FT

DIAMETER: 9 FT

DIAMETER: 22 FT

129

CHAPTER 03 – THE STAR

130

131

200

214

220

FORCE

0 . 0G 1

SPACEFLIGHT EXPERIENCE

290000

280000

276000

270000

-5 260000

S TAY

132

DIR.

N +2 . 0 10s

<<<

380K +5

MISSION 375K

370K

365K

-5 360K

STATU

LEO CRU.

133

CHAPTER 4 – SPACEFLIGHT EXPERIENCE

134

135

CHAPTER 4 – SPACEFLIGHT EXPERIENCE

PRE-FLIGHT TRAINING

Space tourists can be compared to airplane passengers regarding the minimum requirements for safe transportation because they will not have to be able to pilot the vehicle or perform complex tasks on board. This allows any human to go into space providing that he or she is physically and mentally healthy enough to go and come back with minimal injury risks. Limiting a spaceship specifically designed for tourists to less than three g’s of maximum acceleration, and after thorough preparation, many of the tourists’ physiological or psychological problems can be avoided. Therefore, a large percentage of the human population fulfils the minimum safety criteria. Since space is a totally unusual environment for humans, it is clear that space tourists have to be prepared for their journey. The tourists must become familiar with the technical equipment on board the transportation systems and within the orbital hotel. They must also be prepared to experience micro-gravity in terms of motion, perception, and three-dimensional orientation. Most of this preparation should be aimed at avoiding unnecessary stress, as well as potentially risky situations brought on by unsafe behaviors. 136

137

CHAPTER 4 – SPACEFLIGHT EXPERIENCE

138

139

CHAPTER 4 – SPACEFLIGHT EXPERIENCE

CENTRIFUGE TRAINING

M A X G - F OR C E : 4 23 RPM ROTOR RADIUS: 7M

140

NE G AT I V E G 04

EYEBALLS UP FOOT WARDS ACCELERATION

R IG H T L AT E R A L G

TRANSVERSE A-P G

EYEBALLS RIGHT

EYEBALLS IN

LEF T ACCELERATION

FORWARDS ACCELERATION

TRANSVERSE P-A G

L E F T L AT E R A L G

EYEBALLS OUT

EYEBALLS LEFT

BACK WARDS ACCELERATION

RIGHT ACCELERATION

P O SI T I V E G

EYEBALLS DOWN HEADWARDS ACCELERATION

141

CHAPTER 4 – SPACEFLIGHT EXPERIENCE

142

143

CHAPTER 4 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; SPACEFLIGHT EXPERIENCE

THE TRIP TO CHASE YOUR DREAM The launch profile contains three main stages. The first stage is from the launch to the separation of the launch vehicle. Its duration lasts five and a half minutes. When the spacecraft reaches 420,000 feet, the launch vehicle will separate from the spacecraft and drop to earth. The second stage is approaching the low earth orbit. The spacecraft will use its own power to reach the low earth orbit. It lasts three and a half minutes. After that, the NOVA star will arrive at the orbit. The total time will be around nine minutes and ten seconds. During the launch process, the passengers will face one to three gâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s of acceleration.

144

145

CHAPTER 4 – SPACEFLIGHT EXPERIENCE

LAUNCH PROFILE

146

STAGE 2

A R R I V E OR BI T STAGE 2

A C C E L E R AT E T O O R BI T STAGE 1

TOTAL TIME: 9:10

DURATION:

AT TITUDE:

3:40

1,080,000 FT

TIME FROM LAUNCH:

AT TITUDE:

SPEED:

+ 5:30

420,000 FT –1,080,000 FT

1 7, 5 0 0 M I L E S P E R H O R

AT TITUDE:

G-FORCE:1G–3G

L A UNC H V E HIC L E S E PA R AT IO N

420,000 FT

G-FORCE: 2.5G

02 OBJECT

NO VA S TA R C A R R IE R

01 OBJECT

L A UNC H V E HIC L E

147

CHAPTER 4 – SPACEFLIGHT EXPERIENCE

148

149

CHAPTER 4 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; SPACEFLIGHT EXPERIENCE

THE ACHIEVING OF YOUR DREAM You are hereâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;the place that much of humanity has only dreamed about. It is the most stunning view of your entire lifetime. You are 100 kilometers above the place where you were born, where you work, and where you live. It will definitely change your view of the world and your life. During your stay in orbit, feel free to explore the passenger cabin and ask the flight crews everything you want to know about space. Watch us build the space elevator. Or watch for any space activity. Enjoy the trip and the view now that your dream has come true.

150

151

CHAPTER 4 – SPACEFLIGHT EXPERIENCE

THE PROCESS OF CREATING A SUCCESSFUL OFF-WORLD TOURISM INDUSTRY WILL BE THE KEY ECONOMIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL DRIVER ENABLING THE HUMAN SPECIES TO EVOLVE INTO A REAL SOLAR SYSTEM SPECIES.

152

THE DREAM THE DREAM THE DREAM

Space tourism is a natural extension of todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s worldwide tourism industry. Instead of travelling around the world, tourists will go to space. This may sound like science fiction, but it is taken very seriously by both the commercial space industry and the US government. Several national space agencies have also acknowledged that space tourism is something worth keeping an eye on.

For more than 40 years, since the space age started, people have waited for the day when space travel can finally open up on a large scale to mankind. Today, the dream comes true. Space tourism has become a reality. You, the pioneer, can achieve your dream now and your support matters. With your support, the space elevator can follow the construction schedule. When it is finished, it will open another door to space exploration for the general public. Chasing your dream will actually help more people achieve theirs.

153

CHAPTER 4 – SPACEFLIGHT EXPERIENCE

154

155

TOUCH CHAPTER 4 – SPACEFLIGHT EXPERIENCE

DREAM 156

HERE IS SPACE, AN OUTER WORLD FROM THE BLUE PLANET. IT IS THE FARTHEST DISTANCE FROM OUR HOMELAND, BUT CLOSEST TO THE HUMAN DREAM.

157

CHAPTER 4 – SPACEFLIGHT EXPERIENCE

RETURNING HOME

The last step of this dream-like trip is returning to earth. The return profile contains three main stages: deorbit, reentry, and landing. It takes hours to deorbit. During this process, the NOVA Star will steer around and use thrusters to reduce its speed. The lower speed allows the earth’s gravity to catch the spacecraft and slowly pull it back to low orbit. When it arrives at nearly 420,000 feet, the NOVA Star will steer back to the normal position to prepare for reentry. During reentry, the passengers will face 1.2 g’s of acceleration, which is much lower than early spaceflights. After entering the earth’s 40,000 foot atmosphere, the jet engines will aid the spacecraft in its flight and landing.

158

159

CHAPTER 4 – SPACEFLIGHT EXPERIENCE

RE-ENTRY PROFILE STAGE 1

D E O R BI T STAGE 2

DURATION: 2:00:00

D E O R BI T B U R N

AT TITUDE:

DURATION:

1,080,000 FT

34:00

SPEED:

AT TITUDE:

TIME TO LANDING:

1 7, 5 0 0 M I L E S P E R H R

1,080,000 F T- 426,500 F T

32:05

G-FORCE:1.2G

AT TITUDE:

STAGE 1

ENTRY IN T E R FA C E

426,500 FT

G-FORCE: 2.5G

OBJECT

NO VA S TA R C A R R IE R

160

S –A C T IO N T O REDUCE SPEED

161

IT’S NO THE EN IT’S A N BEGINN CHAPTER 4 – SPACEFLIGHT EXPERIENCE

162

OT ND NEW NING

FOR YOU, THE INVESTOR, IT IS THE END OF THIS AMAZING SPACE TOUR. BUT FOR US, YOUR SUPPORT WILL HELP BUILD THE FUTURE OF SPACE EXPLORATION.

163

35 FORCE

4.5G 1

87% +10

THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT

0100

0050

-5

0000

-10

225 MAU TO

164

+10

-10

DIR.

W+11.0 89s

<<<>>>

MISSION

0200

0100

0001

STATU

APPROACH ACC.

165

CHAPTER 5 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT

THE SPACE ELEVATOR: THE ORBIT LIFTER Once the first NOVA Star launches, construction will begin on the space elevator. The initial construction phase will be finished by 2033. This beginning is also the key to the whole space elevator project. The main structure of space elevator is planned to be finished six years after the initial construction ends. Afterwards, NOVA will keep extending and improving the space elevator to make allowances for more payloads.

166

167

CHAPTER 5 – THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT

NOVA STAR LIFTER

OBJECT

T H E R M A L P R O T E C T ION SYSTEM (TPS)

L IG H T–W E IG H T F R A M E S A ND S H E L L

MATERIAL:

ALUMINIUM ALLOY

SILICA CERAMICS

TEMPERATURE RESISTANCE:

DENSIT Y:

2,300F

3.25G/CM3

OBJECT

HYBER ROCKET X4 T HRUS T: MAX: 650 KN X 4

WITH THRUST VECTOR CONTROL SYSTEM

168

UNMANNED REUSABLE LAUNCH VEHICLE 04

We are developing an unmanned reusable launch vehicle for future NOVA Orbits projects. The concept of this unmanned spaceflight is to maintain the space elevator and deliver parts for repairing purposes. The reusable design can significantly reduce the cost of the launch process. In future missions, the launch vehicle will automatically return to NOVAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Spaceport and be maintained and readied for its next launch. This benefits both the space tourists and NOVA.

169

NEXT GENERATION SPACE CARRIER A larger spacecraft is also on NOVAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s development schedule. This spacecraft with be 20 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 40 percent larger than the existing NOVA Star. The aim of this new design is to increase its payload capability by 50 percent, because this next generation spacecraft will be used to transport heavier loads for future space exploration. With this new spacecraft, we will be able to build much larger facilities in space, and will significantly reduce the duration of the construction process.

170

171

NEVER STOP DREAM 172

NEVER STOP DREAMING ABOUT WHAT YOU BELIEVE IN. WE KEEP PUSHING OUR GOALS TO THE FURTHER FUTURE. NEW ORBITS, VAST ADVENTURE: IT IS OUR SPIRIT. WE ARE NOVA.

MING

173

CHAPTER 02 – THE DREAM CHASER

174