Smallsats to the Moon

The ‘picks and shovels’ presentation

Adam M. Baker Andy Phipps, Phil Davies, Xavier Alabart, Martin Sweeting Overview

Background to SSTL, UK & international interests in the Moon

UK interests: Space Exploration Working Group

Economics - Key UK stakeholder requirements,

SSTL’s recent study work: MoonLITE and MoonRaker - MoonLITE in some more detail

Potential commercial lunar services

Communications relay

Current UK & SSTL activities

Magnolia Why are we going to the Moon?

Growing global interest in a sustainable return to the Moon, for exploration, science and exploitation

The UK wishes to play a key role in this international effort

SSTL has been studying how to apply its low cost approach to Lunar exploration for many years

The time for study is over SSTL Heritage: Hardware

Moving beyond LEO for

GIOVE-A

Advanced platforms TopSat Beijing-1

• Science • Navigation • Communications •Techdemo

Advanced miniaturised avionics Advanced studies Why is it worth doing this?

>12 lunar missions in 10 years, most landing on the surface

ESA: The Future of European Space Exploration Nation Mission Date Lander / orbiter Japan Selene 2007 Orbiter India Chandrayaan-1 2008 Orbiter Missions have data US LRO (RLEP1) 2008 Orbiter US LCROSS 2008 Lander (impactor) China Change’e-1 2008 Orbiter relay & storage, Japan Lunar-A 2010 Lander (penetrators) US Lunar Precursor Robotic Pathfinder 2010 Lander navigation, health (LPRP) monitoring US International Lunar Observatory 2010? Lander Germany Stuttgart IFR Lunar microsat 2010 Orbiter requirements China Change’e-2 2013 Lander + Rover Japan Selene-2 2013 Lande r + Rover + Impactor Russia LunaGlob 2013-2015 Landers ESA Aurora MSR precursor 2013+ Lander, possibly orbiter US Manned landings (several) 2018+ Landers UK interests: SEWG

The UK Space Exploration Working Group, formed Nov 2006, to:

• Review current global plans for space exploration;

• Assess whether or not a rationale exists for UK participation;

• Provide advice to BNSC as to which areas the UK should focus on if it wishes to engage in such activities.

Crafting a comprehensive report due for publication shortly, covering:

• International efforts

• The science case for space exploration

• Technology & knowledge transfer benefits from space exploration

• Commercial considerations

• Outreach, education and societal impacts Earlier this year…

March April

JOINT STATEMENT OF INTENT FOR COOPERATION IN THE FIELD OF SPACE EXPLORATION BY THE UNITED STATES NASA AND THE UNITED KINGDOM BNSC

“…cooperative efforts may range from the exchange of information related to research and development to actual hardware contributions for particular missions…” SSTL – recent study work Low cost lunar exploration options, carried out in 2006

MoonLITE Polar orbiter for communication, navigation orbital remote sensing Multiple micro-impactors, deployed to far-side and near-side, conducting in-situ geophysics (heat flow, seismometry) Launch in 2010/11

MoonRaker Small soft lander for northern near- side geophysics & geochemistry (in situ dating) Micro-rover for surface mobility (<1 km range) and multiple site sampling Launch in 2013 MoonLITE Orbiter

Requirements • Low cost, heritage Launch Vehicle ideally PSLV • Payload 4 x UK Developed Impactors Communications relay (IP option inc router) , navigation signal generator demo.

• Heritage baseline for mission assurance SSTL GIOVE-A bus OBC695 rad-tol. flight computer (NASA / Chandrayaan-1) PA developed for 7yr+ commercial LEO missions

Structure 131.0 Comms 8.4 Challenges to the low cost approach: Power 28.7 >1kms-1 deltaV (LOI and stationkeeping) Solar Panels 15.5 AOCS 44.1 (low cost bipropellant v. monopropellant hydrazine) Propulsion 71.5 OBDH 4.3 Lightweight, mass efficient structure Environmental 16.6 Straightforward Assembly and Integration Harness 30.0 Payload 162.8 Requirement for Ranging transponders System Margin (platform) 35.0 Total (Dry) 547.9 LOI and Lunar orbit Operations in keeping with SSTL low Propellant (Transfer,LOI,OM) 279.1 cost automated approach AOCS Propellant 10 Propellant (Total) 289.1 Total (Launch) 837.0 The economic factor

UK Space Strategy 2003-2006, strategic objectives • Astronomy, planetary and environmental sciences • Increased productivity by using space in government, science & commerce • Develop innovative space technologies & systems, to improve the quality of life

∴ Economic return from any UK government investment is a REQUIREMENT

So how do we justify exploration, and a UK mission?

1. Collaboration 2. Explore potential commercial returns 3. Enabling key science 4. Team UK effort 5. Education, outreach Potential Services

Short Term (<10 yrs)

Telecommunications Storage Health Monitoring Subsystems Relay System System System

‘Non-mission products’ External Space rd Data relay Data relay Emergency Navigation supply to 3 party Hard weather Moon / Earth Moon / Moon Backup Information Disk warning OBC695 for NASA / Chandrayaan-1

Long Term Delivery In Orbit Media Energy & Exploitation Habitat Services retrieval Scientific Support e.g. solar (Lunar) Habitat Inter- instruments, Propellant New Logistics Space power Mining in-orbit sub- activity value added manufacture Materials resupply Tourism beaming servicing systems products

*List of Services and Products not exhaustive, from NASA Vision commercialization opportunities and other studies available. Communications relay

Backup for lunar orbiters and essential support for lunar landers, as well as future international lunar base

Opportunity! Mechanisms?

Bring commerce into the UK space (exploration) strategy Landers will all require data relay:- Business conceivably offering smooth(ish) growth Low rate 0.01 – 1.5Mbps links for critical data Potential for a consortium of companies to develop a High rate 100-150Mbps links, science data, HD video service provider model Broad (international) market: Agencies and non-govt No backup data relay on NASA missions (unlike Mars) Extensive UK experience in Public / Private Financing Geolocation of surface assets for tracking desirable …and… Revenue streams for Stimulate UK economic growth ‘Pay as you transmit’ : Backup data relay Enhance international cooperation Temporary data storage Generate scientific discoveries UK licensing of the standard Develop the workforce of tomorrow Sale of services e.g. secure data links, navigation for safety of life, broadcasting Current SSTL & UK activities

UK SEWG report to be published (September 2007) ⇓

UK Space Strategy 2007-2010 (late 2007) ⇓ UK lunar impactor / penetrator consortium (4 impactors + EM by 2010) UK National lunar mission (launch in 2011)

⇑ SSTL currently working on • MSR precursor mission design with ThalesAlenia Space • Mission elements for ESA exploration architecture

Magnolia Magnolia

SSTL has been awarded a contract for the study phase of an international collaborative lunar orbiter mission, Magnolia.

The Magnolia contract is between Mississippi State University (MSU) and SSTL, under a NASA cooperative agreement.

The first contract phase will run for 9-months, culminating in a preliminary mission design. • The contract includes a package of training by SSTL and the University of Surrey for MSU and NASA Stennis Space Center staff …recap…

Background to SSTL and the UK interest in the Moon

UK interests and stakeholder requirements - Economics and Exploration

SSTL’s recent study work: MoonLITE and MoonRaker - MoonLITE in some more detail

Potential commercial lunar services

Commercial benefits of comm relay

Current UK & SSTL activities, inc. Magnolia

What about the ‘metric’ ? - Smallsats: 1 piece of a larger system - Cost effective way to support exploration (the ‘techdemo’ argument) - Scientific, business case, educational value Thank you…

For further information contact Dr. Adam M. Baker Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. Tycho House, Surrey Research Park, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 7YE, United Kingdom Tel: +44 1483 803803, Fax: +44 1483 803804

Email: [email protected]

Web: www.sstl.co.uk