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PLANETARY MISSION ENTRY VEHICLES Quick Reference Guide Version 4.0
Probe Blue Book containing the high-level characteristics of past entry systems and easily tucked into a daily planner, notebook, or other carry-along work aid.
Solar Sail Propulsion for Planetary Missions
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Aerocapture as an Enabling Technology for Planetary Missions
Aerocapture is an atmospheric maneuver where aerodynamic forces are used to transfer a spacecraft from a hypersonic orbit to a targeted capture orbit. Aerocapture provides large mass benefits over all-propulsive maneuvers that are typically used to enter capture orbits, as the aerodynamic forces of the vehicle in an atmosphere slow down the vehicle rather than using propellant. Additionally, aerocapture is a quick maneuver where the spacecraft enters the target orbit after a short transit through the atmosphere versus similar aero-assist maneuvers like aerobraking, where the vehicle enters the desired orbit incrementally from a highly elliptical orbit and usually takes a time period of the order of months.
Planetary Mission Entry Vehicle Quick Reference Guide Version 4.1
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Developments in GRAM for Planetary Missions
The presentation looks at developments in the Global Reference Atmosphere Model.
Progress in Spacecraft Electric Power System Technologies for Deep Space Missions
Planetary missions place unique demands on spacecraft systems and operations in terms of lifetime and autonomous operation. At the same time, the new
Engaging Students Through Classroom Connection Webinars to Improve Their Understanding of the Mars Science Laboratory Mission
Planetary exploration missions to other worlds, like Mars, can generate a lot of excitement and wonder for the public. The Mars Science Laboratory Mission is one of the latest planetary missions that has intrigued the public perhaps more than most. How can scientists and educational specialists capitalize on the allure of this mission and involve students and teachers in a way that not only shares the story of the mission, but actively engages classrooms with scientists and improves their understanding of the science? The Expedition Earth and Beyond (EEAB) Program [1], facilitated by the Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science (ARES) Directorate Education Program at the NASA Johnson Space Center achieves this by facilitating MSL mission focused classroom connection webinars. Five MSL-focused webinars facilitated through EEAB during the 2012 fall semester engaged almost 3000 students and teachers. Involved STEM experts/role models helped translate the science behind the Mars Science Laboratory mission in a comprehensive, exciting, and engaging manner. These virtual events captured participants attention while increasing their science awareness and understanding of the MSL mission.
Tracking and communications for planetary manned mission.
Manned planetary mission global network for continous tracking, communication telemetry and TV transmission
Planetary Instrument Definition and Development Program (PIDDP). Instrument for future planetary flight missions: A visible-infrared imaging spectrometer for planetary missions
The objective of this project is to develop and prove a small, light-weight, efficient imaging spectrometer design to cover the VIS/NIR spectral range for applications particularly but not exclusively to NASA inner solar system space missions. A design and a brassboard prototype will be developed and tested. Progress over the first year of this project includes design specification, optical design layout, grating specifications, infrared detector selection, and mechanical design. Mechanical and grating manufacturing drawings were begun. We developed an agreement in principle to cooperate with the German space group, DLR, to apply some of their electronics microminiaturization technology to this imaging spectrometer project, mostly or entirely at their expense. Funds from NASA for the second year of this effort have been received and the effort is on track. Release of funds for the third year of this award will be requested later this year in order to accelerate this work and bring it to a conclusion in time for new NASA missions considerations as well as to make effective use of the DLR contributions.
What You Need to Know about Planetary Protection Categorization for Your Mission
Planetary protection mission categorization helps to define the risk posture for requirements definition and implementation practices on space flight projects with planetary protection considerations. NASA has recently updated it’s planetary protection policy (NPR 8715.24), and with the update comes a major change in how the planetary protection categorization process is performed for NASA missions. Previously, projects would request the NASA Planetary Protection Officer (PPO) provide a categorization letter documenting the planetary protection category assigned to the proposed mission. Under the new policy the project manager (PM) proposes the planetary protection category for their mission. Depending on the level of the category, the PPO either concurs or recommends concurrence to the Chief of Safety and Mission Assurance (SMA) before forwarding to the Mission Directorate Associate Administrator (MDAA) for final approval prior to the system requirements review (SRR). But what topics must be considered for categorization? This presentation will provide key considerations for planetary protection mission categorization including the target solar system body to be explored, the trajectory to get to the target body, and the operations to be performed at the target body. Additional unique scenarios such as secondary and auxiliary payloads, encountering other solar system bodies on the way to the target body, and sample return missions will also be discussed to share lessons learned from missions that have been through the new categorization process.
Guidance and control requirements of planetary and deep space missions.
Planetary and deep space mission guidance and control technology requirements
Guidance, Navigation, and Control Technology Assessment for Future Planetary Science Missions
Future planetary explorations envisioned by the National Research Council's (NRC's) report titled Vision and Voyages for Planetary Science in the Decade 2013-2022, developed for NASA Science Mission Directorate (SMD) Planetary Science Division (PSD), seek to reach targets of broad scientific interest across the solar system. This goal requires new capabilities such as innovative interplanetary trajectories, precision landing, operation in close proximity to targets, precision pointing, multiple collaborating spacecraft, multiple target tours, and advanced robotic surface exploration. Advancements in Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GN&C) and Mission Design in the areas of software, algorithm development and sensors will be necessary to accomplish these future missions. This paper summarizes the key GN&C and mission design capabilities and technologies needed for future missions pursuing SMD PSD's scientific goals.
Space Electrochemical Research and Technology (SERT)
The conference provided a forum to assess critical needs and technologies for the NASA electrochemical energy conversion and storage program. It was aimed at providing guidance to NASA on the appropriate direction and emphasis of that program. A series of related overviews were presented in the areas of NASA advanced mission models (space stations, low and geosynchronous Earth orbit missions, planetary missions, and space transportation). Papers were presented and workshops conducted in a variety of technical areas, including advanced rechargeables, advanced concepts, critical physical electrochemical issues, and modeling.
Space Electrochemical Research and Technology Conference, Cleveland, OH, Apr. 14-16, 1987, Proceedings
The conference provided a forum to assess critical needs and technologies for the NASA electrochemical energy conversion and storage program. It was aimed at providing guidance to NASA on the appropriate direction and emphasis of that program. A series of related overviews were presented in the areas of NASA advanced mission models (space stations, low and geosynchronous Earth orbit missions, planetary missions, and space transportation). Papers were presented and workshops conducted in a variety of technical areas, including advanced rechargeables, advanced concepts, critical physical electrochemical issues, and modeling.
X-ray remote sensing and in-situ spectroscopy for planetary exploration missions and gamma-ray remote sensing and in-situ spectroscopy for planetary exploration missions
Detectors that will be used for planetary missions must have their responses calibrated in a reproducible manner. A calibration facility is being constructed at Schlumberger-Doll Research for gamma and x ray detectors. With this facility the detector response can be determined in an invariant and reproducible fashion. Initial use of the facility is expected for the MARS94 detectors. Work is continuing to better understand the rare earth oxyorthosilicates and to define their characteristics. This will allow a better use of these scintillators for planetary missions. In a survey of scintillating materials two scintillators were identified as promising candidates besides GSO, LSO, and YSO. These are CdWO4 and CsI(Tl). It will be investigated if a detector with a better overall performance can be assembled with various photon converters. Considerable progress was achieved in photomultiplier design. The length of an 1 inch diameter PMT could be reduced from 4.2 to 2.5 inches without performance degradation. This technology is being employed in the gamma ray detector for the NEAR project. A further weight and size reduction of the detector package can be achieved with miniaturized integrated power supplies.
Planetary Science Training for Artemis Missions
Planetary geology training for Artemis crews and mission support teams is well underway. We recently reported on the development of our geology/planetary science training flow, and the cross-agency coordination efforts necessary for implementing the training [1, 2]. We discussed our progressive geology training program that starts with incoming astronaut classes, offers opportunities to maintain the geology proficiency between flight assignments, and trains the broader Artemis engineering-operations management community in geology and basic field methods [3, 4]. In this abstract, we outline and discuss our 2023 accomplishments and near-term plans for continued development of lunar science classroom content, field training objectives, and the delivery of geology training to astronauts and the Artemis mission engineers.