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Results for “interplanetary exploration”

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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At least 19 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2005

New Directions in Space Operations Services in Support of Interplanetary Exploration

To gain access to the necessary operational processes and data in support of NASA's Lunar/Mars Exploration Initiative, new services, adequate levels of computing cycles and access to myriad forms of data must be provided to onboard spacecraft and ground based personnel/systems (earth, lunar and Martian) to enable interplanetary exploration by humans. These systems, cycles and access to vast amounts of development, test and operational data will be required to provide a new level of services not currently available to existing spacecraft, on board crews and other operational personnel. Although current voice, video and data systems in support of current space based operations has been adequate, new highly reliable and autonomous processes and services will be necessary for future space exploration activities. These services will range from the more mundane voice in LEO to voice in interplanetary travel which because of the high latencies will require new voice processes and standards. New services, like component failure predictions based on data mining of significant quantities of data, located at disparate locations, will be required. 3D or holographic representation of onboard components, systems or family members will greatly improve maintenance, operations and service restoration not to mention crew morale. Current operational systems and standards, like the Internet Protocol, will not able to provide the level of service required end to end from an end point on the Martian surface like a scientific instrument to a researcher at a university. Ground operations whether earth, lunar or Martian and in flight operations to the moon and especially to Mars will require significant autonomy that will require access to highly reliable processing capabilities, data storage based on network storage technologies. Significant processing cycles will be needed onboard but could be borrowed from other locations either ground based or onboard other spacecraft. Reliability will be a key factor with onboard and distributed backup processing an absolutely necessary requirement. Current cluster processing/Grid technologies may provide the basis for providing these services. An overview of existing services, future services that will be required and the technologies and standards required to be developed will be presented. The purpose of this paper will be to initiate a technological roadmap, albeit at a high level, of current voice, video, data and network technologies and standards (which show promise for adaptation or evolution) to what technologies and standards need to be redefined, adjusted or areas where new ones require development. The roadmap should begin the differentiation between non manned and manned processes/services where applicable. The paper will be based in part on the activities of the CCSDS Monitor and Control working group which is beginning the process of standardization of the these processes. Another element of the paper will be based on an analysis of current technologies supporting space flight processes and services at JSC, MSFC, GSFC and to a lesser extent at KSC. Work being accomplished in areas such as Grid computing, data mining and network storage at ARC, IBM and the University of Alabama at Huntsville will be researched and analyzed.

Bradford, Robert N.↗
NASA NTRS1996

An Automomous Optical Navigation and Control System for Interplanetary Exploration Missions

The first fully autonomous deep-space navigation system ever implemented is planned to guide the New Millenium Deep Space-1 mission to an asteroid and comet beginning in mid-1998. This system is based to a large extent on Optical Navigation (OPNAV) technology developed for the NASA/JPL interplanetary exploration probes Voyager and Galileo. This paper describes the structure and algorithmic content of the Autonomous OPNAV system. The system has several major autonomous functions: picture planning, image analysis, orbit determination, manuever design and general interaction with other onboard autonomous systems.

optical navigation↗
DOE OSTI2024

CubeSat Interplanetary Exploration: A Deep Dive into Nuclear Propulsion and Astrodynamics for Small Satellites

CubeSats are small satellites most commonly used by universities, however, nowadays places like NASA are looking to CubeSats for interplanetary missions. Because of their universal form fit it makes them cost effective, economical, and therefor desirable for deep space. To achieve deep space exploration, we must explore the applications of propulsion and astrodynamics on small satellites. This paper will touch on one scaling Ion and chemical propulsion as well as nuclear kilo reactors. Two choreographing a flight path for these small satellites and lastly designing an efficient cost-effective platform for CubeSats to get to deep space territory.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
NASA NTRS2000

Laser Technology in Interplanetary Exploration: The Past and the Future

Laser technology has been used in planetary exploration for many years but it has only been in the last decade that laser altimeters and ranging systems have been selected as flight instruments alongside cameras, spectrometers, magnetometers, etc. Today we have an active laser system operating at Mars and another destined for the asteroid Eros. A few years ago a laser ranging system on the Clementine mission changed much of our thinking about the moon and in a few years laser altimeters will be on their way to Mercury, and also to Europa. Along with the increased capabilities and reliability of laser systems has came the realization that precision ranging to the surface of planetary bodies from orbiting spacecraft enables more scientific problems to be addressed, including many associated with planetary rotation, librations, and tides. In addition, new Earth-based laser ranging systems working with similar systems on other planetary bodies in an asynchronous transponder mode will be able to make interplanetary ranging measurements at the few cm level and will advance our understanding of solar system dynamics and relativistic physics.

Smith, David E.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Interplanetary exploration-A challenge for photovoltaics

Future U.S. interplanetary missions will be less complex and costly than past missions such as Voyager and the soon to be launched, Galileo. This is required to achieve a balanced exploration program that can be sustained within the context of a limited budget. Radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs) have served as the power source for missions beyond the orbit of Mars. It is indicated that the cost to the user of these power sources will significantly increase. Solar arrays can provide a low cost alternative for a number of missions. Potential missions are identified along with concerns for implementation, and some array configurations under present investigation are reviewed.

Stella, P. M.↗