Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Lunar Surface Systems: International and Technology needs

Dr. Michael R. Lowry

  • James Webb Telescope (2014): Successor to Hubble Telescope.
  • Kepler Telescope (2009): JPL + NASA. Has photometer. Searching Earth sized planets. Higher signal to noise ratio than ground based telescopes.
  • LCROSS (October 9 2009): Lunar CRater Observation and Sensing Satellite. Threw up 90 litres of water into the air. Recoverable water. Anomaly: Communications black out. IMU star tracker failover. Ping pong between control deadband. Lack of sensor resolution. Insufficient full failure mode analysis. Software patch uploaded.
  • Aircraft like design of Low Earth Orbit spacecrafts. Longest runway. $1.5 billion amortised cost for every use.
  • Constellation: Solid rocket booster carrying occupants. Altair Lunar Lander (heavier). Pad abort test (new capsule).
  • Augustine Commission: Budgetary considerations. Mars exploration. Launch alternatives. "Flexible path".
  • Interplanetary Flotsam and Jetsam: 4.5 billion year old rock from Mars. Fossil evidence. Primitive Martian life.
  • Getting to Mars
  • Preliminary Lunar Surface System. International guidance.
  • South poles are good. Always sunny. Use solar panels perpendicular to the ground.
  • Space transportation: Rocket equation. Carry mass (fuel) to and from Mars/Earth. Launch window, Flexible Path, Aero braking, Production of fuel remotely, Ion propulsion.
  • Rover: Radiation protection, dust mitigation, guidance matching terrain maps, teleoperated navigation.
  • Communication: Space certification, disruption, QoS, reconfigurable networks.
  • High efficiency, high recovery ECLSS (Environmental Control and Support System).
  • Light weight structures.
  • Smart home systems: iPhone application.
  • Planning done at Mars and only call back to Earth when help is needed.
  • Safety certification: Class A mission standards.
  • Plug and play certification of open architectures.
  • Interoperability.
  • Extend human civilisations
  • Ancient systems for radiation resistance.
  • Mars: A death cemetery for robotic explorations.
  • Contracting out parts of missions.
Michael.R.Lowry@nasa.gov


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