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Orion flying unmanned in lunar orbit

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Author	Topic: Orion flying unmanned in lunar orbit
NASAROB Member Posts: 38 From: Astoria NY Registered: Feb 2009	posted 05-17-2009 09:52 AM My understanding is that when we hopefully go back to the moon, the Orion capsule will remain unmanned in lunar orbit while the entire crew lands on the Moon. Isn't this extremely risky? What happens when Altair returns to lunar orbit for docking and there is a problem with Orion. Is that the day we see 10 to 15 year old memos about how NASA officials were warned about this problem?
capoetc Member Posts: 2337 From: McKinney TX (USA) Registered: Aug 2005	posted 05-17-2009 10:19 AM Probably nothing to be concerned about. Who knows what will come out of the Administration's review of NASA. The entire Constellation program could be changed.
Delta7 Member Posts: 1733 From: Bluffton IN USA Registered: Oct 2007	posted 05-17-2009 11:56 AM My guess is that due to improved technology since Apollo, there will be enough reliability and redundancy built in to the design to make the risk minimal. I presume it will also likely be easier to launch a rescue mission, with Altair having the ability to spend some time in lunar orbit with a crew on board in such an event. But again, I'm just guessing. I'm sure NASA has considered the problem.
Lou Chinal Member Posts: 1387 From: Staten Island, NY Registered: Jun 2007	posted 05-22-2009 05:46 AM The technolgy has improved since Apollo. I would have no problem puting Orion in a power down (sleep mode) for 30 days. Still having a rescue mission standing by isn't a bad idea. Mike Collins wrote that he was "horrified" at the prospect of flying home alone during Apollo 11.
NASAROB Member Posts: 38 From: Astoria NY Registered: Feb 2009	posted 05-23-2009 03:37 PM But isn't the problem of a rescue mission that the ascent stage would have to carry enough oxygen for a crew of four to survive until a rescue craft got there. Does Orion have enough power to get out of earth-orbit solo or does it need a booster stage? In that case you would have to launch Ares V with the booster. Also you need extra fuel to land and liftoff from the moon. How long would it take to get the rescue craft there? A week, maybe 10 days?
MichaelD Member Posts: 90 From: Troy Michigan USA Registered: May 2009	posted 06-12-2009 10:58 PM If I was one of those four, I bet there would be a bit of precision maneuvering and EVA myself to that Orion hatch to motivate Orion into letting me in and taking me home. Even the Apollo hatch could be opened from the outside in an emergency.

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