Exploring the Moon & Asteroids: A Synergistic Approach

Transcription

1 Exploring the Moon & Asteroids: A Synergistic Approach Clive R. Neal Dept. Civil Eng. & Geological Sci. University of Notre Dame Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA neal.1@nd.edu

2 Perspective

3 Perspective SCIENCE EXPLORATION SCIENCE & EXPLORATION

4 Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter NASA ESMD Mission to gather data that reduces risk of human return to the Moon. Switched to SMD after 1 year. Instruments: LROC, LOLA, Diviner, Mini-RF, LAMP, LEND, CRaTER. Return global data: - day-night temperature maps, - global geodetic grid, - high resolution color imaging, - the moon's UV albedo. Emphasis on the polar regions: - continuous solar illumination, - PSRs for volatiles. Initial objectives = exploration.

5 Global Exploration Roadmap Moon First, then on to Mars. 14 Countries.

6 Global Exploration Roadmap

7 Focus shift: Near Earth Objects The nearest Near Earth Object NEO-Prime Quicker, cheaper, and safer to get to for humans!

8 Global Exploration Strategy

9 Global Exploration Roadmap Which approach is sustainable and affordable? International collaboration; Political will; Public support; Return on tax-payer investment: - Technology advances; - Jobs - General creation of wealth.

10 Asteroid Exploration Precursor Missions: - Difficult to impossible first human visit possible in 2025? - Relies on telescopic knowledge or results from other asteroid missions; - Increased risk. Vesta

11 Asteroid Exploration Challenges: - Changing lighting/thermal conditions; - asteroids can rotate, some rapidly ( 18 hours). Dawn Hubble

12 Asteroid Exploration Challenges: - Sampling strategy touch-and-go, direct from SEV, anchoring systems; - Risks associated with all if humans involved do they get out of the SEV?

13 Synergies between Lunar and Asteroid Exploration Common themes: - Airless bodies; - Harsh radiation environments; - Dusty environments; Itokawa - Surfaces contain regoliths; - Large temperature swings between night and day; - ISRU potential; - Both contain volatiles and ices.

14 Use the Moon to Enable Asteroid Exploration Pros: - Harsh space environment; - Proximity; - Dust/regolith issues; - ISRU; - Similarity in (some) Technological Developments. Con: - Gravity. Implementation: - International cooperation and commercial participation is critical.

15 Using the Moon to Prepare for Future Missions to Asteroids Parallel Technology Developments Sampling & Preservation Technologies volatiles, ices, regolith, rock; Regolith processing techniques; Robotic Sample Return/Curation Technologies; Radiation protection technologies; Crew health and safety: long duration; psychological & physiological effects; - (leverage from ISS, except radiation).

16 Using the Moon to Prepare for Future Missions to Asteroids Different lighting conditions: EVA light to dark transitions (perception under different shadow/lighting regimes)

17 Using the Moon to Prepare for Future Missions to Asteroids Thermal regimes for equipment doing EVA. More constant on the Moon, but could do lunar control tests on equipment for Asteroid exploration. Robotic-human interactions (teleops., efficiency plans, etc.). Mitigation of suit/tool failures and wear-andtear due to dust interaction, including airlock ports. Tycho Crater, low sun angle

18 Using the Moon to Prepare for Future Missions to Asteroids Plasma-dust environment = Electrostatic issues. Clementine dawn glow Apollo 17 Dusty Suits

19 Using the Moon to Prepare for Future Missions to Asteroids Radiation Environment: tissue equivalent dosimeters exposed for long periods, so applicable to any deep space mission. Testing on radiation shielding strategies and technologies. ISRU initial emphasis on prospecting. Both volatiles and metals. Some business cases have been outlined.

20 Asteroid Exploration Is Human Exploration of Asteroids Sustainable? Limited targets; What would humans do at an asteroid? - Is EVA possible/necessary? After one has been visited, will Mars be a viable target?

21 Lunar Exploration Is Human Exploration of the Moon Sustainable? Proximity; Known resources; Exploration test bed; Prospects for international cooperation; Prospects for commercial involvement early. Need to look at the long-term picture of Solar System exploration by developing capabilities.

22 Lunar Exploration Already done because of Apollo (the been there, done that mentality). Need to look beyond Apollo sortie-type missions. Make the Moon part of an integrated, multi-national Solar System exploration program Next lunar human exploration push should be long term, sustainable, and facilitate Solar System exploration.

23 Lunar Exploration In Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) is the game changer produce fuel and consumables on the lunar surface to enable human exploration of other airless bodies and Mars. Use the Moon to explore the Solar System due to the much reduced gravity well and presence of resources. Enables international cooperation and commercial participation (i.e., jobs!) in space exploration by starting at the Moon with the goal to go much further.

24 The Lunar Exploration Roadmap THEMES GOALS OBJECTIVES INVESTIGATIONS Three Themes: - Science (Sci) - Feed Forward (FF) - Sustainability (Sust) Sustainability is the key: - Transition strategy outlined; - Commercial on ramps are defined; - International cooperation is critical.

25 The Lunar Exploration Roadmap Science (Sci) Theme: Pursue scientific activities to address fundamental questions about the solar system, the universe, and our place in them Why should we go back to the Moon? Feed Forward (FF) Theme: Use the Moon to Prepare for Future Missions to Mars and Other Destinations Sustainability (Sust) Theme: Extend Sustained Human Presence to the Moon to Enable Eventual Settlement

26 Feed Forward (FF) Theme Goal FF-A: Identify and test technologies on the Moon to enable robotic and human solar system science and exploration Feed Forward (FF) Theme: Use the Moon to Prepare for Future Missions to Mars and Other Destinations Goal FF-B: Use the Moon as a test-bed for mission operations and exploration techniques to reduce the risks and increase the productivity of future missions to Mars and beyond Goal FF-C: Preparing for Missions to other Airless Bodies

27 The Lunar Exploration Roadmap Feed Forward (FF) Theme Purpose: Establish mission risk reduction technologies, systems and operational techniques that could be developed through a lunar exploration program evaluation criteria: Mars/Airless Body Risk Reduction Value: How well do the candidates address the key risk reduction areas identified through NASA s robotic and human Mars/Airless Body mission planning studies? Lunar Platform Value: Do candidates leverage the unique attributes of a lunar program to achieve success or would other platforms be more effective from a technical/cost perspective?

28 Goal FF-C: Use the Moon to Prepare for Future Missions to Small Bodies Overarching objectives for Goal FF-C: Ability to operate on a Geologic Surface. Operations on Airless bodies. Development of sampling and sample return technologies & protocols. Development of efficient human-robotic interactions. Develop crew health systems that enable safe, long duration, missions. Operating in an extreme Radiation environment. Develop the capability to acquire and use local resources to sustain long-term exploration crews. Solar System science.

29 Goal FF-C: Use the Moon to Prepare for Future Missions to Small Bodies How the Moon can be used depends on infrastructure availability. LEAG Roadmapping identified 11 Objectives & 31 Investigations. 21 Investigations were given a Medium-High prioritization. Investigation D: Establish dust/electrostatic mitigation technologies. Time Phasing. Early Late: Some data can be gleaned from the Apollo data and using simulants, but need to be tested in a realistic environment. As such, this investigation covers all stages of a lunar exploration program. Priority: High Rationale: Information on dust/electrostatic mitigation is needed early in the Airless Body mission system design.

30 Using the Moon to Prepare for Future Missions to Asteroids The Moon is an Exploration Asset: Technology Development (robotic & human science and exploration); Protection technologies for human missions; Systems Integration for human missions; ISRU for human missions to the Solar System; Proximity as a test-bed.

31 Using the Moon to enable Solar System Exploration Phobos Deimos

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33 Goal FF-C: Use the Moon to Prepare for Future Missions to Small Bodies Objective FF-C-7: Develop the capability for productive and efficient human-robotic interaction in the exploration of planetary surfaces. Investigation F: Testing exploration systems under different lighting conditions. Time Phasing. Early Middle: Robotic exploration can begin this investigation, which can then be advanced to systems that support human exploration. Priority: High Rationale: The Moon is the best place to test such technologies for the exploration of Airless Bodies.

34 Goal FF-C: Use the Moon to Prepare for Future Missions to Small Bodies Objective FF-C-9: Establish an administrative structure and cost effective surface systems to facilitate strong international cooperation. Investigation D: Develop cost effective surface systems that can be developed in a relatively short period of time. Time Phasing. Early: Early planning for lunar program needs to incorporate cost-effective approaches. Priority: High Rationale: Changes in NASA approach to large scale human exploration are required to enable human Mars missions. The lunar program is uniquely positioned in time to gain this experience.

35 Goal FF-C: Use the Moon to Prepare for Future Missions to Small Bodies How the Moon can be used depends on infrastructure availability. LEAG Roadmapping identified 11 Objectives & 31 Investigations. 21 Investigations were given a Medium-High prioritization. Objective FF-C-6: Develop the capability for human crews to operate safely on planetary surfaces, protected from the extreme environment and hazards. Investigation A: Test radiation shielding technologies. Time Phasing: Early: Data points collected from early robotic and human lunar missions could be valuable in informing design decision for Airless Body missions. Priority: High Rationale: ISS is within the Van Allen belts protecting the crews/equipment from most radiation.

36 Goal FF-C: Use the Moon to Prepare for Future Missions to Small Bodies Investigation D: Establish dust/electrostatic mitigation technologies. Time Phasing. Early Late: Some data can be gleaned from the Apollo data and using simulants, but need to be tested in a realistic environment. As such, this investigation covers all stages of a lunar exploration program. Priority: High Rationale: Information on dust /electrostatic mitigation is needed early in the Airless Body mission system design.