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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Process Recipes for Additively Printed Copper Ink Flexible Circuits using Direct Write Methods

In this paper, the process-recipes and process-performance relationships for additive-printing of copper circuits using direct-write methods have been studied. The process has been implemented on the direct write platform. Interest in the use of additive printing methods for the manufacture of micro-circuits has grown immensely in recent times. Direct write methods have been shown to have the ability to create circuits in a limited manner. However, the process recipes and the effect of process parameters on the manufactured properties are not well understood. Copper ink is a good and cost-effective alternative to silver ink but its use has lagged owing to an increased propensity for oxidation. In this paper, photonic curing has been used to sinter copper ink to make the traces conductive. The method flashes high energy light that sinter metal particles instantaneously and the temperature of the substrate remains low. The effect of the different photonic sintering profiles on the mechanical and electrical properties of the printed traces has been studied in this paper.The print process parameters also play an important role in the line width and height that has been studied to print with the desired line profile for the end application. An LC filter circuit is been printed with SMD components been attached using an electrically conductive adhesive (ECA). The manufactured flexible LC filter is been tested for its frequency sweep to compare with the commercially available LC filer with the help of the Bode plot.

Process control↗
NASA NTRS2019

IceCube: Spaceflight Demonstration of 883-GHz Cloud Radiometer for Future Science

Cloud ice play important roles in Earth’s climate and weather systems through their interactions with atmospheric radiation, dynamics, energy and precipitation processes. Submillimeter (submm) wave remote sensing at 200-1000 GHz is able to provide the sensitivity not covered by visible (VIS)/infrared (IR) and low-frequency microwave (MW) sensors (10-183 GHz), and measure cloud ice in the middle-to-upper troposphere. The IceCube 883-GHz cloud radiometer is the latest of NASA’s efforts to advance the technology readiness level (TRL) of submm-wave receiver technology for future compact, low-cost implementation of Earth observing systems. Emerging CubeSat opportunities allow a fast-track development and spaceflight demonstration of IceCube on a 3-U CubeSat. Funded by NASA’s In-Space Validation of Earth Science Technologies (InVEST) program and Science Mission Directorate (SMD), IceCube is the first CubeSat developed and flown by Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) in 2.5 years, using commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components and subsystems. It was successfully released from International Space Station (ISS) in May 2017, acquired 15-month science data and produced the first global map of the 883-GHz cloud ice. It achieved all mission objectives and provided a pathway for future cost-effective cloud observations from CubeSat constellation.

Submm-wave remote sensing↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Impact of NASA’s Entry Systems Modeling Project on Planetary Mission Design

Planetary missions continue to grow larger and more complex. Furthermore, the current focus on human exploration of the Moon and Mars, as well as Mars Sample Return(MSR), place increas-ingly stringent requirements on the reliability of the entry, descent, and landing (EDL) system that ensures the safe delivery of payload or crew to their destination. Planetary EDL is an area in which mission designers are critically reliant on modeling and simulation to demonstrate the reliability of the system, as there are no ground facilities that are able to fully test these systems in a flight-relevant environment. NASA’s state-of-the-art modeling and simulation capability must continually evolve to meet the needs of the next generation of planetary EDL. To accomplish this aim, NASA’s Entry Systems Modeling (ESM) Project was formed in 2013and is funded bythe Space Technology Mission Directorate(STMD) and Science Mission Directorate (SMD). ESM is the Agency’s only cross-cutting effort for advancing entry systems modeling and simulation capabilities across a range of technical disciplines and Solar System destinations. ESM is a portfolio project covering a variety of mid-TRL research efforts within four core EDL-related areas of investment: (1) Thermal protection material modeling, (2) Shock layer kinetics and radiation, (3) Aerosciences, and (4) Guidance, navigation, and con-trol. The material modeling group creates detailed material response modelsof thermal protection systems (TPS)from the micro to macro scale, and at the fun-damental and engineering levels. Shock layer kinetics and radiation focuses on radiative heating of space-craft, quantum chemistry and benchmark experiments for validation.Aerosciences is a broad research area that impacts many aspects of entry systems, including parachutes, aerodynamics, and turbulent heating augmentation due to TPS roughness.The guidance, navigation,and control effort under ESM is expanding the capabilities of NASA’s main flight mechanics tool, POST2, for use on high-performance computing architectures and to generalize interoperability with external applications for more detailed end-to-end simula-tion.In addition, several focusedresearch topics have been approvedto augment ESM’s core portfolio. These include efforts for deep post-flight analysis of Mars 2020/MEDLI2 flight data; development ofTPS failure models; improvement of hypersonic wakeflow models; and a recently concluded effort to provide material response models for NuSil-coated PICA heat-shield material. This presentation will discuss each of these investment areas and demonstrate via real mission examples how advances to the state-of-the-art enabled by ESM are directly impacting the missions of today and tomorrow, including InSight, Mars 2020, Mars Sample Return, Orion, and Dragonfly.

Entry Systems Modeling↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Robust and Mass Efficient Thermal Protection Systems for Future Venus Missions

Several international Venus missions, both orbiter, and in-situ probe are in the works after a prolonged absence. Future missions are expected to be long-duration lander missions and balloon missions to investigate the cloud layer. The entry mass for these in-situ missions will be significantly higher, and the aeroshell will be larger, than previous missions. Two cardinal requirements govern the selection and use of thermal protection systems (TPS), namely, robustness to assure mission safety during entry and mass efficiency so that the useful mass for science is maximized. One cannot trade mission safety for mass when it comes to TPS. The robustness of the TPS is a paramount requirement as it is a single point of system failure. At the same time, TPS mass is carried for the entire mission duration prior to entry, and any excess TPS mass is at the cost of science payload. Future missions will benefit enormously from TPS options with mass and performance benefits far beyond advanced carbon-carbon (ACC) that is currently proposed for the DAVINCI mission. NASA STMD, and SMD jointly invested in the development of 3-D woven thermal protection systems in the last decade, and as a result, the Heat-shield for Extreme Entry Environment Technology (HEEET) TPS has been matured to TRL 6. It is ready for future mission use including Venus. The HEEET project focused on developing a broad technology base, applicable for missions not only to Venus, but also to Saturn, the Ice Giants, and higher speed sample return missions such as Mars Sample Return requiring extreme robustness due to bio-hazards. The dual-layer HEEET (DL-HEEET) is proven to be extremely robust. DL-HEEET performed well in arc jet and laser testing conditions where heritage carbon-phenolic failed. HEEET also proved to be more mass efficient compared to Carbon-Phenolic. Recently, the principal author was invited to present his perspectives to the 2023-2032 Planetary Sciences Decadal Venus subcommittee on the current state of TPS for future Venus missions [1]. In addition to pointing out successful TPS and other developments in the last decade in support of entry systems, the principal author made two findings: 1) importance of and need to sustain TPS capabilities that took nearly a decade to develop and 2) the opportunity to further optimize TPS mass without sacrificing robustness to further enable future in-situ missions. This talk will focus on the above two recommendations and provide the rationale for them. The intent of the talk is to seek advocacy from the VEXAG community for the criticality of TPS sustainment and the benefits of 3D woven TPS optimization. TPS Capability Sustainment: HEEET development was necessitated by the atrophy of heritage carbon-phenolic. Atrophy has impacted other TPS materials as well. Avcoat, the TPS that successfully allowed astronauts to explore the Moon in the 1960s and 70s, took nearly a decade and $10’sM to recover in support of Orion/Artemis. One of the most used TPS materials, SLA 561V, had to be recovered prior to its use on Mars Pathfinder. Phenolic Impregnated Carbon Ablator (PICA), the TPS that replaced SLA 561V on MSL, has undergone multiple replacements and recovery due to constituent rayon changes. Recently, NASA invested in a domestic rayon replacement program and also invested in FMI to consolidate PICA capability for NASA missions, as a result of FMI’s decision to discontinue commercial FiberForm, which is needed for PICA. TPS used for planetary missions are unique and have no other commercial or defense use. In addition, low mission cadence is also a driver for TPS atrophy. Hence, NASA, as the steward, must take steps to ensure and sustain TPS capabilities. In this talk, we outline steps NASA can take to keep abreast of emerging risks and target risk mitigation steps to ensure TPS capability sustainment for Venus and other extreme environment missions. Next Generation of Mass efficient and Robust TPS: NASA invested in an alternate TPS to PICA based on felt-technology called Conformal-PICA which has the potential to save 30% - 50% mass over PICA. The development was discontinued at a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of ~ 5. 3D Mid-Density Carbon Phenolic (3MDCP) is a single layer variant of HEEET, based on the insulating layer only (SL-HEEET) and currently baselined for the Mars Sample Return Mission Earth Entry System due to its mass efficiency (30% more mass efficient than DL- HEEET). Currently, SL-HEEET is limited to aeroshell diameters of < 1.3m. The SL-HEEET was compared to DL-HEEET in the recent ADVENT flag-ship class mission study in support of the Planetary Science Decadal. SL HEEET was the recommended TPS based on 30% mass savings for both the balloon and lander missions. Given C-PICA and SL-HEEET have superior reliability and mass efficiency, advocacy from VEXAG is sought for completing their further development to TRL 5/6 in this decade so as to enable TPS readiness for future missions.

Thermal Protection Systems↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Advanced Electric Propulsion System (AEPS) Enabling a Sustainable Return to the Lunar Surface through NASA Gateway

NASA continues to evolve a human exploration approach for beyond low-Earth orbit. The center of this approach is NASA’s Gateway that is envisioned to provide a maneuverable outpost in lunar orbit to extend human presence in deep space and expand on NASA exploration goals. The Gateway represents the initial step in NASA’s architecture for human cislunar operations, lunar surface access and missions to Mars. NASA announced at the May 2020 NASA Advisory Council’s Human Explorations and Operations Committee a new plan that calls for launching the first two elements of Gateway as a co-manifested mission in the late 2023 timeframe [2]. Launching the Power and Propulsion Element (PPE) and the Habitation and Logistics Outpost (HALO) together reduces mission risk, utilizes the PPE high-powered Electric Propulsion (EP) system to transport both elements to the lunar orbit, and reduces overall cost. NASA and Maxar Technologies have a commercial partnership to develop and demonstration a high-powered Solar Electric Propulsion (SEP) spacecraft [3, 4]. The PPE is baselined to include three 12.5-kW Advanced Electric Propulsion Systems (AEPS) and four 6-kW Hall thrusters, currently under development by Maxar, for a total beginning of life propulsion power of over 48-kW [5]. High-power solar electric propulsion is one of the key technologies that has been prioritized because of its significant exploration benefits, specifically, for missions beyond low Earth orbit. Spacecraft size and mass are currently dominated by onboard chemical propulsion systems and propellants that may constitute more than 50 percent of spacecraft mass. This impact can be substantially reduced through the utilization of SEP, due to its higher specific impulse and lower propellant load required to meet the equivalent mission delta-V. Studies performed for NASA’s HEOMD and Science Mission Directorate (SMD) have demonstrated that 40-kW-class SEP provides the necessary capabilities that would enable near term and future architectures, and science missions [6]. Accordingly, NASA has been developing a 12 kW Hall thruster electric propulsion thruster that can serve as the building block for a 40-kW-class SEP capability. The AEPS development, led by the NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), began with the maturation of the high-power Hall thruster. The technology development work has transitioned to AR via a competitive procurement selection for the AEPS contract in May 2016. Management of the AEPS contract is being led by NASA GRC with funding from NASA’s Science Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) under the Technology Demonstration Missions (TDM) program. NASA continues to support the AEPS development leveraging in-house expertise, plasma modeling capability, and world-class test facilities.

AEPS↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

What's New in the PSI? (Physical Sciences Informatics)

The NASA Physical Sciences Informatics (PSI) database is NASA’s archival for physical sciences research in microgravity – on ISS and also other reduced gravity platforms. The database has been making data from microgravity physical science investigations publicly available since its launch late 2014. The database was an early investment in Open Science for NASA’s Biophysics and Physical Sciences (BPS) Division of the Science Mission Directorate (SMD), who conducts fundamental and applied physical sciences yielding research data in 6 disciplines: biophysics, combustion science, complex fluids, fluid physics, fundamental physics, and materials science. PSI started initially with data from 14 microgravity investigations. Receipt of data through the years and an annual NRA to fund ground investigations extending flight datasets has increased the total to 72 investigations available with 8 new datasets in the 2020 NRA (NNH20ZDA014N). These new datasets are open for public access at the PSI website at https://www.nasa.gov/PSI.

Physical Sciences Informatics PSI database↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Trend Analysis of AI/ML Tools and Services in NASA

Usage of Machine Learning (ML) algorithms within NASA’s Science Mission Directorates have been increasing over the years. This can be quantitatively observed in the upward trends of ML usage found by analyzing the publications and presentations (in affiliation with NASA) available through NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS) and PubMed Central(PMC). Identifying the problem types and class of ML algorithms used to tackle them across the divisions can present opportunities for collaborations, interdisciplinary projects and knowledge transfer for sustainable partnerships. In this presentation, we will present the trend analysis of ML algorithms used in different SMD divisions based on the publications and presentations publicly available. We identify these trends by leveraging ML algorithms which are able to search through the publication texts semantically; which are also highly scalable. We will also present an analysis on the available opensource tools and services in NASA leveraging AI/ML algorithms. This work will provide ample avenues for collaborative efforts across different disciplines based on the surfaced trends.

Slesa Adhikari↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Trend Analysis of AI/ML Tools and Services in NASA

Usage of Machine Learning (ML) algorithms within NASA’s Science Mission Directorates have been increasing over theyears. This can be quantitatively observed in the upward trends of ML usage found by analyzing the publications andpresentations (in affiliation with NASA) available through NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS) and PubMed Central(PMC). Identifying the problem types and class of ML algorithms used to tackle them across the divisions can presentopportunities for collaborations, interdisciplinary projects and knowledge transfer for sustainable partnerships. In thispresentation, we will present the trend analysis of ML algorithms used in different SMD divisions based on the publicationsand presentations publicly available. We identify these trends by leveraging ML algorithms which are able to search throughthe publication texts semantically; which are also highly scalable. We will also present an analysis on the available opensource tools and services in NASA leveraging AI/ML algorithms. This work will provide ample avenues for collaborativeefforts across different disciplines based on the surfaced trends.

Slesa Adhikari↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

VIPER: Mission Design & Development

The NASA Artemis Program plans to return humans to the Moon to stay. Extended human stays on the Moon will require substantial resources to sustain human presence over the long-term, requiring continuous supplies delivered from the Earth. However, if some of the resources were indigenously available, substantial logistical complexity and costs could be saved by “living off the land”, wherever possible. The LCROSS, LRO and other missions have confirmed the presence of resources such as volatiles in polar regions, so the next step is to understand the scientific nature and physical distribution of those candidate resources. Those local volatiles could be processed into propellants and human life-supporting needs, reducing risk of maintaining a permanent human presence on the Moon. The Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Resource (VIPER) is a surface mobility scientific platform, designed to spend ~100 days mapping and surveying four different Ice Stability Regions to understand the scientific nature and distribution of water and other volatiles. VIPER will also provide scientific mineralogical context of the lunar regolith, such as the presence of silicon and light metals in lunar regolith, providing a composite picture of resource availability and sustainment. This paper will discuss the latest development progress by the VIPER team, following our initial introduction to this mission at IAC2021. The VIPER team has passed both its NASA Preliminary Design Review (PDR) and Critical Design Reviews (CDR), and is now looking to performing significant testing of engineering units representing the design, prior to the team turning its attention to building the flight hardware. VIPER is managed within NASA’s Science Mission Directorate (SMD), utilizing the Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) delivery model with partner, Astrobotic, Inc.

Daniel Andrews↗
NASA NTRS2022

How do You Harvest Microgreens in Microgravity?

An article for the SMD tech highlights discussing the KSC IRTD Microgreens Root Zone/Shoot Zone Separator Planting Box project and corresponding parabolic flight testing. Harvesting and containment technologies for microgreens may allow astronauts to add these delicious, nutritious crops to their space diet.

Space Crop Production↗
NASA NTRS2022

The VIPER Mission, a Resource-Mapping Mission on Another Celestial Body

The Volatiles Investigation Polar Exploration Rover (VIPER) mission is a lunar polar volatiles prospecting mission developed through NASA’s Science Mission Directorate (SMD) Planetary Science Division with launch in late 2023. VIPER’s mission goals are to (1) characterize the distribution and physical state of lunar polar water and other volatiles in lunar cold traps and regolith and (2)provide the data necessary for NASA to evaluate potential return of In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) from lunar polar regions. VIPER will be optimized for lunar regions that receive prolonged periods of sunlight (short lunar nights). The mission duration will be more than 90 Earth days and result in a traverse distance of up to 20 km. The mission includes a rover-borne payload that can locate surface and near-subsurface volatiles, excavate, and analyze samples of the volatile-bearing regolith, and demonstrate the form, extractability, and usefulness of the materials.

The Volatiles Investigation Polar Exploration Rove↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

NASA's New Wildland Fire Earth Observation Science & Applications Programmatic Developments

In 2021, the U.S. National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA) initiated new programmatic elements within the Science Mission Directorate (SMD) and the Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate (ARMD) focused on supporting wildland fire science and applications improvements, employing the vast array of NASA scientific knowledge, airborne and space-borne Earth Observations (EO) capabilities, technology development (sensor systems, etc.), and large framework modeling efforts. Within the Science Mission Directorate, the NASA Earth Science Division (ESD) will focus on improving our understanding of wildland fire through EO tools and applying rigorous-tested modeling and results of that research into operational use. The ESD Wildfire strategy is to invest in new technology and to better integrate NASA’s satellite, airborne, and ground-based observations with wildfire models to provide the wildfire stakeholders with the information they need to make informed decisions about the pre-, active-, and post-fire conditions. The Applied Science Program has restarted the Wildland Fire Applications Program with a focus on engaging wildland fire management and the fire science community in transitioning EO science efforts into routine use by land management entities at the local, state, national and international level. The NASA Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate will focus on arenas where their aeronautics science and engineering outcomes can benefit the fire management community as well, specifically in the innovative development of Uncrewed Aircraft systems, congested mixed-use platform airspace management issues, new platform configurations supporting wildland fire missions, and other aeronautics-related science / engineering capabilities which may benefit the fire management community. In total, these developments represent a major thrust forward, supporting the goals of utilizing NASA science to benefit humankind. This presentation will highlight the various wildland fire science focus areas identified through collaborations with the wildland fire science and management community and highlight the plans of this new NASA focus area.

NASA↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

NASA Plans for In Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) Development, Demonstration, and Implementation

The United States (US) National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Artemis Moon to Mars program has four major goals: (1) Returning Americans to the Moon: 1st Woman & 1st Person of Color, (2) Learning to live and work on the Moon, (3) Translating lessons learned so that the United States has capabilities and operational experience for a mission to Mars, and (4) Inspires the next generation of explorers, researchers, scientists, and engineers worldwide. Overarching all of this, the NASA Artemis program also continues to follow Space Policy Directive One (SPD-1) which directs the US to lead an innovative and sustainable exploration program with commercial and international partners. A major objective to achieve the Artemis program goals and SPD-1 is to understand and characterize the resources that exist at these destinations, and to learn how to utilize these resources for sustained human exploration and the commercialization of space. This ability, commonly known as In Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU), involves any hardware or operation that harnesses and utilizes local resources to create products and services for robotic and human explo-ration. The NASA ISRU program is focused on the production of mission consumables and com-modities to enable sustained human exploration, such as rocket propellants, life support consuma-bles, fuel cell reactants, feedstock for manufacturing and construction, and nutrients for food and plant growth. In particular, propellants make up a significant fraction of the mass launched from Earth, are critical to mission success, and can reduce the cost for reusable transportation. Important for enabling long term surface stays, greater independence from Earth, and growing lunar infra-structure are the abilities to perform construction and manufacturing from in situ-derived metals and materials to create and expand on the infrastructure and reduce the logistical resupply needed for sustained surface and space operations. To achieve these ISRU capabilities, NASA, in partner-ship with industry, academia, and international partners has initiated a multi-faceted program which involves (i) Determining Customer Needs (Type and Quantity of Commodities), (ii) supporting ground Development of Hardware and Systems until Ready for Lunar Flight, (iii) utilize Commer-cial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) flights to fly resource assessment missions with the Science Mission Directorate (SMD), and public-private partnership (PPP) ISRU demonstrations of critical technologies and processes, and (iv) performing commercial-led end-to-end ‘Pilot’ Plant production of commodities and demonstration of usage at a scale and duration that minimizes or eliminates risk for full implementation of ISRU-derived commodities in mission critical applications. This paper will discuss the technologies, mission studies, and accomplishments achieved to date for the ISRU multi-faceted program, and plans for continued ground development and flight missions to reduce the risk of full ISRU implementation.

In situ resource utilization↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Protecting Our Home Planet With SmallSats

This presentation provides an overview the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Science Mission Directorate’s (SMD’s) Small Satellite missions that protect and improve life on earth and in space. In recent years, Small Satellites offer a path to new types of observations for Earth and space science. NASA recognizes the value and impact of Small Satellites, from CubeSats to ESPA-class satellites, for high-value science missions to support exploration through innovative technologies. With smaller size, lower cost, more rapid solicitation, and with constellation missions, our Small Satellite missions can perform targeted science, prove out new technologies, increase our science capabilities to add to our understanding of how we can improve life on earth and in space. Our Small Satellites missions have produced synchronic, high spatial, and temporal science measurements to our changing earth, demonstrating that such missions must be part of our platforms for unique science measurements. We are also able to educate and train the next generation of scientists and engineers by means of these high-risk lower-cost missions.

SmallSats↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

FAIR-ness Assessment of NASA’s Earth Observation System Data and Information System (EOSDIS)

This presentation addresses the challenge of evaluating a multi-disciplinary institutional network of data repositories in operation since 1994 against the relatively recent criteria that constitute FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) data. NASA’s Earth Observation System Data and Information System (EOSDIS), with its 12 discipline-based Distributed Active Archive Centers (DAACs), preceded the definition and popularization of FAIR by over two decades. An assessment is very useful to describe how well the FAIR principles are met and to identify any improvements needed. In 2020, A “self-assessment” of EOSDIS and DAACs was performed by the ESDIS Project staff and the DAACs from the points of view of human actionability and machine actionability. More recently, a draft of a Science Mission Directorate (SMP) Program Directive (SPD-41a) has been released by NASA Headquarters for comment, where it is recommended that all SMD-funded data should follow the FAIR principles. This presentation is timely to initiate community discussion within the Information Quality Cluster (IQC) of the Earth Science Information Partners (ESIP) and help strategize and develop implementation guidelines for EOSDIS and DAACs to conform to FAIR principles.

Remote sensing↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

NASA Innovative Science SmallSat Missions

This is a short talk to discuss NASA SmallSat Science Missions. It provides an overview of the Science Mission Directorate's (SMD) Science Fleet, SmallSat Opportunities, and Investments.

SmallSat↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Testing the Exploration Conops (Excon) Mockup Suit in Lunar Analog Environments in 2022

Understanding how to effectively train for Extravehicular Activities (EVAs) for Artemis missions is critical. Developing high-fidelity simulation environments is important for Artemis mission preparation. Because the actual Lunar exploration environment cannot be fully replicated on Earth, it is paramount to determine where and how to properly train the Artemis team. Tasked by the new Extravehicular Activity and Human Surface Mobility Program(EHP), a team of stakeholders from engineering, flight operations, human health and performance, astromaterials and science, and the crew office worked together to perform EVAs in 3 simulated lunar environments. The overall focus for this test series was developing the capability to perform Artemis simulated EVAs in high-fidelity, full-scale environments. This test series was broken into 3 distinct tests titled after the EHP integrated test team: Joint EVA Test Team (JETT). The test locations are planned to serve as Artemis training sites and were selected because of their relevance to the expected Artemis Lunar terrain. JETT1was conducted near Kilbourne Holeby El Paso, Texas and focused on hardware development and checkout. JETT2 was conducted in the Icelandic Highlands and began the transition towards EVA concept operations(con-ops), risks and technology.JETT3 was conducted near SP Crater by Flagstaff Arizona and focused on simulating the Artemis III mission with a simulated Houston based Flight Control Team (FCT) and a Science Mission Directorate (SMD) science team. All three JETT tests utilized the Excon mockup space suit. The Excon mockup suit is a light-weight, unpressurized Exploration Extravehicular Mobility Unit (xEMU)simulator. While it cannot replicate the feel of working within a pressurized suit, it does introduce similar volume constraints and some of the mobility programing to simulate the user experience in the xEMU. Overall, the JETT testing was able to create a simulated Lunar EVA and have two subjects perform full scale operations in line with Artemis III mission expectations. Future work is planned to continue to improve the simulation quality of Lunar EVA simulations.

spacesuit↗
NASA NTRS2022

Lunar Landing and Operations Policy Analysis

Just within the next four years, we expect to see at least 22 lunar surface missions. Half of these missions will occur in the Moon’s south polar region. Due to this upcoming proliferation of actors and activities at or near the lunar south pole, and due to the potential close proximity of operations, NASA and other operators will face challenges never faced before. NASA’s Deputy Administrator and Associate Administrator of the Science Mission Directorate (SMD) tasked the Office of Technology, Policy, and Strategy (OTPS) with answering two questions related to the Artemis campaign: (1) what technical and policy considerations should NASA take into account in the selection of lunar landing and operations sites, and (2) what technical and policy considerations should NASA take into account when implementing tools such as safety zones in order to protect these operations and U.S. interests? In addition to the challenges inherent in lunar operations, NASA subject-matter experts (SMEs) are concerned about certain challenges to NASA operations that may require policy solutions. The goal of this report is to provide options and recommendations to NASA leadership and program planners so that they can consider policy measures to respond to those challenges. This report also describes options for transparency, coordination, and implementation to increase the effectiveness of these measures.

lunar policy↗