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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 NTRS2003

Bio-inspired Computing for Robots

Living creatures may provide algorithms to enable active sensing/control systems in robots. Active sensing could enable planetary rovers to feel their way in unknown environments. The surface of Jupiter's moon Europa consists of fractured ice over a liquid sea that may contain microbes similar to those on Earth. To explore such extreme environments, NASA needs robots that autonomously survive, navigate, and gather scientific data. They will be too far away for guidance from Earth. They must sense their environment and control their own movements to avoid obstacles or investigate a science opportunity. To meet this challenge, CICT's Information Technology Strategic Research (ITSR) Project is funding neurobiologists at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and selected universities to search for biologically inspired algorithms that enable robust active sensing and control for exploratory robots. Sources for these algorithms are living creatures, including rats and electric fish.

Laufenberg, Larry↗
NASA NTRS2011

Solar System Planetary Science Decadal Survey and Missions in the Next Decade, 2013-2022

In 2010, the National Research Council Space Studies Board established a decadal survey committee to develop a comprehensive science, mission, and technology strategy for planetary science that updates and extends the Board's 2003 Solar System Exploration Decadal Survey, "New Frontiers in the Solar System: An Integrated Exploration Strategy." The scope of the survey encompasses the inner planets (Mercury, Venus, and Mars), the Earth's Moon, the giant planets (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune), the moons of the giant planets, dwarf planets and small bodies, primitive bodies including comets and Kuiper Belt objects, and astrobiology. Over this past year, the decadal survey committee has interacted with the broad solar system science community to determine the current state of knowledge and to identify the most important scientific questions expected to face the community during the interval 2013-2022. The survey has identified candidate missions that address the most important science questions and has conducted, through NASA sponsorship, concept studies to assess the cost of such missions as well as technology needs. The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the 2012 Solar System Planetary Science Decadal Survey study approach and missions that were studied for implementation in the upcoming decade. Final results of the decadal survey, including studies that were completed and the specific science, programmatic, and technology recommendations will be disclosed publically in the spring of 2011 and are not the subject of this paper.

Reh, Kim↗
NASA NTRS2018

Juno at Jupiter: The Mission and Its Path to Unveiling Secrets of the History of the Solar System

The Juno mission is described, focusing on its orbits at Jupiter, how the plan evolved, and science return so far. Juno is a NASA New Frontiers spacecraft in a near-polar highly elliptical 53-day orbit at Jupiter. Since arrival in July 2016, it has used 9 science investigations to study the planet’s atmospheric composition and structure, magnetic and gravity fields, and polar and extended magnetosphere. A radiation monitoring investigation contributes to our understanding of Jupiter’s environment. Juno’s primary science goal is to understand the origin and evolution of Jupiter, to shed light on how the Earth and other planets formed. Baseline objectives will be satisfied with 32 science orbits, a spin-stabilized solar powered spacecraft, an electronics vault for radiation shielding, and a robust payload with microwave receivers, X- and Ka-band radio science hardware, vector magnetometers, high- and low-energy charged particle detectors, radio and plasma wave antennas, UV and IR spectroscopic imagers, and a visible light camera for public outreach. Observations are made in a limited number of orientations, including Gravity Science (spin axis and main antenna pointing to Earth), and microwave atmospheric sounding (spin plane passing through Jupiter’s center). Prime science data are collected near closest approach (perijove), plus calibrations, occasional remote sensing, and continued magnetospheric observations in the outer parts of the orbit. Juno’s mission plan has evolved since the 2005 proposal due to design and ops choices, e.g., mission design (cruise or early orbital trajectory), orbit period (11, 14, then 53 days), perijove attitudes (2 or more), and DSN coverage (34- and 70-m stations). Choices were partly motivated by the effect on science return. Selected preliminary science results are summarized, including the benefits of decisions as the plan evolved. Juno has begun to unveil Jupiter – peeling apart its interior by measuring gravity and magnetic fields, using microwaves to probe its atmosphere down to 100s of km, exploring its polar and extended magnetosphere, and imaging the poles for the first time. In doing so, it is revealing secrets of the history of the Earth and solar system.

Stephens, Stuart K.↗
NASA NTRS2018

Exploring the Ocean Worlds

Including Earth, roughly a dozen water ocean worlds exist in the solar system: the relict worlds Ceres and Mars, large Jovian and Saturnian icy moons with vast interior oceans, and Kuiper Belt Objects like Triton, Charon, and Pluto whose geologies are dominated by water and ammonia. The ocean-world science puzzle – which may reveal whether life is widespread in the cosmos, why it exists where it does, and how it originates – can only be solved by exploring all of them. Potential life in these places could not have shared our origins, yet these worlds contain the only evidence about life that we can touch, essentially forever. Thus, their exploration has existential significance. Planning a multiworld exploration campaign would be a multi-generational undertaking. The technical challenges are diverse and formidable, far harder than at Mars: missions to the Jovian and Saturnian ocean worlds are severely powerlimited; trip times can be more than a decade. And the science targets are global-scale oceans beneath kilometers of cryogenic ice. Today, we lack the instrumentation, subsystems, and machine-intelligence technologies needed. A systematic OWEP (ocean worlds exploration program) strategy can make most effective use of funding and time. The three priority ocean-world targets are Europa at Jupiter, and Enceladus and Titan at Saturn. Five hypothetical programmatic scenarios are compared to the default case. A coherent OWEP should have several parts: first, dedicated continuous investment in enabling technologies; and second, two directed-purpose, medium-class (~$1B) missions per decade that conduct pivotal investigations on a documented roadmap. A robust OWEP would cost about 1/40th more per year than NASA’s current budget.

Naderi, Firouz↗
NASA NTRS1981

Planetary magnetism

A synoptic view of early and recent data on the planetary magnetism of Mercury, Venus, the moon, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn is presented. The data on Mercury from Mariner 10 are synthesized with various other sources, while data for Venus obtained from 120 orbits of Pioneer Venus give the upper limit of the magnetic dipole. Explorer 35 Lunar Orbiter data provided the first evidence of lunar magnetization, but it was the Apollo subsatellite data that measured accurately the magnetic dipole of the moon. A complete magnetic survey of Mars is still needed, and only some preliminary data are given on the magnetic dipole of the planet. Figures on the magnetic dipoles of Jupiter and Saturn are also suggested. It is concluded that if the magnetic field data are to be used to infer the interior properties of the planets, good measures of the multiple harmonics in the field are needed, which may be obtained only through low altitude polar orbits.

Russell, C. T.↗
NASA NTRS2008

Radioisotope Power: A Key Technology for Deep Space Exploration

A Radioisotope Power System (RPS) generates power by converting the heat released from the nuclear decay of radioactive isotopes, such as Plutonium-238 (Pu-238), into electricity. First used in space by the U.S. in 1961, these devices have enabled some of the most challenging and exciting space missions in history, including the Pioneer and Voyager probes to the outer solar system; the Apollo lunar surface experiments; the Viking landers; the Ulysses polar orbital mission about the Sun; the Galileo mission to Jupiter; the Cassini mission orbiting Saturn; and the recently launched New Horizons mission to Pluto. Radioisotopes have also served as a versatile heat source for moderating equipment thermal environments on these and many other missions, including the Mars exploration rovers, Spirit and Opportunity. The key advantage of RPS is its ability to operate continuously, independent of orientation and distance relative to the Sun. Radioisotope systems are long-lived, rugged, compact, highly reliable, and relatively insensitive to radiation and other environmental effects. As such, they are ideally suited for missions involving long-lived, autonomous operations in the extreme conditions of space and other planetary bodies. This paper reviews the history of RPS for the U.S. space program. It also describes current development of a new Stirling cycle-based generator that will greatly expand the application of nuclear-powered missions in the future.

Schmidt, George↗
NASA NTRS2009

Radioisotope Power: A Key Technology for Deep Space Explorations

A Radioisotope Power System (RPS) generates power by converting the heat released from the nuclear decay of radioactive isotopes, such as Plutonium-238 (Pu-238), into electricity. First used in space by the U.S. in 1961, these devices have enabled some of the most challenging and exciting space missions in history, including the Pioneer and Voyager probes to the outer solar system; the Apollo lunar surface experiments; the Viking landers; the Ulysses polar orbital mission about the Sun; the Galileo mission to Jupiter; the Cassini mission orbiting Saturn; and the recently launched New Horizons mission to Pluto. Radioisotopes have also served as a versatile heat source for moderating equipment thermal environments on these and many other missions, including the Mars exploration rovers, Spirit and Opportunity. The key advantage of RPS is its ability to operate continuously, independent of orientation and distance relative to the Sun. Radioisotope systems are long-lived, rugged, compact, highly reliable, and relatively insensitive to radiation and other environmental effects. As such, they are ideally suited for missions involving long-lived, autonomous operations in the extreme conditions of space and other planetary bodies. This paper reviews the history of RPS for the U.S. space program. It also describes current development of a new Stirling cycle-based generator that will greatly expand the application of nuclear-powered missions in the future.

Schmidt, George R.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Physics of the Jovian magnetosphere

Jupiter's magnetic field and magnetosphere are considered along with the ionosphere, the low-energy plasma in the Jovian magnetosphere, the low-energy particle population, high-energy particles, and spectrophotometric studies of the Io torus. Other topics explored are related to the phenomenology of magnetospheric radio emissions, plasma waves in the Jovian magnetosphere, theories of radio emissions and plasma waves, and magnetospheric models. Attention is also given to aspects of plasma distribution and flow, microscopic plasma processes in the Jovian magnetosphere, symbols and acronyms, coordinate systems, and selected physical parameters of Jupiter and Io.

Dessler, A. J.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Mariner Jupiter/Saturn 1977 - The mission frame.

Following the cancellation of the Outer Planet Grand Tour Project, NASA and JPL examined less ambitious, alternative missions for exploring the outer planets. The mission that proved most attractive scientifically and fits within the projected NASA budget constraints embraces dual flights to Jupiter and Saturn, with launch in 1977. NASA has implemented it as the Mariner Jupiter/Saturn 1977 (MJS77) Project. The MJS77 mission covers exploratory investigations of the Jupiter and Saturn planetary systems and the interplanetary medium out to Saturn. Items of special interest include Jupiter's great red spot, the question of Io's anomalous brightening and phenomena associated with its EM behavior. After Saturn encounter, the spacecraft will escape the solar system in the general direction of the solar apex.

Bourke, R. D.↗
NASA NTRS1977

A low-frequency radio survey of the planets with RAE 2

Over one thousand occultations of each planet in the solar system have occurred during the period from mid-1973 through mid-1976 as seen from the lunar orbiting Radio Astronomy Explorer 2 (RAE 2) spacecraft. These occultations have been examined for evidence of planetary radio emissions in the 0.025-13.1 MHz band. Only Jupiter and the earth have given positive results. Lack of detection of emission from the other planets can mean that either they do not emit radio noise in this band or the flux level of their emissions and/or its occurrence rate are too low to be detected by RAE 2.

Kaiser, M. L.↗
NASA NTRS1995

Radiation Pressure, Poynting-Robertson Drag, and Solar Wind Drag in the Restricted Three-Body Problem

In this paper, we examine the effects of radiation pressure, Poynting-Robertson (PR) drag, and solar wind drag on dust grains trapped in mean motion resonances with the Sun and Jupiter in the restricted (negligible dust mass) three-body Problem. We especially examine the evolution of dust grains in the 1:1 resonance. As a first step, the Sun and Jupiter are idealized to both be in circular orbit about a common center of mass (circular restricted three-body problem). From the equation of motion of the dust particle in the rotating reference frame, the drag-induced time rate of change of its Jacobi "constant," C, is then derived and expressed in spherical coordinates. This new mathematical expression in spherical coordinates shows that C, in the 1:1 resonance, both oscillates and secularly increases with increasing time. The new expression gives rise to an easy understanding of how an orbit evolves when the radiation force and solar wind drag are included. All dust grain orbits are unstable in time when PR and solar wind drag are included in the Sun-Jupiter-dust system. Tadpole orbits evolve into horseshoe orbits; and these orbits continuously expand in size to lead to close encounters with Jupiter. Permanent trapping is impossible. Orbital evolutions of a dust grain trapped in the 1:1 resonance in the planar circular, an inclined case, an eccentric case, and the actual Sun-Jupiter case are numerically simulated and compared with each other and show grossly similar time behavior. Resonances other than 1:1 are also explored with the new expression. Stable exterior resonance trapping may be possible under certain conditions. One necessary condition for such a trap is derived. Trapping in interior resonances is shown to be always unstable.

Liou, Jer-Chyi↗
NASA NTRS2002

Exobiological Exploration of Europa (E3) Europa Lander

The search for life outside Earth's protected atmosphere is a compelling testament to the quest by mankind to determine if "we" are alone in the universe. The phenomenal success of the NASA Galileo spacecraft has indicated that the moons of Jupiter, and most notably Europa, may indeed contain subsurface liquid under an icy surface. This speculation of a salty liquid subsurface fuels expert opinions that biological products may exist. The Revolutionary Aerospace Systems Concepts (RASC) effort at Langley Research Center, initiated by NASA Headquarters, pushes NASA and the Aerospace/Science community to target advanced evolutionary technology usage to provide a Europa Lander concept targeted for completion within the next 50 years. The study effort indicates the use of certain advanced technologies to achieve a subsurface penetrator and liquid explorer in the approximately 2040 timeframe.

Stillwagen, F. H.↗
NASA NTRS1971

Mission operations for unmanned nuclear electric propulsion outer planet exploration with a thermionic reactor spacecraft.

Mission operations are presented for comet rendezvous and outer planet exploration NEP spacecraft employing in-core thermionic reactors for electric power generation. The selected reference missions are the Comet Halley rendezvous and a Jupiter orbiter at 5.9 planet radii, the orbit of the moon Io. The characteristics of the baseline multi-mission NEP spacecraft are presented and its performance in other outer planet missions, such as Saturn and Uranus orbiters and a Neptune flyby, are discussed. Candidate mission operations are defined from spacecraft assembly to mission completion. Pre-launch operations are identified. Shuttle launch and subsequent injection to earth escape by the Centaur D-1T are discussed, as well as power plant startup and the heliocentric mission phases. The sequence and type of operations are basically identical for all missions investigated.

Spera, R. J.↗
NASA NTRS1976

A low-frequency radio survey of the planets with RAE-2

Over one thousand occultations of each planet in the solar system have occurred during the period from mid-1973 through mid-1976 as seen from the lunar orbiting Radio Astronomy Explorer-2 (RAE-2) spacecraft. These occultations have been examined for evidence of planetary radio emissions in the 0.025 to 13.1 MHz band. Only Jupiter and the earth have given positive results. Lack of detection of emission from the other planets can mean that either they do not emit radio noise in this band or the flux level of their emissions and/or its occurrence rate are too low to be detected by RAE-2.

Kaiser, M. L.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Outer planets exploration - A mission strategy for the 1980's

This paper presents a mission strategy for exploring the outer planets in the 1980s. The strategy is based on the anticipated findings of the 1977 Voyager Jupiter/Saturn Mission, and the 1982 Jupiter Orbiter Probe (JOP) Mission, recently approved as a new project start, beginning in October 1977. The JOP Mission then becomes a principal element in the strategy presented here. Characteristics (launch energy, trajectory parameters, etc.) of other mission opportunities to the outer planets in the 1980s are developed and presented. The need for and benefits from advanced propulsion systems, which can enable the more difficult missions to the outer planets, also are cited. The overall mission strategy, including a description of the options, is evolved in consideration of scientific rationale and return, and technical and programmatic coupling factors.

Moore, J. W.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Reed-Solomon Codes and the Exploration of the Solar System

The exploration of the solar system by unmanned spacecraft is one of the triumph of the 20th century. The dramatic photographs of Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune transmitted by spacecraft with romantic names like Mariner, Voyager, Viking, etc. over distances of hundreds of millions, even billions, of miles, have made these planets, which were previously known to us only as fuzzy telescopic images in textbooks, as real to us in the 1990's as, say, the Himalayas, the Sahara Desert, or Antarctica.

Reed-Solomon coding↗
NASA NTRS2012

CIRS and CIRS-Lite as Designed for the Outer Planets: TSSM, EJSM, JUICE

Passive spectroscopic remote sensing of planetary atmospheres and surfaces in the thermal infrared is a powerful tool for obtaining information about surface and atmospheric temperatures, composition, and dynamics (via the thermal wind equation). Due to its broad spectral coverage, the Fourier transform spectrometer (FTS) is particularly suited to the exploration and discovery of molecular species. NASA Goddard's Cassini CIRS FTS has given us important new insights into stratospheric composition and jets on Jupiter and Saturn, the cryo-vo1cano and thermal stripes on Enceladus, and the polar vortex on Titan. We have designed a lightweight successor to CIRS - called CIRS-lite - with improved spectral resolution to separate blended spectral lines (such as occur with isotopes). CIRS-lite includes four key components: (1) high Tc superconductor bolometer/carbon nano-tube (CNT) absorber (approx 87K, YBCO) (2) synthetic diamond beam splitter (approx 140K) (3) moving mirror mechanism with crossed-roller bearings ( approx 110 K) (4) single crystal silicon for the input telescope primary

Brasunas, J.↗
NASA NTRS2013

Automated Design of Propellant-Optimal, End-to-End, Low-Thrust Trajectories for Trojan Asteroid Tours

The Sun-Jupiter Trojan asteroids are celestial bodies of great scientific interest as well as potential resources offering water and other mineral resources for longterm human exploration of the solar system. Previous investigations under this project have addressed the automated design of tours within the asteroid swarm. This investigation expands the current automation scheme by incorporating options for a complete trajectory design approach to the Trojan asteroids. Computational aspects of the design procedure are automated such that end-to-end trajectories are generated with a minimum of human interaction after key elements and constraints associated with a proposed mission concept are specified.

Trojan asteroid↗