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54 records · Page 3

Spacecraft/Rover Hybrids for the Exploration of Small Solar System Bodies: NASA NIAC - Phase I Study

This study investigated a novel mission architecture for the systematic and affordable in-situ exploration of small Solar System bodies. Specifically, a mother spacecraft would deploy over the surface of a small body one, or several, spacecraft/rover hybrids, which are small, multi-faceted enclosed robots with internal actuation and external spikes. They would be capable of 1) long excursions (by hopping), 2) short traverses to specific locations (through a sequence of controlled tumbles), and 3) high-altitude, attitude-controlled ballistic flight (akin to spacecraft flight). Their control would rely on synergistic operations with the mother spacecraft (where most of hybrids' perception and localization functionalities would be hosted), which would make the platforms minimalistic and, in turn, the entire mission architecture affordable.

Mobility↗

Theoretical overview and modeling of the sodium and potassium atmospheres of mercury

A general theoretical overview for the sources, sinks, gas-surface interactions, and transport dynamics of sodium and potassium in the exospheric atmsophere of Mercury is given. Information for these four factors, which control the spatial distribution of these two alkali-group gases about the planet, is incorporated in numerical models. The spatial nature and relative importance of the initial source atom atmosphere and the ambient (ballistic hopping) atom atmosphere are then examined and are shown to be controlled and coupled to a great extent by the extremely large and variable solar radiation acceleration experienced by sodium and potassium as they resonantly scatter solar photons. The lateral (antisunward) transport rate of thermally accommodated sodium and potassium ambient atoms is shown to be driven by the solar radiation acceleration and, over a significant portion of Mercury's orbit about the Sun, is sufficiently rapid to be competitive with the short photoionization lifetimes for these atoms when they are located on the summit surface near or within about 30 deg of the terminator. The lateral transport rate is characterized by a migration time determined by model calculations for an ensemble of atoms initially starting at a point source on the surface (i.e., a numerical spacetime dependent Green's function). Four animations for the spacetime evolution of the sodium (or potassium) atmosphere produced by a point source on the surface are presented on a videotape format. For extended surface sources for sodium and potassium, the local column density is determined by competition between the photoionization lifetimes and the lateral transport times of atoms originating from different surface source locations. Sodium surface source fluxes (referenced to Mercury at perihelion) that are required on the sunlit hemisphere to reproduce the typically observed several megarayleighs of D2 emission-line brightness and the inferred column densities of 1-2 x 10(exp 11) atoms per sq cm range from approximately 2-5 x 10(exp 7) atoms/sq cm/sec. The sodium model is applied to study observational data that document an anticorrelation in the average sodium column density and solar radiation acceleration. Lateral transport driven by the solar radiation acceleration is shown to produce this behavior for combinations of different sources and surface accomodation coefficients. The best fit model fits to the observational data require a significant degree of thermal accommodation of the ambient sodium atoms to the surface and a source rate that decreases as an inverse power of 1.5 to 2 in heliocentric distance.

Smyth, William H.↗

Technology Development and Demonstration Concepts for the Space Elevator

During the 1990s several discoveries and advances in the development of carbon nano-tube (CNT) materials indicated that material strengths many times greater than common high-strength composite materials might be possible. Progress in the development of this material led to renewed interest in the space elevator concept for construction of a tether structure from the surface of the Earth through a geostationary orbit (GEO) and thus creating a new approach to Earth-to-orbit transportation infrastructures. To investigate this possibility the author, in 1999, managed for NASA a space elevator work:hop at the Marshall Space Flight Center to explore the potential feasibility of space elevators in the 21 century, and to identify the critical technologies and demonstration missions needed to make development of space elevators feasible. Since that time, a NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts (NIAC) funded study of the Space Elevator proposed a concept for a simpler first space elevator system using more near-term technologies. This paper will review some of the latest ideas for space elevator development, the critical technologies required, and some of the ideas proposed for demonstrating the feasibility for full-scale development of an Earth to GEO space elevator. Critical technologies include CNT composite materials, wireless power transmission, orbital object avoidance, and large-scale tether deployment and control systems. Numerous paths for technology demonstrations have been proposed utilizing ground experiments, air structures. LEO missions, the space shuttle, the international Space Station, GEO demonstration missions, demonstrations at the lunar L1 or L2 points, and other locations. In conclusion, this paper finds that the most critical technologies for an Earth to GEO space elevator include CNT composite materials development and object avoidance technologies; that lack of successful development of these technologies need not preclude continued development of space elevator systems in general; and that the critical technologies required for the Earth to GEO space elevator are not required for similar systems at the Moon, Mars, Europa, or for orbital tether systems at GEO, Luna, and other locations.

Smitherman, David V., Jr.↗

Propulsion dynamics of lunar hoppers

A feasibility study was recently completed on a hopping transporter concept for locomotion on the moon. Termed a Lunar Pogo because it would operate similarly to a conventional pogo stick, this vehicle would accelerate up an inclined leg, pick up the leg, and then enter ballistic flight over the moon's surface. Upon recontacting the lunar surface, the Lunar Pogo would decelerate down the leg. Propulsion would be provided by expansion of gas against a piston. Operation would be partially conservative because much of the energy expended by the gas during takeoff would be recovered by compressing the gas during landing. Two models of the ballistics and propulsion have been set up to estimate performance. The simplified first-order model illuminates the thermodynamics of ideal operation. The second-order model, which includes realistic effects such as sliding, provides a better approximation to actual performance. In a one-man Lunar Pogo, an astronaut would typically make 15-m (50-ft) leaps at an average speed of 5-8 km (3-5 miles) per hour.

Meetin, R. J.↗

Propulsive trajectory optimization to minimize surface contamination

MOTIVATION: We present an optimization technique for propulsive vehicles that autonomously minimizes contamination during surface approach and landing. In addition to short-range hoppers, the optimization technique is also fully applicable to traditional orbit-to-surface landers. This study addresses scenarios where surface alterations from propulsion events are counterproductive or hazardous to the mission objectives. This is of immediate interest for landers (whether human or robotic), that may rely on pristine soils collected in the immediate vicinity of landing sites to accomplish science investigations, mining, or ISRU surface operations. Such missions are averse to various surface-plume interactions such as thermal scoring, physical agitation, and contamination. The capability can be applied with minimal impact to the baseline mission concept. METHODS: Optimization algorithms have been developed to calculate descent trajectories and maneuvers, thrust magnitude, and attitude for various mission cases. These parameters are determined as an optimal solution when minimizing either fuel consumption, contamination deposited at the landing site, or some weighted combination of both. Among constraints imposed on the solution, we examined pitch rate, vertical takeoff and vertical landing (VTVL) requirements, size of the contamination zone, and minimum ground clearance during flight. This tool provides unique, non-intuitive solutions and can be a valuable resource for mission planners. RESULTS: A variety of agile trajectory solutions were obtained, each yielding different reductions in landing site contamination and corresponding to only modest increases in fuel consumption. Several optimal trajectories were obtained by varying the contamination weight in the fitness function. As expected, when the contamination weight is zero, the trajectory appears close to parabolic since the optimization scheme only attempts to minimize for fuel utilization, yielding essentially, the expected ballistic trajectory. Notably for contamination weights greater than zero, trajectory inflections are observed in the descent phase, which manifests as hovering or additional, mini “pseudo hops” before the final touchdown. A trajectory inflection is characterized by arresting the majority of the spacecraft vertical velocity component at a coordinate outside of the landing target, and without violating ground clearance constraints. FUTURE WORK: Our optimization technique is ready for laboratory or field demonstrations to validate the sophisticated maneuvering solutions obtained for fuel optimization and surface preservation. An appropriate testbed would validate the optimal guidance algorithms, the navigation system, and sensor suite by emulating vehicle flight in closed loop robotic tests. Critically, these algorithms could then be ported to flight software for implementation.

surface contamination↗

Design for the Structure and the Mechanics of Moballs

The moball is envisioned to be a round, self-powered, and wind-driven multifunctioning sensor used in the Gone with the Wind ON-Mars (GOWON) [http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/ marsconcepts2012/pdf/4238.pdf]: A Wind-Driven Networked System of Mobile sensors on Mars. The moballs would have sensing, processing, and communication capabilities. The moballs would perform in situ detection of key environmental elements such as vaporized water, trace gases, wind, dust, clouds, light and UV exposure, temperature, as well as minerals of interest, possible biosignatures, surface magnetic and electric fields, etc. The embedded various low-power micro instruments could include a Multispectral Microscopic Imager (to detect various minerals), a compact curved focal plane array camera (UV/Vis/NIR) with a large field of view, a compact UV/Visible spectrometer, a micro-weather station, etc. The moballs could communicate with each other and an orbiter. Their wind- or gravity-driven rolling movement could be used to harvest and store electric energy. They could also generate and store energy using the sunlight, when available, and the diurnal temperature variations on Mars. The moballs would be self-aware of their (and their neighbors ) positions, energy storage, and memory availability; they would have processing power and could intelligently cooperate with neighboring moballs by distributing tasks, sharing data, and fusing information. The major advantages of using the wind-driven and spherical moball network over rovers or other fixed sensor webs to explore Mars would be: (1) moballs could explore a much larger expanse of Mars in a much faster fashion, (2) they could explore the difficult terrains such as steep slopes and sand dunes, and (3) they would be self-energy- generating and could work together and move around autonomously. The challenge in designing the structure and the mechanics of the moball would be that it should be sturdy enough to withstand the impact of its initial fall, as well as other impacts from obstacles in its way. A mechanism would be needed that could enable hundreds of moballs to be carried while they would be deflated and compact, then would inflate them just after deploying them to their drop site. Furthermore, the moballs should also be light enough to allow them to move easily over obstacles by force of the wind. They also should have some kind of maneuvering mechanism in place to help them avoid very hazardous sharp objects or events, and to enable them to get closer to the objects of interest. The structure of the moballs was designed so that they would have different layers. The outer layer should comprise a sturdy, yet light, polymer that could withstand both the impact of the initial drop, as well as the impact of the different obstacles it would encounter while traversing the surface of Mars. This polymer should not deteriorate with the 100 K daily temperature swings on Mars. The inner layer should consist of a very light gas such as nitrogen or helium. In terms of maneuvering, six very light weights placed at strategic locations would give moballs the ability to turn, or even hop, over hazardous (e.g., sharp) obstacles, or even initiate a movement (before getting more help from the wind to be carried around) when stuck. Maneuvering would be necessary in order to get closer to objects of interest. If the weights would be allowed to move freely, they could also be used to generate energy.

Davoodi, Faranak↗

30/20 GHz communications satellite multibeam antenna

A 20 GHz downlink satellite antenna design is described. The aperture simultaneously radiates 18 fixed, 0.3 deg width pencil beams directed at 18 cities distributed over CONUS for Trunking Service. All beams use the same trunk frequency allocation for 18 reuses of the band. The same aperture also radiates six additional 0.3 deg spot beams for Customer Premises Service (CPS) for TDMA beam hopping operation to small terminals anywhere in CONUS. Each CPS beam scans one sector of CONUS and all six beams are frequency reused in a CPS band. Offset dual reflector optics are used with a feed array and multiport beam forming network (BFN). For so many frequency reuses, sidelobes per beam must be 30 to 40 dB down over CONUS. Novel dual reflector optics were devised with shaped surfaces providing low aberrations for all beam positions over CONUS (+ or - 12 BW by + or - 5 BW). Scan loss under 1 dB is calculated with nearly constant sidelobes. For each beam position, a 7-element cluster of feeds is activated in the feed array with coefficients adjusted by the BFN to maintain low sidelobes and thus high beam isolation for frequency reuse.

Scott, W. G.↗

Broadband Continuous Single-mode Tuning of a Short-cavity Quantum-cascade VECSEL

Changing the length of a laser cavity is a simple technique for continuously tuning the wavelength of a laserbutis rarelyused for broad fractional tuning, with a notable exception of the diode laser VCSEL1,2. This is because, to avoid mode hopping, the cavity must be keptopticallyshort to ensure a large free-spectral-range (FSR) compared to the gain bandwidth of the amplifying material. Terahertz quantum-cascade (QC) lasers are ideal candidates for such a short cavity scheme as they demonstrate exceptional gain bandwidths (up to octave spanning) and can be integrated with broadband amplifying metasurfaces. We present such a QC-metasurface based vertical-external-cavity surface-emitting-laser (VECSEL) that exhibits over 20% continuous fractional tuning of a single laser mode. Such tuning is possible because the metasurface has sub-wavelength thickness which allows lasing on low-order Fabry-Pérot cavity modes. Good beam quality and high output power are simultaneously obtained.

Christopher A Curwen↗

Mars Surface Mobility Leading to Sustainable Exploration

A Mars rocket-propelled hopper concept was evaluated for feasibility through analysis and experiments. The approach set forth in this paper is to combine the use of in-situ resources in a new Mars mobility concept that will greatly enhance the science return while providing the first opportunity towards reducing the risk of incorporating ISRU into the critical path for the highly coveted, but currently unaffordable, sample return mission. Experimental tests were performed on a high-pressure, self-throttling gaseous oxygen/methane propulsion system to simulate a two-burn-with-coast hop profile. Analysis of the trajectory, production plant requirements, and vehicle mass indicates that a small hopper vehicle could hop 2 km every 30 days with an initial mass of less than 60 kg. A larger vehicle can hop 15 km every 30 to 60 days with an initial mass of 300 to 430 kg.

Linne, Diane L.↗

A study of pulse surface flashover in a vacuum

The prebreakdown phenomenon of pulsed surface flashover across solid insulators has been observed in a vacuum using image converter photography. A very good time and space resolution has been obtained. In summary, it was found that visible light (low luminosity) is initially emitted from the cathode and the light front propagates at a constant speed of approximately 1 X 10 to the 7th power ms. This low luminous light has a banded structure corresponding to the electron hopping distance as proposed in theoretical flashover models, and the light intensity gradually increases as it travels towards the anode. The bright light starts from the anode and expands towards the cathode, bridging the gap within 0.5 ns.

Lakdawala, Vishnukumar K.↗

Interface states and internal photoemission in p-type GaAs metal-oxide-semiconductor surfaces

An interface photodischarge study of p-type GaAs metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) structures revealed the presence of deep interface states and shallow donors and acceptors which were previously observed in n-type GaAs MOS through sub-band-gap photoionization transitions. For higher photon energies, internal photoemission was observed, i.e., injection of electrons to the conduction band of the oxide from either the metal (Au) or from the GaAs valence band; the threshold energies were found to be 3.25 and 3.7 + or - 0.1 eV, respectively. The measured photoemission current exhibited a thermal activation energy of about 0.06 eV, which is consistent with a hopping mechanism of electron transport in the oxide.

Kashkarov, P. K.↗

Characterization of erosion of metallic materials under cavitation attack in a mineral oil

Cavitation erosion and erosion rates of eight metallic materials representing three crystal structures were studied. The erosion experiments were conducted with a 20-kHz ultrasonic magnetostrictive oscillator in a viscous mineral oil. The erosion rates of the metals with an fcc matrix were 10 to 100 times higher than that of an hop-matrix titanium alloy. The erosion rates of iron and molybdenum, with bcc matrices, were higher than that of the titanium alloy but lower than those of those of the fcc materials. Studies with scanning electron microscopy indicated that the cavitation pits were initially formed at the grain boundaries and precipitates and that the pits formed at the junction of grain boundaries grew faster than the others. Transcrystalline craters formed by cavitation attack over the surface of grains and roughened the surfaces by multiple slip and twinning. Surface roughness measurements showed that the pits that formed over the grain boundaries deepened faster than pits. Computer analysis revealed that a geometric expression describes the nondimensional erosion curves during the time period 0.5 t (sub 0) t 2.5 t (sub 0), where t (sub 0) is the incubation period. The fcc metals had very short incubation periods; the titanium alloy had the longest incubation period.

Rao, B. C. S.↗

Kinetic Monte Carlo Simulation of Oxygen Diffusion in Ytterbium Disilicate

Silicon-based ceramic components for next-generation jet turbine engines offer potential weight savings, as well as higher operating temperatures, both of which lead to increased efficiency and lower fuel costs. Silicon carbide (SiC), in particular, offers low density, good strength at high temperatures, and good oxidation resistance in dry air. However, reaction of SiC with high-temperature water vapor, as found in the hot section of jet turbine engines in operation, can cause rapid surface recession, which limits the lifetime of such components. Environmental Barrier Coatings (EBCs) are therefore needed if long component lifetime is to be achieved. Rare earth silicates such as Yb2Si2O7 and Yb2SiO5 have been proposed for such applications; in an effort to better understand diffusion in such materials, we have performed kinetic Monte Carlo (kMC) simulations of oxygen diffusion in Ytterbium disilicate, Yb2- Si2O7. The diffusive process is assumed to take place via the thermally activated hopping of oxygen atoms among oxygen vacancy sites or among interstitial sites. Migration barrier energies are computed using density functional theory (DFT).

Computer Simulation↗

Modeling and Simulation of Vehicle Dynamics on the Surface of Phobos

In this paper we analyze the dynamics of a spacecraft in proximity of Phobos by developing the equations of motion of a test mass in the Phobos rotating frame using a model based on circularly-restricted three body problem, and by analyzing the dynamics of a ATHLETE hopper vehicle interacting with the soil under different soil-interaction conditions. The main conclusion of the numerical studies is that the system response is dominated by the stiffness and damping parameters of the leg springs, with the soil characteristics having a much smaller effect. The system simulations identify ranges of parameters for which the vehicle emerges stably (relying only on the passive viscoelastic damper at each leg) or unstably (needing active attitude control) from the hop. The implication is that further experimental and possibly computational modeling work, as well as site characterization (from precursor missions) will be necessary to obtain validated performance models.

soil-structure interaction↗

Pluto Hop, Skip, and Jump

This is the Final Report from Global Aerospace Corporation on this NIAC effort (Grant Nos.: NNX17AJ71G and 80NSSC18K0062) to develop the Pluto Hop, Skip, and Jump mission concept. We sought out to establish the feasibility of using a large inflatable drag device to decelerate and land on Pluto from interplanetary speed (~14 km/s) using only the Pluto atmosphere and just a few kilograms of propellant. The design and analysis efforts in Phase I indicated that this is feasible. Aerodynamic heating and loads were found to be orders of magnitude less than typical planetary entries due to the ultra-low ballistic coefficient craft and the low density and large scale height of the Pluto atmosphere. The deceleration system is capable of delivering a 200-kg lander-hopper to the surface or inserting an orbiter of a similar mass using aerocapture. Mission analysis work led to a reference mission with Earth launch in 2029, Jupiter assist in 2030, and Pluto arrival in 2040.

Goldman, Benjamin↗

Risk Assessment of Cassini Sun Sensor Integrity Due to Hypervelocity Impact of Saturn Dust Particles

A sophisticated interplanetary spacecraft, Cassini is one of the heaviest and most sophisticated interplanetary spacecraft humans have ever built and launched. Since achieving orbit at Saturn in 2004, Cassini has collected science data throughout its four-year prime mission (2004-08), and has since been approved for first and second extended missions through September 2017. In late 2016, the Cassini spacecraft will begin a daring set of ballistic orbits that will hop the rings and dive between the upper atmosphere of Saturn and its innermost D-ring twenty-two times. The "dusty" environment of the inner D-ring region the spacecraft must fly through is hazardous because of the possible damage that dust particles, travelling at speeds as high as 31.4 km/s, can do to spacecraft hardware. During hazardous proximal ring-plane crossings, the Cassini mission operation team plans to point the high-gain antenna to the RAM vector in order to protect most of spacecraft instruments from the incoming energetic ring dust particles. However, this particular spacecraft attitude will expose two Sun sensors (that are mounted on the antenna dish) to the incoming dust particles. High-velocity impacts on the Sun sensor cover glass might penetrate the 2.54-mm glass cover of the Sun sensor. Even without penetration damage, craters created by these impacts on the surface of the cover glass will degrade the transmissibility of light through it. Apart from being directly impacted by the dust particles, the Sun sensors are also threatened by some fraction of ricochet ejecta that are produced by dust particle impacts on the large antenna dish (made of graphite fiber epoxy composite material). Finally, the spacecraft attitude control system must cope with disturbances due to both the translational and angular impulses imparted on the large antenna dish and the long magnetometer boom by the incoming high-velocity projectiles. Analyses performed to quantify the risks the Sun sensors must contend with during these hazardous ring-plane crossings are given in this paper

Lee, Allan Y.↗

WOBBLE: A Proposed Mission to Characterize Past and Present Water on Mars

WOBBLE ("Water Observations from a Balloon Borne Light Explorer") is a mission concept study for a small robotic probe to explore Mars and to accomplish a scientific mission compatible with the goals of the NASA Code S enterprise. The detection of past or present water is a crucial goal for Mars exploration, representing a cross-cutting science theme relevant to past or extant life, climate history, sample return missions and eventual human exploration. The WOBBLE mission concept was developed to study evidence of water using in-situ detection methods. The features on Mars most suited to this investigation are the gullies identified by Malin and Edgett as evidence for recent, near-surface runoff of liquid water. These features are typically located on the inside face of crater rims, where the local slope angle is at or near the angle of repose. This makes the terrain difficult or impossible to access with conventional wheeled rover technology. Combined with the small size of the gullies in relation to a standard landing error ellipse, scientific investigation of these features requires a new approach to surface mobility. WOBBLE uses a low-altitude balloon-borne platform to traverse the surface from the landing site, to the investigation site, and then rise up the slope to investigate the regions of interest at close range. Of the mobility technologies available for near-term Mars exploration, only a balloon platform is capable of a well targeted, detailed sampling of the gully regions over periods of days or more. The science approach embodied in WOBBLE is two-pronged, designed to investigate both the historical evidence of liquid water utilizing high-resolution geomorphology and the characterization of mineral deposits, and present subsurface liquid water using radar sounding techniques. The WOBBLE balloon is a high-pressure hydrogen gas design, 24 meters in diameter and lifting a total payload of 130 kg, including a high-resolution camera/IR imager, Raman spectrometer, and a ground penetrating radar (GPR) sounder. The stowed balloon and payload are designed to fit within the current airbag delivery system being built for the Mars Exploration Rovers. Characterization of local meteorological conditions and wind is made over the initial sols following landing and before balloon inflation. Following balloon inflation and launch, a controlled, targeted approach toward the identified regions of interest is made in a series of several low-altitude "hops," with the balloon tethered to the ground between the hop intervals. A "snake" system is used to control the altitude to a few tens of meters above the local ground level. Enroute to the target gully, GPR soundings and Raman spectroscopy measurements study past or present water, while continued camera bearings and meteorological measurements refine the next "hop" trajectory. Once at the gully/outflow region, GPR and Raman soundings continue while the camera obtains detailed, approx. 0.5 cm images for geomorphology studies. The WOBBLE concept is applicable to Mars Scout, Mars Surveyor, or Discovery class missions.

Udrea, Bogdan↗

SIIOS in Alaska: Testing an "In-Vault" Option for a Europa Lander Seismometer Experiment

The icy moons of Europa and Enceladus are thought to have global subsurface oceans in contact with mineral-rich silicate interiors, likely providing the three ingredients needed for life as we know it: liquid water, essential chemicals, and a source of energy. The possibility of life forming in their subsurface oceans relies in part on transfer of oxidants from the irradiated ice surface to the sheltered ocean below. Constraining the mechanisms and location of material exchange between the ice surface, the ice shell, and the subsurface ocean, however, is not possible without knowledge of ice thickness and liquid water depths. In a future lander-based experiment seismic measurements will be a key geophysical tool for obtaining this critical knowledge. The Seismometer to Investigate Ice and Ocean Structure (SIIOS) field-tests flight-ready technologies and develops the analytical methods necessary to make a seismic study of Europa and Enceladus a reality. We have been performing small-array seismology with a flight-candidate sensor in analog environments that exploit passive sources. Determining the depth to a subsurface ocean and any intermediate bodies of water is a priority for Ocean Worlds missions as it allows assessment of the habitability of these worlds and provides vital information for evaluating the spacecraft technologies required to access their oceans.

Bray, Veronica J.↗