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Advanced Supersonic Parachute Inflation Research Experiment 2 (ASPIRE2) Flight Mechanics and Parachute Performance

The Advanced Supersonic Parachute Inflation Re-search Experiment-2 (ASPIRE2) program consists of a sounding rocket flight test to be launched at Wallops Flight Facility (WFF) in 2025. This effort seeks to qualify the supersonic parachute for the Sample Retrieval Lander (SRL) under the Mars Sample Return (MSR) program, building off the successes of its predecessor program, ASPIRE, which launched in both 2017 and 2018. The conops for the ASPIRE2 mission are shown in Figure 1 relative to its predecessor. While the ASPIRE pro-gram qualified a 21.5 m diameter disk-gap band parachute deployed at Mach 1.7, the SRL parachute will be increased to 24 m in diameter and target a Mach 2.1 parachute deployment condition, the largest diameter supersonic parachute deployed at the highest Mach number to date. These requirements are driven by the increased landing mass of the sample retrieval lander, which is roughly a 50% increase over that of the Mars2020 entry vehicle. These changes necessitate ASPIRE2 to certify the parachute performance under similar deployment conditions. This work will cover the 6-DoF para-chute model implementation and flight mechanics performance for the ASPIRE2 campaign and discuss how these results will impact the design of the test article. The ASPIRE2 trajectory is simulated using a multi-body flight dynamics tool, Program to Optimize Simulated Trajectories II (POST2). This work will summarize both the flight mechanics and parachute modeling (from payload separation until splashdown) and performance for this mission. Various design trades will be assessed such as para-chute tuning parameters as well as vehicle center of gravity location.

Evan Roelke↗

Performance Analysis and Data Processing for the Mars Sample Recovery Helicopter in the Jet Propulsion Laboratory 25-ft Space Simulator

On April 19, 2021, Ingenuity became the first helicopter to fly on Mars at Jezero Crater, completing a total of 72 flights by the end of its mission. The success of Ingenuity resulted in various research efforts to further explore Mars via vertical flight, including two optimized Ingenuity-sized helicopters proposed to retrieve samples for the 2028 Mars Sample Return mission. To aid in the design process for the two proposed Sample Retrieval Helicopters, both heritage and optimized, increased diameter rotors were tested at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory in the 25-ft Space Simulator. Three test campaigns were performed using the Ingenuity rotors and optimized Sample Retrieval Helicopter (SRH) rotors for several rotor speeds, densities, configurations, and collectives to identify performance limitations. These three test campaigns included the Ingenuity Engineering Design Model 1 (EDM-1) with and without a cruciform box, Transonic Rotor Test (TRT) rig, and SRH Dual Rotor Test (DRT). Experimental setup, test matrix, data processing, data quality, and performance results for EDM-1, TRT, and DRT campaigns are presented and discussed. Experimental results from the test campaigns will aid in future experimental methods and validation efforts for planetary rotorcraft exploration.

Data Processing↗

The Project “Analogs for VENus’s GEologically Recent Surfaces” (AVENGERS): Unveiling Active Volcanism on Venus

The recently selected missions to Venus opened a new era for the exploration of the Earth’s hellish twin sister. One of the key questions that the selected missions to Venus will address is whether the planet is volcanically active. The identification of ongoing volcanic activity on Venus can indeed unveil important clues on the geologic evolution of the planet, also helping us to better understand how volcanic and atmospheric processes work on Earth, especially those related to the climate change produced by greenhouse gases. To fully contextualize the higher resolution datasets to be provided by the future missions to Venus, we need to be able to exploit the wealth of data to be produced in the best possible way. Different types of instruments will indeed perform unprecedent orbiting and in-situ investigations of the surface and subsurface of Venus. To this regard, the Project “Analogs for VENus’s GEologically Recent Surfaces” (AVENGERS) aims to build a comprehensive database of Terrestrial active volcanoes which may act as suitable analogs for identifying ongoing volcanic activity on Venus. To do this, the project AVENGERS will combine the implementation of terrestrial orbiter radar data analysis techniques (i.e., radar interferometry) with infrared and laboratory analyses of lava flow samples from Terrestrial active volcanoes. As a first suitable analog of the Project AVENGERS, we selected Mount Etna in Sicily for a direct comparison with potentially active volcanic structures of Venus, and with Idunn Mons, one of the most promising possibly active volcanoes of Venus. Given its composite nature, Mount Etna offers the opportunity to identify and study multiple types of eruptive products (both effusive and explosive) from the analysis of high-resolution radar images. The frequent eruptions characterizing this volcano will also allow to test techniques of radar interferometry. Moreover, its ease of access facilitates geologic field trips and in-situ investigations with related sample retrieving. Ongoing infrared laboratory analysis on several altered and unaltered samples retrieved by Mount Etna will help to distinguish spectral signatures of fresh vs weathered volcanic deposits.

P. D’Incecco↗

Strategies and Recommended Targets for Mars Surveyor Program Landing Sites

The two major constraints for selecting the Mars Surveyor Program (MSP) 2001 landing site at the time of this meeting are latitude (30'N to 15S) and elevation (< 2.5 km). The latitude belt will be narrowed down to a 15' sector after this workshop. This mission will demonstrate the capability to perform a precision landing, with the goal of achieving an accuracy of approximately 10 km, 3-sigma. There will be at least two different landing sites ('01 and '03) selected in the MSP. However, there should be an option of having the '05 sample return mission land in a different site and the '05 mission should be equipped with a rover for two reasons. The reasoning behind this follows: '05 lander/rover package should have the option of going to an independent site from either '01 or '03 because predecessor missions (orbital) may locate the "Ultimate Site"; '05 needs a rover to either: (A) explore and sample this "ultimate site" for sample return; (B) retrieve samples from '01 or '03 rovers, as a contingency, in case these rovers malfunction and cannot negotiate the trek back to the sample return vehicle.

Rice, James W., Jr.↗

MBSE Applications for the MSR SRC Mars Ascent Vehicle

The objective of the NASA Mars Sample Return (MSR) Campaign is to collect samples from the surface of Mars and return them to Earth for scientific research. The Mars Ascent Vehicle (MAV) will be integrated into a larger Mars Sample Retrieval Lander (SRL) for transit to and storage on Mars. After all Martian samples have been collected and loaded into the MAV payload assembly, MAV will deliver the samples from the Martian surface to Mars orbit. A separate spacecraft, the Earth Return Orbiter (ERO) will retrieve the samples from Mars orbit and return them to Earth. To address common systems engineering challenges associated with using traditional systems engineering practices on complex projects, the MAV systems engineering team has explored implementation of Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) tools and languages. This paper describes the current state of implementation and development of the MAV MBSE model with the Systems Modeling Language (SysML) within the scope of the MAV Systems Requirement Cycle (SRC) systems engineering workflow. The MAV MBSE model has been developed within Magic Draw – a SysML editor commonly used to implement MBSE. The MAV MBSE model has been used to develop mission phase functional flow diagrams for the Concept of Operations, decompose mission to vehicle subsystem functions, develop a functional decomposition, derive functional requirements, trace requirements up to customer-imposed requirements, trace requirements within MAV requirement space, identify requirements trace gaps, define and map the physical design space architecture, allocate requirements to subsystems, develop validation items, define assembly, integration, and test (AI&T) operations, and trace these items across driving goals to develop an integrated digital thread of systems engineering information used to drive design specifications, decision making, and ultimately design verification and validation. Findings and results associated with implementing MBSE in these ways, alongside traditional methods will be discussed.

MBSE↗

MBSE Applications for the MSR SRC Mars Ascent Vehicle

The objective of the NASA Mars Sample Return (MSR) Campaign is to collect samples from the surface of Mars and return them to Earth for scientific research. The Mars Ascent Vehicle (MAV) will be integrated into a larger Mars Sample Retrieval Lander (SRL) for transit to and storage on Mars. After all Martian samples have been collected and loaded into the MAV payload assembly, MAV will deliver the samples from the Martian surface to Mars orbit. A separate spacecraft, the Earth Return Orbiter (ERO) will retrieve the samples from Mars orbit and return them to Earth. To address common systems engineering challenges associated with using traditional systems engineering practices on complex projects, the MAV systems engineering team has explored implementation of Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) tools and languages. This paper describes the current state of implementation and development of the MAV MBSE model with the Systems Modeling Language (SysML) within the scope of the MAV Systems Requirement Cycle (SRC) systems engineering workflow. The MAV MBSE model has been developed within Magic Draw – a SysML editor commonly used to implement MBSE. The MAV MBSE model has been used to develop mission phase functional flow diagrams for the Concept of Operations, decompose mission to vehicle subsystem functions, develop a functional decomposition, derive functional requirements, trace requirements up to customer-imposed requirements, trace requirements within MAV requirement space, identify requirements trace gaps, define and map the physical design space architecture, allocate requirements to subsystems, develop validation items, define assembly, integration, and test (AI&T) operations, and trace these items across driving goals to develop an integrated digital thread of systems engineering information used to drive design specifications, decision making, and ultimately design verification and validation. Findings and results associated with implementing MBSE in these ways, alongside traditional methods will be discussed.

MBSE↗

An in Situ Technique for Elemental Analysis of Lunar Surfaces

An in situ analytical technique that can remotely determine the elemental constituents of solids has been demonstrated. Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) is a form of atomic emission spectroscopy in which a powerful laser pulse is focused on a solid to generate a laser spark, or microplasma. Material in the plasma is vaporized, and the resulting atoms are excited to emit light. The light is spectrally resolved to identify the emitting species. LIBS is a simple technique that can be automated for inclusion aboard a remotely operated vehicle. Since only optical access to a sample is required, areas inaccessible to a rover can be analyzed remotely. A single laser spark both vaporizes and excites the sample so that near real-time analysis (a few minutes) is possible. This technique provides simultaneous multielement detection and has good sensitivity for many elements. LIBS also eliminates the need for sample retrieval and preparation preventing possible sample contamination. These qualities make the LIBS technique uniquely suited for use in the lunar environment.

Kane, K. Y.↗

Gas chromatography/ion mobility spectrometry as a hyphenated technique for improved explosives detection and analysis

Ion Mobility Spectrometry (IMS) is currently being successfully applied to the problem of on-line trace detection of plastic and other explosives in airports and other facilities. The methods of sample retrieval primarily consist of batch sampling for particulate residue on a filter card for introduction into the IMS. The sample is desorbed into the IMS using air as the carrier and negative ions of the explosives are detected, some as an adduct with a reagent ion such as Cl(-). Based on studies and tests conducted by different airport authorities, this method seems to work well for low vapor pressure explosives such as RDX and PETN, as well as TNT that are highly adsorptive and can be found in nanogram quantities on contaminated surfaces. Recently, the changing terrorist threat and the adoption of new marking agents for plastic explosives has meant that the sample introduction and analysis capabilities of the IMS must be enhanced in order to keep up with other detector developments. The IMS has sufficient analytical resolution for a few threat compounds but the IMS Plasmogram becomes increasingly more difficult to interpret when the sample mixture gets more complex.

Mercado, AL↗

NASA-ESA Mars Sample Return Program

NASA's Perseverance mission arrived at Jezero Crater on Mars in February 2021 and began scientific studies and acquisition of Martian samples for return to Earth by future missions, consistent with the recommendations of the U.S. science community in the previous Planetary Science Decadal Survey. NASA and ESA have established a joint Mars Sample Return (MSR) program to safely deliver these samples back to Earth, allowing researchers to use advanced scientific instrumentation that cannot be transported on robotic spacecraft and enable future studies of carefully curated samples using capabilities that have not yet been developed. The MSR architecture consists of two flight elements to follow Perseverance, the NASA-led Sample Retrieval Lander (SRL) and the ESA-led Earth Return Orbiter (ERO). The ERO is designed to orbit Mars and provide relay services for the SRL, including its ESA Sample Fetch Rover (SFR) and the NASA Mars Ascent Vehicle (MAV). The SRL deploys the SFR to retrieve Martian samples cached by the Perseverance rover and then returns the samples to the Orbiting Sample container (OS) on board the MAV using the ESA Sample Transfer Arm (STA). Independently, Perseverance could also deliver samples retained onboard to the OS. The MAV would launch and release the OS into low Mars orbit for rendezvous with the ERO. Upon successful capture of the OS in the ERO’s primary payload, the NASA Capture/Containment Return System (CCRS), the OS would be safely contained and loaded into the Earth Entry System (EES). The ERO will leave Mars orbit and release the EES on Earth approach on a ballistic reentry trajectory through the Earth's atmosphere for landing in the United States. Following return of the samples to Earth, the samples would be protected, preserved, assessed, curated, and made available to the international science community for scientific research and analysis. The NASA SRL and ESA ERO missions are expected to launch as early as 2026, with the return of Martian samples to Earth as early as 2031. MSR’s primary objective is the return of scientifically selected Mars samples for detailed investigation in terrestrial laboratories. The mission would also further inform the design of future human missions. The Mars Sample Return campaign is underway with the successful collection of several scientifically selected samples in Jezero Crater. The MSR Program is working towards a confirmation review in 2023 for the remaining flight elements.

Mars↗

Examining the Uppermost Surface of the Lunar Regolith

This slide presentation reviews the examination of the uppermost surface of the lunar regolith. It shows the mechanism (i.e. a Clam Shell Sampling Device) that was used to retrieve samples of the surface of the lunar soil. Samples were obtained from the devices, and they were examined in the scanning electron microscope (SEM). Using a lunar simulant, JSC-1a, test were run to ascertain if the sample from the clam shell device were biased due to the collection. The results of the test were that all the fine grains analyzed to the limit of the capabilities were found to be lunar in composition, though non-lunar contaminants may exist in the submicron population. Further work is required, though the initial study shows that the uppermost surface is enriched in fine (< 2 micron grains) compared to the bulk soil.

Noble, Sarah↗

Modeling performance of data collection systems for high-energy physics

Exponential increases in scientific experimental data are outpacing silicon technology progress, necessitating heterogeneous computing systems—particularly those utilizing machine learning (ML)—to meet future scientific computing demands. The growing importance and complexity of heterogeneous computing systems require systematic modeling to understand and predict the effective roles for ML. We present a model that addresses this need by framing the key aspects of data collection pipelines and constraints and combining them with the important vectors of technology that shape alternatives, computing metrics that allow complex alternatives to be compared. For instance, a data collection pipeline may be characterized by parameters such as sensor sampling rates and the overall relevancy of retrieved samples. Alternatives to this pipeline are enabled by development vectors including ML, parallelization, advancing CMOS, and neuromorphic computing. By calculating metrics for each alternative such as overall F1 score, power, hardware cost, and energy expended per relevant sample, our model allows alternative data collection systems to be rigorously compared. We apply this model to the Compact Muon Solenoid experiment and its planned high luminosity-large hadron collider upgrade, evaluating novel technologies for the data acquisition system (DAQ), including ML-based filtering and parallelized software. The results demonstrate that improvements to early DAQ stages significantly reduce resources required later, with a power reduction of 60% and increased relevant data retrieval per unit power (from 0.065 to 0.31 samples/kJ). However, we predict that further advances will be required in order to meet overall power and cost constraints for the DAQ.

Olin-Ammentorp, Wilkie (ORCID:0000000224729862)↗

Curiosity: the Mars Science Laboratory Project

The Curiosity rover landed successfully in Gale Crater, Mars on August 5, 2012. This event was a dramatic high point in the decade long effort to design, build, test and fly the most sophisticated scientific vehicle ever sent to Mars. The real achievements of the mission have only just begun, however, as Curiosity is now searching for signs that Mars once possessed habitable environments. The Mars Science Laboratory Project has been one of the most ambitious and challenging planetary projects that NASA has undertaken. It started in the successful aftermath of the 2003 Mars Exploration Rover project and was designed to take significant steps forward in both engineering and scientific capabilities. This included a new landing system capable of emplacing a large mobile vehicle over a wide range of potential landing sites, advanced sample acquisition and handling capabilities that can retrieve samples from both rocks and soil, and a high reliability avionics suite that is designed to permit long duration surface operations. It also includes a set of ten sophisticated scientific instruments that will investigate both the geological context of the landing site plus analyze samples to understand the chemical & organic composition of rocks & soil found there. The Gale Crater site has been specifically selected as a promising location where ancient habitable environments may have existed and for which evidence may be preserved. Curiosity will spend a minimum of one Mars year (about two Earth years) looking for this evidence. This paper will report on the progress of the mission over the first few months of surface operations, plus look retrospectively at lessons learned during both the development and cruise operations phase of the mission..

project formulation↗

Extending the Reach of IGSN Beyond Earth: Implementing IGSN Registration to Link Nasa's Apollo Lunar Samples and Their Data

The rock and soil samples returned from the Apollo missions from 1969-72 have supported 46 years of research leading to advances in our understanding of the formation and evolution of the inner Solar System. NASA has been engaged in several initiatives that aim to restore, digitize, and make available to the public existing published and unpublished research data for the Apollo samples. One of these initiatives is a collaboration with IEDA (Interdisciplinary Earth Data Alliance) to develop MoonDB, a lunar geochemical database modeled after PetDB (Petrological Database of the Ocean Floor). In support of this initiative, NASA has adopted the use of IGSN (International Geo Sample Number) to generate persistent, unique identifiers for lunar samples that scientists can use when publishing research data. To facilitate the IGSN registration of the original 2,200 samples and over 120,000 subdivided samples, NASA has developed an application that retrieves sample metadata from the Lunar Curation Database and uses the SESAR API to automate the generation of IGSNs and registration of samples into SESAR (System for Earth Sample Registration). This presentation will describe the work done by NASA to map existing sample metadata to the IGSN metadata and integrate the IGSN registration process into the sample curation workflow, the lessons learned from this effort, and how this work can be extended in the future to help deal with the registration of large numbers of samples.

Todd, Nancy S.↗

Iterating on a Design – Further Developments in the Evolution of the Ballistic Limit Equations for the Mars Sample Return Project

The goal of the Mars Sample Return–Capture, Containment, and Return System Project is to retrieve samples launched from the Martian surface and return them to Earth for detailed analysis. An important part of this project is the design of the system’s micrometeoroid protection system, which protects the Earth Entry System and the collected samples during their journey back to Earth. As mission parameters and the micrometeoroid and orbital debris threat became better understood, the design of the micrometeoroid protection system evolved. A key element used in the shield development process is the ballistic limit equation, which is an equation that is used to determine whether or not a particular structural element or system will end up in a failed state as a result of a specified impact. As the design of the Earth Entry System and the micrometeoroid protection system evolved, a new set of ballistic limit equations was needed to better predict and assess the performance of developing shield system designs in anticipation of possible damage from micrometeoroid and orbital debris particle impacts. This paper provides a summary of how a set of initial BLEs were either extended or modified so that the resulting equations were better suited to new types of target configurations being considered, as well as how additional ballistic limit equations were developed where none previously existed.

William P Schonberg↗

Scientific Value of Including an Atmospheric Sample as Part of Mars Sample Return (MSR)

The Perseverance rover is meant to collect samples of the martian surface for eventual return to Earth. The headspace gas present over the solid samples within the sample tubes will be of significant scientific interest for what it reveals about the interactions of the solid samples with the trapped atmosphere and for what it will reveal about the martian atmosphere itself. However, establishing the composition of the martian atmosphere will require other dedicated samples. The headspace gas as the sole atmospheric sample is problematic for many reasons. The quantity of gas present within the sample tube volume is insufficient for many investigations, and there will be exchange between solid samples, headspace gas, and tube walls. Importantly, the sample tube materials and preparation were not designed for optimal Mars atmospheric gas collection and storage as they were not sent to Mars in a degassed evacuated state and have been exposed to both Earth's and Mars' atmospheres. Additionally, there is a risk of unconstrained seal leakage in transit back to Earth, which would allow fractionation of the sample (leak-out) and contamination (leak-in). The science return can be improved significantly (and, in some cases, dramatically) by adding one or more of several strategies listed here in increasing order of effectiveness and difficulty of implementation: (1) Having Perseverance collect a gas sample in an empty sample tube, (2) Collecting gas in a newly-designed, valved, sample-tube-sized vessel that is flown on either the Sample Fetch Rover (SFR) or the Sample Retrieval Lander (SRL), (3) Adding a larger (50-100 cc) dedicated gas sampling volume to the Orbiting Sample container (OS), (4) Adding a larger (50-100 cc) dedicated gas sampling volume to the OS that can be filled with compressed martian atmosphere.

Timothy D. Swindle↗

Spacecraft thermal control coatings

The Experiment AO 138-6 was located on the trailing edge of the Long Duration Exposure Facility as part of the French Cooperative Payload (FRECOPA) Experiment. It was purely passive in nature: material specimens 2 x 2 cm, independently mounted in sample-holders, with their surface in the same reference plane, were exposed to space. Thirty samples were set in a vacuum-tight canister which was opened in space a few days after LDEF deployment and closed while still in orbit ten months later; twenty-four samples were directly exposed to space for the total flight duration (preflight handling, shuttle bay environment, separation from shuttle, shuttle environment, LEO environment, docking, descent, transfer to KSC). Materials included paints (conductive or nonconductive), SSM's, polymeric films, surface coatings, composite materials, and metals. After sample retrieving, inspection and measurements were carried out in atmospheric laboratory conditions on each sample: observation with binocular lenses and scanning electron microscopy, spectral relectance and transmittance using an integrating sphere in the wavelength range 280-2300 nm, emissivity by the means of a Gier & Dunkle portable reflectometer, electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis-x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (ESCA-XPS), and Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy (RBS) measurements on some selected samples. The results obtained from flight were compared to laboratory data obtained in UV-irradiation tests when these data were available. As a general statement a good spectral concordance is observed for all samples not in the canister so long as air recoveries are taken into account. For one material, the degradation is more important for the sample in the canister than for those of the same material mounted at the surface of the tray; for most samples in the canister the degradation is slightly higher than the one which can be predicted from laboratory standard irradiations. Contamination problems having been ruled out, the higher temperature experience by the samples on the inside of canister probably explains these phenomena.

Guillaumon, Jean-Claude↗

Planning Considerations Related to Collecting and Analyzing Samples of the Martian Soils

The Mars Sample Return (MSR) End-to-End International Science Analysis Group (E2E-iSAG [1]) established scientific objectives associ-ated with Mars returned-sample science that require the return and investigation of one or more soil samples. Soil is defined here as loose, unconsolidated materials with no implication for the presence or absence of or-ganic components. The proposed Mars 2020 (M-2020) rover is likely to collect and cache soil in addition to rock samples [2], which could be followed by future sample retrieval and return missions. Here we discuss key scientific consid-erations for sampling and caching soil samples on the proposed M-2020 rover, as well as the state in which samples would need to be preserved when received by analysts on Earth. We are seeking feedback on these draft plans as input to mission requirement formulation. A related planning exercise on rocks is reported in an accompanying abstract [3].

Liu, Yang↗

An Ensemble of Bayesian Neural Networks for Exoplanetary Atmospheric Retrieval

Machine learning (ML) is now used in many areas of astrophysics, from detecting exoplanets in Kepler transit signals to removing telescope systematics. Recent work demonstrated the potential of using ML algorithms for atmospheric retrieval by implementing a random forest (RF) to perform retrievals in seconds that are consistent with the traditional, computationally expensive nested-sampling retrieval method. We expand upon their approach by presenting a new ML model, plan-net, based on an ensemble of Bayesian neural networks (BNNs) that yields more accurate inferences than the RF for the same data set of synthetic transmission spectra. We demonstrate that an ensemble provides greater accuracy and more robust uncertainties than a single model. In addition to being the first to use BNNs for atmospheric retrieval, we also introduce a new loss function for BNNs that learns correlations between the model outputs. Importantly, we show that designing ML models to explicitly incorporate domain-specific knowledge both improves performance and provides additional insight by inferring the covariance of the retrieved atmospheric parameters. We apply plan-net to the Hubble Space Telescope Wide Field Camera 3 transmission spectrum for WASP-12b and retrieve an isothermal temperature and water abundance consistent with the literature. We highlight that our method is flexible and can be expanded to higher resolution spectra and a larger number of atmospheric parameters.

Adam D. Cobb↗