{{Short description|Proposed space tug spacecraft}} {{about|the proposed space tug|rockets and other uses|Jupiter (disambiguation)}} {{Use American English|date=February 2021}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
'''''Jupiter''''' is a proposed space tug spacecraft concept by Lockheed Martin, which was initially conceptualized as a 2015 bid proposal to NASA for an International Space Station (ISS) cargo resupply services contract. The proposal was not accepted by NASA, and future Lockheed plans for the concept are unknown.
The conceptual spacecraft is designed to operate in orbit indefinitely, and be refueled from cargo pods delivered to the craft. Other proposed uses for the technology include on-orbit space tug services, according to company officials in a March 2015 presentation made in Washington, D.C.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Clark|first1=Stephen|title=Lockheed Martin throws its hat into ISS cargo competition |url=http://spaceflightnow.com/2015/03/17/lockheed-martin-throws-its-hat-into-iss-cargo-competition/|publisher=Spaceflight Now|date=17 March 2015|access-date=17 March 2015}}</ref>
== History == In 2014, Lockheed Martin proposed a cargo transport system called ''Jupiter'' to NASA under Phase 2 of a program to procure commercial cargo delivery services to the International Space Station after 2017.<ref name=aw20150312/> Lockheed publicly announced the program in March 2015, and released an overview of the spacecraft and space cargo services they envision.<ref name=sn20150313/> By October 2015, NASA had eliminated the ''Jupiter'' proposal from the shortlist of the remaining competitors.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/lockheed-martin-eliminated-from-nasas-cargo-competition-1443725840 |title=Lockheed Martin Eliminated from NASA's Cargo Competition |newspaper=Wall Street Journal |date= October 2015|access-date=16 October 2015|last1= Pasztor|first1= Andy}}</ref>
== Description == The ''Jupiter'' space tug is intended to launch to space — conjoined with an ''Exoliner'' cargo container — on an Atlas V launch vehicle, and deliver the cargo container to the ISS. Once the cargo is unloaded, the Exoliner would be filled up with trash and other disposables, as is normal with the Orbital Sciences Cygnus, the European Space Agency (ESA) Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV), and the JAXA H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV). However, in contrast to the typical cargo resupply spacecraft built prior to 2015, the Jupiter tug is proposed to remain in orbit following the completion of the initial delivery, where it would be available to meet up with a subsequent Atlas V/Exoliner and repeat the process. As proposed, in that meet up, the Jupiter would exchange an Exoliner filled with trash for the follow-on Exoliner carrying fresh cargo, and the Atlas V second stage would deorbit the trash-filled container while Jupiter would shuttle the new container to the space station.<ref name=wp20150313>{{cite news|last1=Davenport|first1=Christian|title=This is Lockheed Martin's new way to get supplies to the space station — and beyond |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-switch/wp/2015/03/13/lockheed-martin-unveils-a-new-space-craft-to-go-to-the-international-space-station-and-beyond/|access-date=25 March 2015|newspaper=Washington Post|date=2015-03-13}}</ref>
Jupiter is to be derived in part from designs of two earlier Lockheed Martin spacecraft: * Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution Mission (MAVEN), and the * Juno spacecraft.
''Jupiter'' is to include a robotic arm — which Lockheed intends to procure from MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates (MDA) — based on MDA's earlier development of Canadarm, the robotic arm technology previously used on the Space Shuttle.<ref name=sn20150313/> In addition to the ''Jupiter'' space tug itself, the Lockheed concept includes the use of a new {{cvt|4.4|m}}-diameter cargo transport module called ''Exoliner'' for carrying cargo to the ISS. ''Exoliner'' is based on the earlier ESA-developed Automated Transfer Vehicle, and is to be jointly developed with Thales Alenia Space.<ref name=aw20150312>[http://aviationweek.com/space/jupiter-space-tug-could-deliver-cargo-moon "Jupiter" Space Tug Could Deliver Cargo To The Moon], 12 March 2015, retrieved 13 March 2015</ref><ref name=sn20150313>{{cite news|url=http://spacenews.com/lockheed-martin-pitches-reusable-tug-for-space-station-resupply/|title=Lockheed Martin Pitches Reusable Tug for Space Station Resupply|date=13 March 2015|author=Jeff Foust|publisher=SpaceNews|access-date=2015-03-21}}</ref><ref name=dbj20150312>{{cite news|last1=Avery|first1=Greg|title=Lockheed Martin proposes building ISS cargo ship for NASA|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/blog/boosters_bits/2015/03/lockheed-martin-proposes-building-iss-cargo-ship.html?page=all|access-date=13 March 2015|newspaper=Denver Business Journal |date=2015-03-12}}</ref>
== Commercial Resupply Services == On 12 March 2015, Lockheed Martin announced the spacecraft and its proposal for Commercial Resupply Services Phase 2, which utilized the vehicle. The proposal competes with Boeing's CST-100 capsule, Orbital ATK's Cygnus, and SpaceX's Dragon capsule proposals for the same contract. Similar to Orbital ATK's Cygnus, the system is not capable of bringing payload safely back to Earth. Lockheed's proposal, as of March 2015, is the only proposal for more than one spacecraft.
Lockheed Martin's proposal to the U.S. government <!-- they have spoken of other, non-governmental uses as well --> uses the ''Jupiter'' in conjunction with the Exoliner cargo capsule. The first launch will include the ''Jupiter'' spacecraft launching along with a filled Exoliner cargo capsule. Once in orbit, ''Jupiter'' would be designed to perform maneuvers to approach the International Space Station.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Davenport|first1=Christian|title=This is Lockheed Martin's new way to get supplies to the space station — and beyond |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-switch/wp/2015/03/13/lockheed-martin-unveils-a-new-space-craft-to-go-to-the-international-space-station-and-beyond/|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=17 March 2015|date=13 March 2015}}</ref> The ''Jupiter'' and Exoliner then will deliver cargo to, and carry trash from, the on-orbit facility.<!-- they are aiming for more than merely the U.S. gvmt/ISS run --> The combined unit will disconnect from the station and move away.<ref>{{cite web|title=Lockheed Martin unveils Jupiter and Exoliner spaceships|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/science/space/lockheed-martin-unveils-jupiter-exoliner-spaceships-n323256|publisher=NBC News|date=13 March 2015|accessdate=19 March 2015}}</ref>
After these events, a new launch of the Exoliner cargo capsule is projected to occur. All launches after the first flight will deliver only Exoliner cargo capsules, assuming that the ''Jupiter'' spacecraft is in good health. The new craft would include fuel for ''Jupiter'' as well as cargo to be delivered to the space station. The arriving Exoliner will remain attached to the upper stage through a mounting ring. ''Jupiter'' and the departing Exoliner, now filled with trash, will approach the nearly spent rocket stage.<ref>{{cite web|title=CRS-2 Solution|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkJOUoJK8kA |website=youtube.com|date=12 March 2015|access-date=17 March 2015|quote=Official video from Lockheed Martin's channel}}</ref> The departing container will undock from the ''Jupiter'' spacecraft and will briefly be unattached to either the upper stage or the spacecraft. Immediately following the undocking, the arriving Exoliner docked to the upper stage will be removed by the ''Jupiter'''s robotic arm, and refastened onto the ''Jupiter''. Finally, the departing container will be moved to the docking system on the upper stage of the rocket. After the ''Jupiter'' and Exoliner move away, the rocket stage will guide the used cargo pod down for a destructive reentry.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Wall|first1=Mike|title=Lockheed's "Jupiter" Space Tug Could Fly to Space Station, Moon and Beyond|url=http://www.space.com/28817-jupiter-system-space-station-cargo-exploration.html|publisher=SPACE.com|date=12 March 2015|access-date=19 March 2015}}</ref>
Fuel within the new cargo unit will transfer to the ''Jupiter'' spacecraft by unannounced means to keep the tug fueled. The refueled spacecraft will then tug the new cargo unit to the space station. ''Jupiter'' is planned to last indefinitely in orbit.
Lockheed Martin's goal is to launch a single ''Jupiter'', which will be reused for each on-orbit delivery, and the ostensibly less expensive cargo units would be expended through atmospheric reentry.<ref>{{cite news|title=Lockheed Martin Unveils Jupiter and Exoliner Space Transports|date=March 13, 2015|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/science/space/lockheed-martin-unveils-jupiter-exoliner-spaceships-n323256|publisher=NBC News|access-date=March 19, 2023}}</ref> ''Jupiter'' is projected to maintain fuel over its lifespan due to the fuel transfer during each Jupiter-Exoliner rendezvous.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Szondy|first1=David|title=Lockheed Martin previews next generation space cargo ships|url=http://www.gizmag.com/lockheed-jupiter-exoliner-nasa-crs-2/36529/|publisher=Gizmag|date=14 March 2015|access-date=19 March 2015}}</ref>
== References == {{Portal|Spaceflight}} {{Reflist|30em}}
== External links == * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkJOUoJK8kA Lockheed Martin ''Jupiter'' concept of operations video], March 2015.
{{Cargo spacecraft}}
Category:Lockheed Martin spacecraft Category:Proposed spacecraft Category:Space tugs