Constellation program facts for kids
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| Country | United States |
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| Organization | NASA |
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| Status | Cancelled |
| Program history | |
| Cost | $230 billion (2004) |
| Duration | 2004–2010 |
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| Last flight |
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| Successes | 2 |
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| Vehicle information | |
| Crewed vehicle(s) |
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| Launch vehicle(s) | |
The Constellation program (also called CxP) was a plan by NASA, the space agency of the United States. It ran from 2005 to 2009. The main goals were to finish building the International Space Station (ISS). It also aimed to send people back to the Moon by 2020. The biggest goal was to eventually send astronauts to Mars.
The program's symbol showed its three steps: Earth (for the ISS), the Moon, and then Mars. The rockets were named Ares, after the Greek god of war, who is like the Roman god Mars. Constellation also wanted to help astronauts get more experience beyond Earth's orbit. It aimed to create new technologies for humans to live on other planets.
The Constellation program started because of a plan called the Vision for Space Exploration. This plan was supported by NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe and President George W. Bush. Later, NASA reviewed the plan, which changed how they would reach these goals. This new plan was made official by a law in 2005. It told NASA to create a way for humans to stay on the Moon. This would be a step towards exploring Mars and other places.
In 2009, a committee found that the Constellation Program needed a lot more money. So, in 2010, President Barack Obama suggested ending the program. This happened when the U.S. budget for 2011 was passed. Later, in October 2010, a new law officially stopped the program. In 2011, NASA started working on a new rocket system called the Space Launch System.
What Were the Designs?
One main goal of Constellation was to create new spacecraft and rockets. These would replace the Space Shuttle. NASA had already started designing two rockets, the Ares I and Ares V.
The Ares I rocket was made to launch crews into orbit. The Ares V rocket was for launching heavier equipment. NASA also designed other spacecraft for Constellation. These included the Orion crew capsule, the Earth Departure Stage (a booster), and the Altair lunar lander.
Space Vehicles
What Was the Orion Spacecraft?
The Orion spacecraft was designed for the Constellation program. It was meant to carry crews in low Earth orbit. Lockheed Martin was chosen to build Orion in 2006. Boeing built its heat shield. NASA first planned different Orion capsules for different missions.
The Orion Block I was for missions to the International Space Station. It was also for other Earth orbit missions. The Block II and III versions were for deep-space travel.
Orion has three main parts. The crew module (CM) is like the Apollo command module. It can hold four to six astronauts. The service module (SM) holds the engines and supplies. The Launch Abort System (LAS) helps astronauts escape if there's a problem during launch. The Orion Crew Module was designed to be used up to ten times. This would let NASA build a fleet of them.
Even though the Constellation program was canceled, Orion is still being developed. It had a test launch in 2014. Orion flew on Artemis 1 in 2022. It is planned to fly on Artemis 2 in 2024 and Artemis 3 in 2025. More missions are planned after that.
What Was the Altair Lander?
Altair was designed to carry astronauts on Moon missions. It was much bigger than the Apollo Lunar Module. Altair was nearly five times larger. It would stand about 32 feet (9.8 meters) tall. Its landing gear would span 49 feet (15 meters) wide.
Like the Apollo lander, Altair had two parts. The ascent stage held the four-person crew. The descent stage had the landing gear and supplies. Unlike the Apollo lander, Altair was designed to land near the Moon's poles. NASA wanted to build future Moon bases there. Altair was not meant to be reused. The ascent stage would be left behind after use.
The Altair descent stage would use four RL-10 rocket engines. These engines could throttle down to 10% power. This would allow Altair to be used for both lunar orbit and landing. The ascent stage would have one engine. It would use the descent stage as a launchpad.
Rocket Power
NASA planned to use two different rockets for Constellation missions. The Ares I was for crew, and the Ares V was for cargo. This allowed each rocket to be built for its specific job. It also allowed the Ares V to lift much heavier loads. The Constellation Program combined two methods of space travel. It used the Lunar Orbit Rendezvous method from the Apollo program. It also used the Earth Orbit Rendezvous method.
The name Ares was chosen for the rockets. It refers to the project's goal of landing on Mars. The numbers I and V honored the Saturn rockets of the 1960s.
What Was the Ares I Rocket?
The Orion spacecraft would have launched into low Earth orbit on the Ares I rocket. This rocket was also called the "Stick." It was built by Alliant Techsystems, Rocketdyne, and Boeing. The Ares I had a single Solid Rocket Booster (SRB). This was similar to the boosters used on the Space Shuttle. It also had a second stage with a liquid-fueled J-2X rocket engine. NASA chose the Ares designs because they were expected to be safe, reliable, and cost-effective.
NASA started building the Ares I rocket. They tested one stage at a time, like with the original Saturn I. The program launched its first test flight, Ares I-X, on October 28, 2009. They also tested the Orion launch abort system before the program was canceled.
What Was the Ares V Rocket?
The Ares V could lift about 188 metric tons (414,000 pounds) to low Earth orbit (LEO). This was much more than the Space Shuttle (24.4 metric tons) or the Saturn V (118 metric tons). The Ares V would have carried about 71 metric tons (156,000 pounds) to the Moon. The Saturn V carried 45 metric tons (99,000 pounds) to the Moon.
The Ares V design included six RS-68 engines. It also had two large 5.5-segment SRBs. The RS-68 engines were more powerful and simpler than other options. This made them less expensive. The Ares V would fly for about eight minutes. Then, the Earth Departure Stage would place itself and the Altair spacecraft into low Earth orbit. It would wait there for the Orion spacecraft to arrive.
What Was the Earth Departure Stage?
The Earth Departure Stage (EDS) was a propulsion system. It was designed to send the Altair spacecraft towards the Moon from low Earth orbit. It was the second liquid-fueled stage of the Ares V rocket. The Orion spacecraft would launch separately on Ares I. Then, it would meet and connect with the Ares V-launched EDS/Altair combination. This process is called Earth orbit rendezvous. It would prepare the spacecraft for its journey to the Moon.
How Did Constellation Compare to Apollo and Space Shuttle?
NASA planned to use the first Constellation vehicles for tasks in Earth orbit. These tasks were previously done by the Space Shuttle. But unlike other programs meant to replace the Shuttle, Constellation used ideas from the Apollo and Space Shuttle programs.
The shape of the Orion command module looks a lot like the Apollo command and service module. However, Orion used newer technology in other areas. The design of the Ares I rocket, which would launch Orion, used many ideas from the Apollo program.
The J-2X engine for the Ares V rocket was similar to the J-2 engine from the Apollo era. NASA engineers studied old Apollo documents and talked to engineers who worked on Apollo. They said, "The mechanics of landing on the Moon and getting off the Moon to a large extent have been solved." This was the legacy Apollo gave them. However, the J-2X design had to be completely new due to new safety rules.
Like Apollo, Constellation would have used a lunar orbit rendezvous mission. This means the spacecraft would meet in orbit around the Moon. But unlike Apollo, Constellation would also use Earth orbit rendezvous. This means the crew would meet their vehicle in Earth orbit. The lander, called Altair, would launch separately on the Ares V rocket. Orion would launch separately and connect with Altair in low Earth orbit. Also, unlike Apollo, Orion would stay in lunar orbit without a crew. All four crew members would land on the Moon. At the end of the mission, Altair would launch from the Moon to meet Orion in lunar orbit. Then, like Apollo, the Orion capsule would return to Earth and land in the water.
What Missions Were Planned?
Like the Apollo Program, Constellation missions would use the Orion spacecraft. It would fly missions in low Earth orbit to visit the International Space Station. With the Altair and Earth Departure Stage vehicles, it would also fly crewed missions to the Moon's polar regions. There were no clear plans for a crewed flight to Mars when the program was canceled. However, a mission to a Near-Earth asteroid was being planned in 2008.
Flights to the International Space Station
After being built, parts of the Ares I/Orion stack would be tested. They would then be put together at the Vehicle Assembly Building at the Kennedy Space Center. Once ready, a large vehicle called the crawler-transporter would move the rocket to LC-39B.
After final checks, the ground crew would fuel the rocket. The crew, wearing spacesuits, would enter the spacecraft three hours before launch. Once everything was clear, the Ares I would launch.
After two days, the Orion spacecraft would meet the International Space Station. Orion would then dock with the ISS. The crew (up to six people) would enter the station. They would perform tasks for six months, or sometimes four to eight months. When finished, the crew would re-enter Orion, seal it, and undock from the station.
Once Orion was far enough from the ISS, the Command Module would re-enter Earth's atmosphere. It would use its heat shield to slow down from 17,500 mph (28,000 km/h) to 300 mph (480 km/h). After re-entry, parachutes and airbags would deploy. The spacecraft would then splash down in the ocean. The Command Module would be returned to Kennedy Space Center. Unlike the Apollo CM, which was used once, an Orion CM could be used up to ten times.
Lunar Missions
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In the Apollo missions, the Apollo command and service module and the Apollo Lunar Module launched together. They used the Saturn V rocket. But for Constellation, the crewed Orion spacecraft would launch separately. The uncrewed EDS and lunar lander would launch on their own. The Ares V/Altair stack would go to LC-39A. The Ares I/Orion stack would go to Pad 39B. The Ares V/EDS/Altair stack would launch first into Earth orbit. About 90 minutes later, the Ares I/Orion would launch with the crew.
Orion would then meet and dock with the Altair/EDS in low-Earth orbit. After preparing for lunar flight, the EDS would fire its engines for 390 seconds. This would send the spacecraft towards the Moon at 40,200 km/h (25,000 mph). After this burn, the EDS would be released.
During the three-day trip to the Moon, the four-person crew would check Orion's systems. They would also inspect their Altair spacecraft. They would adjust their path to land at a site near the Moon's pole. This site would be good for a future lunar base. As they neared the Moon, the Orion/Altair would turn around. Altair's engines would fire to enter lunar orbit.
Once in lunar orbit, the crew would prepare Orion for uncrewed flight. All four crew members would move into the Altair vehicle. They would then land on the Moon, while Orion waited for them. After getting approval, Altair would undock from Orion. It would then perform a check, allowing ground controllers to see it on TV. After approval, the two craft would separate. Altair's engines would fire again for a powered descent to a chosen landing spot.
After landing, the crew would put on their extravehicular activity (EVA) spacesuits. They would then start their Moonwalks, collecting samples and setting up experiments. After their work, the crew would enter Altair. They would fire the ascent stage engine to lift off from the surface. They would use the descent stage as a launchpad, leaving it behind. Once in orbit, Altair would meet and dock with the waiting Orion spacecraft. The crew would then transfer back to Orion, bringing their Moon samples. After releasing Altair, the crew would fire their engines to return to Earth.
After a two-and-a-half-day trip, the crew would release the Service Module. It would burn up in the atmosphere. The Command Module would re-enter Earth's atmosphere. It would slow down from 40,200 km/h (25,000 mph) to 480 km/h (300 mph). It would then splash down in the Pacific Ocean. The Crew Module would be flown back to Kennedy Space Center for cleaning and reuse. Lunar samples would go to the Johnson Space Center for study.
Orion Asteroid Mission
The Orion Asteroid Mission was a plan for NASA to visit a near-Earth asteroid. It would use the standard Orion spacecraft. It would also use a landing module based on a changed Altair lunar lander. This mission could check for water, iron, nickel, and other resources on the asteroid. It could also test ways to get these resources. It might also help develop ways to protect Earth from asteroid impacts. This would be the first crewed mission to any body other than the Moon. It would be a step towards a human mission to Mars.
The mission would start like the lunar landing mission. An Ares V would launch the landing module into Low Earth orbit. Then, an Ares I rocket would launch an Orion spacecraft with a two- or three-person crew. Once Orion docked with the landing module and the Earth Departure Stage (EDS), the EDS would fire. It would send the Orion spacecraft to a nearby asteroid. The crew would then land and explore its surface.
Once their work was done, the Orion spacecraft would leave the asteroid. Near Earth, it would release the service module and landing module. This was similar to Apollo 13. Then, it would enter the atmosphere for a Pacific Ocean splashdown.
Orion Mars Mission
The biggest goal of NASA's Constellation program was to land humans on Mars. This was planned for the 2030s. It was like a follow-up to the Apollo Applications Program from the 1960s. The mission would use Constellation hardware. This included the Orion spacecraft and the Ares V cargo rocket.
A study called Design Reference Architecture 5.0 was finished in 2009. It used Constellation rockets for a Mars mission. In this plan, multiple Ares V rockets would launch. An Ares I would launch the crew. In the first Mars launch window, two cargo payloads would launch into Earth orbit. Each would have a nuclear thermal rocket stage to boost them to Mars. One cargo payload would include a Mars Ascent Vehicle (MAV). It would also have equipment to make fuel for the MAV on Mars. The second cargo payload would be a habitat for astronauts to live in. In the next launch window, 26 months later, the crew would go to Mars. They would use an interplanetary vehicle with nuclear thermal rockets. Once at Mars, the crew would meet the habitat in orbit. They would land on Mars and explore for 500 days. The crew would use the MAV to return to their vehicle in Mars orbit. This vehicle would then return to Earth. The mission would end with the Orion capsule re-entering and landing.
Why Return to the Moon?
NASA listed several reasons for humans to return to the Moon:
- To expand human settlement.
- To do more scientific research on the Moon.
- To test new technologies and ways of flying for future space exploration.
- To provide a challenging and peaceful activity that brings nations together.
- To grow the economy while doing research that helps Earth.
- To inspire the public and students. This would help create a skilled workforce for the future.
Former NASA Administrator, Michael D. Griffin, said, "The goal isn't just scientific exploration.... It's also about extending the range of human habitat out from Earth into the Solar System.... In the long run a single-planet species will not survive.... If we humans want to survive for hundreds of thousands or millions of years, we must ultimately populate other planets ... colonize the Solar System and one day go beyond."
A report in 2014 by the US National Academy of Sciences asked NASA for clear long-term space goals. The report said that Mars should be the next big goal for human spaceflight. It noted that returning to the Moon would be a good step towards Mars.
The National Space Society (NSS) believes returning to the Moon is very important. They want to learn more about the Moon. They especially want to see if new industries can be created there. This could help fund more space exploration.
Budget and Cancellation
Bush Administration Plans
On January 14, 2004, President George W. Bush asked NASA to plan for continued crewed space exploration. This was after the International Space Station was finished and the Space Shuttle program ended in 2010. This plan was to "establish an extended human presence on the Moon." It would also "vastly reduce the costs of further space exploration." This included "harvesting and processing of lunar soil into rocket fuel or breathable air." Bush said that this experience could help "develop and test new approaches and technologies" for long-term exploration.
NASA thought the original plan would cost $230 billion (in 2004 dollars) by 2025. This included the Commercial Crew and Cargo program. However, technical problems made it hard for NASA to give a final cost estimate.
Obama Administration Decisions
When he became president, President Obama said Constellation was "over budget, behind schedule, and lacking in innovation." A review found that Constellation would cost about $150 billion to reach its goals on time. Another review in 2009 showed that neither returning to the Moon nor flying to Mars was possible with NASA's budget. The Augustine panel suggested different options. These included two main destinations (the Moon and deep space). They also suggested different types of Super Heavy Launch vehicles.
After reviewing the report, the Obama administration decided not to fund Constellation in the 2011 United States federal budget. On February 1, 2010, the President's budget was released. It had no money for the project. It became law on April 15, 2011.
President Obama held a Space Conference on April 15, 2010. This was when his administration was criticized for cutting Constellation. At the conference, President Obama and space leaders discussed the future of U.S. human spaceflight. They revealed a plan for NASA. This plan followed the Augustine Panel's "Flexible Path to Mars" option. It changed President Obama's earlier idea to include continuing to develop the Orion capsule. It also set 2015 as the deadline for a new Super Heavy Launch Vehicle design. In October 2010, a law was signed that canceled Constellation. However, old laws kept Constellation contracts active until a new funding bill for 2011 passed.
Commercial Spacecraft and the Artemis Program
NASA continues to develop the Orion spacecraft for deep space travel. To save money, NASA has hired private companies to build vehicles for use in low Earth orbit. Since May 2020, the Commercial Crew Development program has used the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft. It carries people to and from the International Space Station. Boeing's Starliner spacecraft also started operating in 2024 for the same purpose. Private spacecraft also carry cargo to the ISS under the Commercial Resupply Services program.
The Orion spacecraft and Ares V were changed and approved again in 2010/2011. They became the main parts of the Space Launch System. The program was partly brought back as the Artemis program in 2017.
See also
- Artemis program, a similar program by NASA
- Space Launch System
- List of Constellation missions
- Exploration Systems Architecture Study
- NASA's Vision for Space Exploration
- SpaceX Dragon, a space capsule built by SpaceX
