In order to get the samples inside Dragon, they would either need to bring a docking adapter or depressurize the cabin a la Polaris Dawn. Both options seem like a bit much, like using a limousine to transport packages. That being said, I’m not sure Dream Chaser has any unpressurized return capabilities either.
I’ve just remembered of another existing spaceplane. The X-37B has a 2.1 × 1.2 m payload bay, and a capacity of 227 kg. Would the military let NASA borrow one?
Good point, actually the X-37B would make a lot of sense: it’s uncrewed, can obviously be up for a long period of time (years), and can go to pretty high orbits as well on a Falcon Heavy, plus it has an arm right? So it’d just be a question of getting the USSF on board
It looks like NASA has flown payloads onboard the X-37B before, so I think it is well within possibility that they could get some room on board for Mars samples during a return. They might not even need to “book” a whole flight as long as the mission has room/capacity for the samples aboard, and the sample container could probably hang out in a medium orbit for a while after getting back to Earth, awaiting an X-37B mission to come up at its own leisure since the orbiter could do all of the rendezvous maneuvering on its own
In order to get the samples inside Dragon, they would either need to bring a docking adapter or depressurize the cabin a la Polaris Dawn. Both options seem like a bit much, like using a limousine to transport packages. That being said, I’m not sure Dream Chaser has any unpressurized return capabilities either.
I’ve just remembered of another existing spaceplane. The X-37B has a 2.1 × 1.2 m payload bay, and a capacity of 227 kg. Would the military let NASA borrow one?
Good point, actually the X-37B would make a lot of sense: it’s uncrewed, can obviously be up for a long period of time (years), and can go to pretty high orbits as well on a Falcon Heavy, plus it has an arm right? So it’d just be a question of getting the USSF on board
Does it? I haven’t seen many detailed photos of it. I wouldn’t be surprised if it did though.
I did some research and couldn’t find any evidence that it does. That could be a capability that the Space Force doesn’t want to be public though
It looks like NASA has flown payloads onboard the X-37B before, so I think it is well within possibility that they could get some room on board for Mars samples during a return. They might not even need to “book” a whole flight as long as the mission has room/capacity for the samples aboard, and the sample container could probably hang out in a medium orbit for a while after getting back to Earth, awaiting an X-37B mission to come up at its own leisure since the orbiter could do all of the rendezvous maneuvering on its own