This project has been sponsored by: REVolution Final Report International Space University Summer Session Program 2005 © International Space University. All Rights Reserved. i The 2005 Summer Session Program of the International Space University was hosted by the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada. Rear cover page image of ISU SSP 2005 poster courtesy of David MacEntee Additional copies of the Executive Summary and the Report may be ordered from the International Space University Headquarters. The Executive Summary, ordering information and order form may also be found on the ISU web site at http://www.isunet.edu International Space University Strasbourg Central Campus Attention: Publications/Library Parc d’Innovation 1 rue Jean-Dominique Cassini 67400 Illkirch-Graffenstaden France Tel. +33 (0)3 88 65 54 32 Fax. +33 (0)3 88 65 54 47 e-mail. [email protected] ii ____________________________ Acknowledgements The International Space University Summer Session Program 2005 and the work on the Team Project were made possible through the generous support of the following organizations: SSP 2005 Host Location University of British Columbia Team Sponsors Team Project Staff George Dyke, 1st Quarter Co-Chair Gary Martin, 2nd Quarter Co-Chair Dr. Chris Welch, 2nd Half Co-Chair Sébastien Gorelov, Team Project Teaching Associate International Space University Faculty and Academic Team Carol Carnett, Legal Aid Bureau, Inc. Jim Burke, Former NASA Jet Propulsion Lab External Experts Harley Thronson, NASA Headquarters Dr. Jim Dator, University of Hawaii Prof. Takashi Kubota, JAXA Prof. Ichiro Nakatani, JAXA Dr. Kazuya Yoshida, Tohuku University Prof. Mikhail Marov, Russian Academy of Science Marie-Josée Bourassa, Canadian Space Agency Jon Bergstrom, Bergstrom Learning Center We would like to take this opportunity to thank every single person who was involved with this project and offered their insights and experience. We would like to extend our apologies to anyone who we might have missed in the list above. Our appreciation also goes out to all the Faculty and Staff for their hard work without which this entire project would not have gone so smoothly. iii _________________________________________ Authors Justo Alcázar Díaz Aroh Barjatya Technology R&D Engineer PhD Student, European Space Agency/ESTEC SPAIN INDIA Utah State University Liliana Barrios Katia Belley Software Engineer BASc, Université de Sherbrooke MDA Space Missions MEXICO CANADA Jeffrey Brink Yuanwen Cai Systems Engineer Beijing Institute of Space Medico- NASA Kennedy Space Center USA CHINA Engineering Juan Martin Canales Romero Damien Cailliau German Space Operations Center EADS Space Transportation FRANCE PERU DLR Fiorella Coliolo Daphne Dador European Space Agency Student, MA HQ, Paris ITALY USA George Washington University Brian Derkowski Ahmet Eren Systems Engineer Student, MSc Middle East NASA Johnson Space Center USA TURKEY Technical University Jixia Fan Marc Fricker Systems Engineer, Shanghai Robotics Instructor Academy of Spaceflight Technology CHINA CANADA Canadian Space Agency Daniel Fudge Jean-François Hamel MDA Space Missions Ph.D. Student MASc, University of Toronto CANADA CANADA Université de Sherbrooke Jonas Jonsson Niall Hurley MSc, Space Engineering Student, Electronic Engineering IRELAND SWEDEN Luleå Teleniska Universitet Aaron Kennedy Adnan Khan MEng, Electro-Mechanical BEng, Electrical Engineering Engineering CANADA CANADA iv Jade Lu Aijun Ma Systems Engineer Beijing Institute of Space Medico- The Boeing Company USA CHINA Engineering Michael Meijers Richard Minns Systems Engineer, ASTRON Systems Engineer, MDA NETHERLANDS CANADA Sadahiro Mizuatni Christine Nam Japanese Marketing MSc, University of Alberta X PRIZE Foundation JAPAN CANADA Lilja Nikulasdottir Aimin Niu MSc, Spacecraft Engineering Senior Engineer, China Manned Luleå Teleniska Universitet ICELAND CHINA Space Engineering Office Ramón Noguerón Sánchez Roger Oliva Balagué Ph.D. Student, Universitat Institut d’Estudis Espacials de Politecnica de Catalunya SPAIN SPAIN Catalunya Courtney Pankop Vidar Ovrebo Engineer/Scientist Project Manager NORWAY USA The Boeing Company Christian Paulsen Guus Reijnders MSc Space Technology Project Engineer Narvik University College NORWAY NETHERLANDS Bradford Engineering B.V. Danielle Renton Alberto Rodríguez García Spacecraft Systems Engineer Telecom Eng., Msc. Mathematics European Space Agency/ESTEC CANADA SPAIN Robotic Research, ESAII Frank Scheuerpflug Chris Runciman Student, Aerospace Engineering BASc, University of Toronto CANADA GERMANY University of Technology, Munich Nicola Soper Florian Stagliano MEng, Mechanical Engineering Student, Aerospace Engineering University of Bath, UK UK GERMANY University of Technology, Munich Bijal Thakore Luuk Van Barneveld MEng, Aerospace Engineering MSc, Delft University University of Bath, UK INDIA NETHERLANDS v ________________________________________ Abstract The REVolution architecture proposes a series of missions, in a framework of international cooperation, to explore the planet Venus in a context of comparative planetology with Earth and Mars. Scientific interests in comparative planetology have recently been recognized by a panel of scientists as a major flaw in current NASA and ESA scientific roadmaps. The REVolution architecture directly addresses this concern. Moreover, within the architecture a series of scientific expeditions are planned to address the search for life in the upper atmosphere, the current state of the greenhouse effect, and understanding the surface composition of the planet. The REVolution architecture includes missions that can be accomplished with current technologies, but addresses technology development that must occur for future missions to succeed. The timeline has been established to follow currently planned expeditions to Mars, in an effort to profit from any technology advances made within that program. Unlike most scientific exploration plans, REVolution highlights key areas where private industry can participate, or at least benefit from an involvement in the program. A shift is intended for government agencies to slowly relinquish control of interplanetary exploration to private industry. The paper does not suggest that this will happen soon, rather it provides the initial steps that must be taken within the context of its timeframe. Public awareness for the REVolution program starts immediately, and will be sustained by focusing on the search for life and the study of the greenhouse effect. Although the immediate stakeholders of the REVolution architecture are intended to be the major Space Agencies, a plan to address each person in those countries is suggested. It is hoped that the people of the world will benefit equally from the rewards of knowledge gained through the exploration of Venus. At a minimum, the member states, or contributing industries, participating in the REVolution plan will benefit from advancement in technology that typically comes with exploration. vi ________________________________ Faculty Preface The 2005 International Space University (ISU) Summer Session Program (SSP) was held during July and August in Vancouver, Canada and was hosted by the University of British Columbia. The SSP brought together graduate students and space professionals from all over the world and immersed them in an intensive nine-week, interdisciplinary, intercultural and international curriculum of lectures, workshops, site visits and research. A key component of every SSP is the Team Project in which the students produce a space project on a topic of international relevance. In 2005 three different Team Projects were undertaken. This report contains the findings of one of them: REVolution, a project examining a future international architecture for the robotic exploration of the planet Venus. Executed by a team of 42 students from 18 countries, REVolution was sponsored by NASA and supported by space experts from around the world, both inside and outside the ISU community. The objectives of the project were to: • Identify and evaluate inner solar system locations for exploration and define suitable missions to return appropriate data from them. • Produce a report that can influence future international planning and execution of space exploration programs. • Provide experience in multidisciplinary teamwork, under pressure of time and resources, on a problem of current world importance. During the project the team analyzed current plans, identified future opportunities and challenges and offered recommendations to promote the future exploration of Venus while demonstrating professionalism, discipline and maturity. We, the team faculty and teaching associate, are pleased to commend both the team and its report to you. George Dyke Chris Welch First Half Co-Chair Second Half Co-Chair ISU, Canada Kingston University, UK Gary Martin Jim Burke First Half Co-Chair ISU Senior Faculty ISU, France JPL (ret.), USA Sébastien Gorelov Teaching Associate MIT, USA vii ________________________________ Student Preface First, inevitably, the idea, the fantasy, the fairy tale. Then, scientific calculation. Ultimately, fulfillment crowns the dream. — Konstantin Tsiolkovsky, 1926 In the summer of 2005 a group of 42 students from 18 countries and with various experiences and abilities in diverse disciplines worked together to outline a program for the future exploration of Venus. Coming from such different backgrounds, our main uniting force was a common inspiration to explore,