Testing the Composition of Ganymede

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1 PHILLIPS 01 Testing the Composition of Ganymede Can We Dig It? Yes We Can 12/4/2012 Phillips High School Team 1, the, will be testing the composition of the surface of Ganymede.

2 1.0 Introduction NASA is launching a space probe that is going to be traveling to Jupiter s biggest moon, Ganymede. To gain speed the probe is flying by Earth, Venus, and then Earth again, this process is known as VEEGA. Attached to the spacecraft will be payload that must be no larger than 44cm by 24cm by 28cm and can weigh no more than 5kg. Humpty Dumpty (HD) is our payload design concept for the use of surveying and discovering the elemental composition of the surface of Ganymede. 2.0 Science Question and Measurements What are the elements that make up the ice on the moon Ganymede and what are their percentages? Humpty Dumpty is going to determine the chemical composition of the surface of Ganymede. Humpty Dumpty is going to determine exactly what elements make up the ice surface on Ganymede and the percent of each element. Earth s composition is different all around the world. If it is different on Ganymede, only certain places could sustain life. If there is only H2O everywhere there is a possibility of being able to use that water for Earth making the H2O useful on Ganymede but if there are other elements there may be a good use for that element on Earth. Table 1. Science Traceability Matrix (Draft) Science Objective Measurement Objective Measurement Requirement Instrument Selected Test the composition of the ice on the surface of Ganymede What are the elements and the percentage of each Few hours Mass Spectrometer Table 2. Instrument Requirements (Draft) Instrument Mass (kg) Power (W) Raw Data (Mb) Lifetime Frequency Duration Miniature 800g (.80 kg) 5W 30mb/s >4 hours Radio Few seconds Mass Spectrometer operation frequency 3 khz 3000 Hz Accelerometer 50g (.05 kg) 15.2 W.53 mb/h Battery 3Hz to 5kHz Whole time Transmitter Assumed 600g (.60kg) Usb-powered device; receives power from host Drill 18g (.018 kg) Receives power from the processor 17.5 mb/s Battery 2.4 GHz Few minutes None None Few minutes Processor 65.84g 45 watts 4mb Battery 2400 Whole time Battery 624g (.624kg) 180W 2 hours Whole time Page 2

3 1.0 Engineering Requirements Proposal The limiting constraints for the payload concept are: 5kg mass Volume when stowed: 44cm x 24cm x 28cm. Method of transmitting data to the landing craft. Ability to survive on the surface of Ganymede. (temperatures of 90K to 160K) No harm to the main spacecraft. The payload Humpty Dumpty easily falls below these limits. The final estimated mass of the payload is ~ 5 kg., the final estimated volume is 44cm x 24cm x 28cm, and transmitter to send the analysis back to the lander. 2.0 Alternative Concepts Both concepts are very similar they both use a mass spectrometer the landing and sample retrieval are different. Concept one uses the idea of an egg that will have a parachute type object to slow the payload down and has a waterwheel device with ice pick like claws on it to dig and collect the ice sample. Concept two has expanding wings to make the payload glide slowing it down before it hits the ground keeping the payload intact. It uses a hollow drill to dig down and collect a sample when it s brought back up it will be tilted sliding the sample out to be tested. Figure 1. Group 1 Concept Figure 2. Group 2 Concept Page 3

4 3.0 Decision Analysis Group one got together and decided that the payload should be surrounded by an egg shaped shell so the mass spectrometer could have protection against the ice. The payload would have a claw that could pick up the ice and pull it into the payload for the mass spectrometer to test. Group two got together and decided the payload could have wings that would glide the payload safely to the surface of Ganymede. The payload would have a core drill attached that could drill into the surface and collect the ice sample and send it to the mass spectrometer to be tested. Table 3. Payload Decision Analysis Figure of Merit Weight Group 1 Concept (egg + claw) Group 2 Concept (wings + drill) Accuracy Durability (capable of withstanding the environment of Ganymede) Risk Power Mass Volume Total Analysis We decided that the claw on alternative one was too risky to use on the surface of Ganymede because it would more than likely not be able to dig down into the ice. The drill would be a more sufficient way to get into the ice to find the elements. The wings on alternative two would not be able to glide on Ganymede because Ganymede has no atmosphere; therefore, having no way of pressure against the wings. We decided that the egg was more sufficient so the mass spectrometer would have protection against the ice. The problem with the egg was that the Page 4

payload might flip upside down or sideways so we came up with the idea of a gyro bowl technique and re-did our payload and made our payload more sufficient for the atmosphere of Ganymede and the ice

We will have a carbon fiber barrel that our payload will be inside to help rifle the payload off of the lander.

The payload itself will be inside the egg; it will be connected by pins to the egg using the gyro bowl technique to keep the payload upright so it will not land upside down.

5 payload might flip upside down or sideways so we came up with the idea of a gyro bowl technique and re-did our payload and made our payload more sufficient for the atmosphere of Ganymede and the ice surface. 5.0 Final Design Humpty Dumpty is our final design for our payload. Our payload will be launched off of the lander by a gas compression of Helium. We will have a carbon fiber barrel that our payload will be inside to help rifle the payload off of the lander. Humpty Dumpty has an egg shaped shell that is made up of porcelain; it will have a break pattern that way it will shatter easily when it hits the ice surface of Ganymede. The payload itself will be inside the egg; it will be connected by pins to the egg using the gyro bowl technique to keep the payload upright so it will not land upside down. The temperature on the surface of Ganymede average around -113C to -183C in the daytime. To withstand this temperature we are going to use aero gel for insulation. Provide a sketch of the payload. Once the payload has landed, a core sampler will drill into the surface collecting and ice sample; the core sampler will send it to the mass spectrometer to test. After the mass spectrometer tests the chemical composition and the percentage of each the analysis will be sent back to the orbiter to be sent back to Earth. The mass of the porcelain egg and carbon fiber barrel will be 2.84kg and the mass of the instruments will be 2.16 putting us at exactly 5kg. The power will be around 180 W provided by the battery. Figure 3. Payload Final Design Table 4. Mass and Power Budget for Group 1 Concept Component Number Mass (kg) Power (W) Egg (porcelain) Miniature Mass 1.80 kg 5W Spectrometer Accelerometer 1.05 kg 15.2W Transmitter 1.6 kg USB-powered device; receives power from host Drill kg Receives power from processor Processor kg 45W Battery kg 180W Page 5

PAYLOAD CONCEPT PROPOSAL VENUS EXPLORER MISSION

PAYLOAD CONCEPT PROPOSAL VENUS EXPLORER MISSION More than Meets the Eye Prepared by: Guntersville High School May 2014 1.0 Introduction The Venus Fly Traps is a team of six engineering students at Guntersville