K.Klaus, M. L. Raftery and K. E. Post, the Boeing Company, 13100 Space Center Blvd, Houston TX 77059 [email protected], Mi

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

K.Klaus, M. L. Raftery and K. E. Post, the Boeing Company, 13100 Space Center Blvd, Houston TX 77059 Kurt.K.Klaus@Boeing.Com, Mi An Affordable Mars Mission Design K.Klaus, M. L. Raftery and K. E. Post, The Boeing Company, 13100 Space Center Blvd, Houston TX 77059 [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]. Introduction: The International goal of sending human explorers to Mars. Key ndings of a 2013 Humans to Mars ultimately represent a risk to the human Mars landing objective. Strategic knowledge Mars Sample Return Mission MAV Derived space community has declared that conference panel discussion on mission architectures were; 1) A human mission to gaps for human missions to Mars have been studied by various groups, most recently Concept: Mars sample return (MSR) is Lunar Lander our unied long term goal is for a Mars is on the same order of magnitude as the effort it took to build the International the Mars Exploration Program Analysis Group (MEPAG).[4] For the life support and one of the highest priorities of the human mission to Mars but major Space Station (ISS); a substantial effort but one that is likely affordable in the current crew accommodation equipment, the ISS can be used to reduce risk for the Mars Science Mission Directorate at NASA. work remains to dene how it will be budget environment; 2) An inclusive, international process should be used to establish mission. Subsystem equipment can also be tested on ISS, but ultimately, human [6] As a stepping stone to Mars, the done. We will describe a “stepping the exploration objectives and dene the experience in the deep space MSR mission could provide valuable stone” based approach that charts a capabilities that are needed to achieve environment is needed. Initial information about the Martian path starting at ISS operations today them; 3) As with ISS, an international missions with the Orion and atmosphere, weather, geology, and and ultimately leading to a crewed partnership is seen as a key enabling SLS will allow short duration potential landing sites. mission to the surface of Mars. feature of the plan. All partners exposure for crews to deep A lunar landing could also be on the Translunar infrastructure and heavy participating in the plan should be given space but longer duration path to Mars. The Moon could be used lift capability are key to this approach opportunities to prove their capabilities as missions representative of a trip as a testbed for the surface systems and we will show links to other relevant work in this area.[1] A human Mars architecture part of this “stepping stone” approach; 4) to Mars will require a habitat. and lander propulsion systems which provides a framework and guidance from which to progress through a myriad of Heavy-lift launch capability will be Recent analysis has suggested MAV Derived will ultimately be needed for Mars. Delta Lunar Lander investigations, concept designs, analysis, and testing that lead to new and innovative needed in order to provide a reasonable that a habitat-based gateway in velocity requirement for the Mars ascent ways of approaching space exploration, and human space travel in particular. Along the number of assembly ights and thereby a translunar space would be Cislunar Gateway as a Stepping vehicle is about 5000 meters/second; way, triumphs and tribulations, expressed as testing failures and/or the threat of project reasonable prospect of success. helpful as an assembly node for Stone to the Moon and Mars very close to what would be needed for funding cuts, interweave the human experience into the long-term goal of visiting Mars. Mars and for many other Asteroid Retrieval Mission Concept a reusable lunar lander.[7] In short, a manned mission to Mars will engage the public. [2] Stepping Stones to Mars: A human mission to Mars will require the development of a missions as well.[5] set of new capabilities and steps must be taken to mature and prove out these new Finally, the moons of Mars itself would capabilities. We will show a step-wise plan developed by the European Space Agency Asteroid Retrieval Mission: provide an excellent stepping stone to which would address this need. An asteroid retrieval mission the surface.[8] As a “shake-down” could play a useful role in cruise before landing, a mission to ESA Step-wise Approach: This plan was preparing for a Mars mission. Deimos or Phobos would test all of the developed as part of the effort to dene One of the key technologies systems except those needed to get to The surface of Mars from the Curiosity Rover (Dingo Gap) the Global Exploration Roadmap whose needed for Mars is a high power the surface and back. This test would provide condence for the in-space second update has just recently been solar electric propulsion (SEP) transportations and crew habitat systems. [9] Mars as our Primary Objective: Mars as a destination for human exploration has released.[3] Early crewed missions are system. Current designs for the captured the imagination of the world for decades. It is important to establish the augmented with robotic precursor asteroid retrieval mission An Affordable Mission Concept: We will present a conceptual framework for an exploration objectives through an inclusive international process, to dene what missions to test capabilities and evaluate feature a “rst generation” SEP affordable Mars mission system. There are six basic elements of a Mars mission system; capabilities are needed, and to develop them through incremental steps in exploration potential landing sites. These precursor system which could form the 1) Orion; 2) Space Launch System (SLS); 3) Transit Habitat; 4) Solar Electric Propulsion missions. Each mission should be compelling, while demonstrating technologies needed missions are designed to address foundation of the larger SEP (SEP) Tug; 5) Mars Ascent Vehicle (MAV); 6) Mars Lander. Two of the six elements are for Mars. It should be readily apparent how each mission contributes to the long term Strategic Knowledge Gaps (SKGs) which systems needed for Mars. currently funded for development and the other four represent improvements or scaled-up versions of systems that are operational today. IMAGE CREDIT TO ESA The SLS is used to launch The lander uses its Element Phasing 1 Element Phasing 3 4 Cargo Lander during the rst SEP tug and the Hypersonic Inatable Aero Descent cargo lander with the Aerodynamic Decelerator surface habitat to low (HIAD) to decelerate the earth orbit. vehicle for landing. Orion Transit Habitat Mars Ascent Vehicle 2 Spiral out to EML-2 The cargo mission The SEP tug is activated Cargo Lander during 5 provides a good test and used to deploy the Terminal Phase for most of the major lander out to the translunar elements that the crew assembly site. The second will need for landing. SLS launch deploys the Departure windows for TransHab and the return Cargo Departure for Mars Mars open about every Space launch System SEP Tug Mars Lander kick stage directly to All four elements of the cargo mission leave for Mars when the departure window 25 months so while the Phase 1 - Earth’s Phase 2 - In-Space Phase 3 - Mars the Gateway. opens. The cargo trip takes ~500 days because only the SEP tug is used to power cargo mission is Gravity Well Elements Gravity Well the trip. The return kick stage will stay in Mars orbit waiting to be used for the crew en-route to Mars, the To illustrate how these six elements could be used to accomplish a return. When the cargo mission reaches Mars, the SEP tug is used to spiral down to human mission is Mars mission we will briefly describe the sequence of events: 5000Km altitude for the cargo lander entry. being prepared. 6 Launch of the Crew Lander 7 8 9 Expedition Crew Arrives at Gateway Expedition Crew Departing for Mars Crew During Entry The translunar Gateway provides a small measure of infrastructure which is used to The crew Mars transfer spacecraft is equipped with a kick stage to help boost the transfer The human mission starts in much the same way as the cargo mission, with the support assembly, store fuel, and respond to contingencies. The Gateway allows performance. For comparison, while the cargo transfer to Mars takes ~515 days for the The crew must land fairly close to the habitat if they are going to stay on the launch of the SEP tug and the MAV lander. All the elements for the crew mission NASA and the partner agencies some measure of operational exibility to resolve trip to Mars, the crew transfer is ~256 days or roughly half. With the exception of the surface for their full duration mission. are assembled at the Gateway and the Expedition crew is the last to launch. off-nominal situations and ensure readiness before the nal mission commitment at shorter transit time, the crew transfer to Mars looks very similar to the cargo transfer that the trans-Mars injection (TMI) burn. Once the TMI maneuver is performed, the crew is preceded it. Once at Mars, the SEP stage will spiral down to 5000Km altitude to release committed to at least a two year expedition. the crew lander. The landed mass for both the crew and cargo lander is ~40 tons. 10 Crew on the Surface of Mars 11 Crew Departing from Mars 12 Departing from Mars 13 for the Journey Home The Mars Curiosity mission was able to land within 3 Km of its target so it seems The MAV is a three stage vehicle with the crew cabin acting as the third stage. Conclusions: The release of the Global Exploration Roadmap (GER) has made clear References: [1] Raftery M. L. et. al.
Recommended publications
  • Of 13 Human Mars Mission Design – the Ultimate Systems Challenge
    Human Mars Mission Design – The Ultimate Systems Challenge John F. Connolly a, B. Kent Joostenb, Bret Drakec, Steve Hoffmanc, Tara Polsgroved, Michelle Ruckera, Alida Andrewsc, Nehemiah Williamsa a NASA Johnson Space Center, 2101 NASA Parkway, Houston, Texas 77058, john.connolly- [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] b Consultant,2383 York Harbour Ct., League City, TX 77573, [email protected] c The Aerospace Corporation, 2310 E El Segundo Blvd, El Segundo, California 90245, [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] d NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, Redstone Arsenal, Huntsville, Alabama 35812, [email protected] Abstract A human mission to Mars will occur at some time in the coming decades. When it does, it will be the end result of a complex network of interconnected design choices, systems analyses, technical optimizations, and non-technical compromises. This mission will extend the technologies, engineering design, and systems analyses to new limits, and may very well be the most complex undertaking in human history. It can be illustrated as a large menu, or as a large decision tree. Whatever the visualization tool, there are numerous design decisions required to assemble a human Mars mission, and many of these interconnect with one another. This paper examines these many decisions and further details a number of choices that are highly interwoven throughout the mission design. The large quantity of variables and their interconnectedness results in a highly complex systems challenge, and the paper illustrates how a change in one variable results in ripples (sometimes unintended) throughout many other facets of the design.
    [Show full text]
  • Human Mars Architecture
    National Aeronautics and Space Administration Human Mars Architecture Tara Polsgrove NASA Human Mars Study Team 15th International Planetary Probe Workshop June 11, 2018 Space Policy Directive-1 “Lead an innovative and sustainable program of exploration with commercial and international partners to enable human expansion across the solar system and to bring back to Earth new knowledge and opportunities. Beginning with missions beyond low-Earth orbit, the United States will lead the return of humans to the Moon for long-term exploration and utilization, followed by human missions to Mars and other destinations.” 2 EXPLORATION CAMPAIGN Gateway Initial ConfigurationLunar Orbital Platform-Gateway (Notional) Orion 4 5 A Brief History of Human Exploration Beyond LEO America at DPT / NEXT NASA Case the Threshold Constellation National Studies Program Lunar Review of Commission First Lunar Architecture U.S. Human on Space Outpost Team Spaceflight Plans Committee Pathways to Exploration Columbia Challenger 1980 1990 2000 2010 Bush 41 Bush 43 7kObama HAT/EMC MSC Speech Speech Speech Report of the 90-Day Study on Human Exploration of the Moon and Mars NASA’s Journey to National Aeronautics and November 1989 Global Leadership Space Administration Mars Exploration and 90-Day Study Mars Design Mars Design Roadmap America’s Reference Mars Design Reference Future in Reference Mission 1.0 Exploration Architecture Space Mission 3.0 System 5.0 Exploration Architecture Blueprint Study 6 Exploring the Mars Mission Design Tradespace • A myriad of choices define
    [Show full text]
  • Tianwen-1: China's Mars Mission
    Tianwen-1: China's Mars Mission drishtiias.com/printpdf/tianwen-1-china-s-mars-mission Why In News China will launch its first Mars Mission - Tianwen-1- in July, 2020. China's previous ‘Yinghuo-1’ Mars mission, which was supported by a Russian spacecraft, had failed after it did not leave the earth's orbit and disintegrated over the Pacific Ocean in 2012. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is also going to launch its own Mars mission in July, the Perseverance which aims to collect Martian samples. Key Points The Tianwen-1 Mission: It will lift off on a Long March 5 rocket, from the Wenchang launch centre. It will carry 13 payloads (seven orbiters and six rovers) that will explore the planet. It is an all-in-one orbiter, lander and rover system. Orbiter: It is a spacecraft designed to orbit a celestial body (astronomical body) without landing on its surface. Lander: It is a strong, lightweight spacecraft structure, consisting of a base and three sides "petals" in the shape of a tetrahedron (pyramid- shaped). It is a protective "shell" that houses the rover and protects it, along with the airbags, from the forces of impact. Rover: It is a planetary surface exploration device designed to move across the solid surface on a planet or other planetary mass celestial bodies. 1/3 Objectives: The mission will be the first to place a ground-penetrating radar on the Martian surface, which will be able to study local geology, as well as rock, ice, and dirt distribution. It will search the martian surface for water, investigate soil characteristics, and study the atmosphere.
    [Show full text]
  • Mars, the Nearest Habitable World – a Comprehensive Program for Future Mars Exploration
    Mars, the Nearest Habitable World – A Comprehensive Program for Future Mars Exploration Report by the NASA Mars Architecture Strategy Working Group (MASWG) November 2020 Front Cover: Artist Concepts Top (Artist concepts, left to right): Early Mars1; Molecules in Space2; Astronaut and Rover on Mars1; Exo-Planet System1. Bottom: Pillinger Point, Endeavour Crater, as imaged by the Opportunity rover1. Credits: 1NASA; 2Discovery Magazine Citation: Mars Architecture Strategy Working Group (MASWG), Jakosky, B. M., et al. (2020). Mars, the Nearest Habitable World—A Comprehensive Program for Future Mars Exploration. MASWG Members • Bruce Jakosky, University of Colorado (chair) • Richard Zurek, Mars Program Office, JPL (co-chair) • Shane Byrne, University of Arizona • Wendy Calvin, University of Nevada, Reno • Shannon Curry, University of California, Berkeley • Bethany Ehlmann, California Institute of Technology • Jennifer Eigenbrode, NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center • Tori Hoehler, NASA/Ames Research Center • Briony Horgan, Purdue University • Scott Hubbard, Stanford University • Tom McCollom, University of Colorado • John Mustard, Brown University • Nathaniel Putzig, Planetary Science Institute • Michelle Rucker, NASA/JSC • Michael Wolff, Space Science Institute • Robin Wordsworth, Harvard University Ex Officio • Michael Meyer, NASA Headquarters ii Mars, the Nearest Habitable World October 2020 MASWG Table of Contents Mars, the Nearest Habitable World – A Comprehensive Program for Future Mars Exploration Table of Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ..........................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Appendix 1: Venus Missions
    Appendix 1: Venus Missions Sputnik 7 (USSR) Launch 02/04/1961 First attempted Venus atmosphere craft; upper stage failed to leave Earth orbit Venera 1 (USSR) Launch 02/12/1961 First attempted flyby; contact lost en route Mariner 1 (US) Launch 07/22/1961 Attempted flyby; launch failure Sputnik 19 (USSR) Launch 08/25/1962 Attempted flyby, stranded in Earth orbit Mariner 2 (US) Launch 08/27/1962 First successful Venus flyby Sputnik 20 (USSR) Launch 09/01/1962 Attempted flyby, upper stage failure Sputnik 21 (USSR) Launch 09/12/1962 Attempted flyby, upper stage failure Cosmos 21 (USSR) Launch 11/11/1963 Possible Venera engineering test flight or attempted flyby Venera 1964A (USSR) Launch 02/19/1964 Attempted flyby, launch failure Venera 1964B (USSR) Launch 03/01/1964 Attempted flyby, launch failure Cosmos 27 (USSR) Launch 03/27/1964 Attempted flyby, upper stage failure Zond 1 (USSR) Launch 04/02/1964 Venus flyby, contact lost May 14; flyby July 14 Venera 2 (USSR) Launch 11/12/1965 Venus flyby, contact lost en route Venera 3 (USSR) Launch 11/16/1965 Venus lander, contact lost en route, first Venus impact March 1, 1966 Cosmos 96 (USSR) Launch 11/23/1965 Possible attempted landing, craft fragmented in Earth orbit Venera 1965A (USSR) Launch 11/23/1965 Flyby attempt (launch failure) Venera 4 (USSR) Launch 06/12/1967 Successful atmospheric probe, arrived at Venus 10/18/1967 Mariner 5 (US) Launch 06/14/1967 Successful flyby 10/19/1967 Cosmos 167 (USSR) Launch 06/17/1967 Attempted atmospheric probe, stranded in Earth orbit Venera 5 (USSR) Launch 01/05/1969 Returned atmospheric data for 53 min on 05/16/1969 M.
    [Show full text]
  • Resource Utilization and Site Selection for a Self-Sufficient Martian Outpost
    NASA/TM-98-206538 Resource Utilization and Site Selection for a Self-Sufficient Martian Outpost G. James, Ph.D. G. Chamitoff, Ph.D. D. Barker, M.S., M.A. April 1998 The NASA STI Program Office... in Profile Since its founding, NASA has been dedicated to CONTRACTOR REPORT. Scientific and the advancement of aeronautics and space technical findings by NASA-sponsored science. The NASA Scientific and Technical contractors and grantees. Information (STI) Program Office plays a key part in helping NASA maintain this important CONFERENCE PUBLICATION. Collected role. papers from scientific and technical confer- ences, symposia, seminars, or other meetings The NASA STI Program Office is operated by sponsored or cosponsored by NASA. Langley Research Center, the lead center for NASA's scientific and technical information. SPECIAL PUBLICATION. Scientific, The NASA STI Program Office provides access technical, or historical information from to the NASA STI Database, the largest NASA programs, projects, and mission, often collection of aeronautical and space science STI concerned with subjects having substantial in the word. The Program Office is also public interest. NASA's institutional mechanism for disseminating the results of its research and • TECHNICAL TRANSLATION. development activities. These results are English-language translations of foreign scientific published by NASA in the NASA STI Report and technical material pertinent to NASA's Series, which includes the following report mission. types: Specialized services that complement the STI TECHNICAL PUBLICATION. Reports of Program Office's diverse offerings include completed research or a major significant creating custom thesauri, building customized phase of research that present the results of databases, organizing and publishing research NASA programs and include extensive results.., even providing videos.
    [Show full text]
  • March 21–25, 2016
    FORTY-SEVENTH LUNAR AND PLANETARY SCIENCE CONFERENCE PROGRAM OF TECHNICAL SESSIONS MARCH 21–25, 2016 The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel and Convention Center The Woodlands, Texas INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT Universities Space Research Association Lunar and Planetary Institute National Aeronautics and Space Administration CONFERENCE CO-CHAIRS Stephen Mackwell, Lunar and Planetary Institute Eileen Stansbery, NASA Johnson Space Center PROGRAM COMMITTEE CHAIRS David Draper, NASA Johnson Space Center Walter Kiefer, Lunar and Planetary Institute PROGRAM COMMITTEE P. Doug Archer, NASA Johnson Space Center Nicolas LeCorvec, Lunar and Planetary Institute Katherine Bermingham, University of Maryland Yo Matsubara, Smithsonian Institute Janice Bishop, SETI and NASA Ames Research Center Francis McCubbin, NASA Johnson Space Center Jeremy Boyce, University of California, Los Angeles Andrew Needham, Carnegie Institution of Washington Lisa Danielson, NASA Johnson Space Center Lan-Anh Nguyen, NASA Johnson Space Center Deepak Dhingra, University of Idaho Paul Niles, NASA Johnson Space Center Stephen Elardo, Carnegie Institution of Washington Dorothy Oehler, NASA Johnson Space Center Marc Fries, NASA Johnson Space Center D. Alex Patthoff, Jet Propulsion Laboratory Cyrena Goodrich, Lunar and Planetary Institute Elizabeth Rampe, Aerodyne Industries, Jacobs JETS at John Gruener, NASA Johnson Space Center NASA Johnson Space Center Justin Hagerty, U.S. Geological Survey Carol Raymond, Jet Propulsion Laboratory Lindsay Hays, Jet Propulsion Laboratory Paul Schenk,
    [Show full text]
  • Human Exploration of Mars Design Reference Architecture 5.0
    July 2009 “We are all . children of this universe. Not just Earth, or Mars, or this System, but the whole grand fireworks. And if we are interested in Mars at all, it is only because we wonder over our past and worry terribly about our possible future.” — Ray Bradbury, 'Mars and the Mind of Man,' 1973 Cover Art: An artist’s concept depicting one of many potential Mars exploration strategies. In this approach, the strengths of combining a central habitat with small pressurized rovers that could extend the exploration range of the crew from the outpost are assessed. Rawlings 2007. NASA/SP–2009–566 Human Exploration of Mars Design Reference Architecture 5.0 Mars Architecture Steering Group NASA Headquarters Bret G. Drake, editor NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas July 2009 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The individuals listed in the appendix assisted in the generation of the concepts as well as the descriptions, images, and data described in this report. Specific contributions to this document were provided by Dave Beaty, Stan Borowski, Bob Cataldo, John Charles, Cassie Conley, Doug Craig, Bret Drake, John Elliot, Chad Edwards, Walt Engelund, Dean Eppler, Stewart Feldman, Jim Garvin, Steve Hoffman, Jeff Jones, Frank Jordan, Sheri Klug, Joel Levine, Jack Mulqueen, Gary Noreen, Hoppy Price, Shawn Quinn, Jerry Sanders, Jim Schier, Lisa Simonsen, George Tahu, and Abhi Tripathi. Available from: NASA Center for AeroSpace Information National Technical Information Service 7115 Standard Drive 5285 Port Royal Road Hanover, MD 21076-1320 Springfield, VA 22161 Phone: 301-621-0390 or 703-605-6000 Fax: 301-621-0134 This report is also available in electronic form at http://ston.jsc.nasa.gov/collections/TRS/ CONTENTS 1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • A Trip to Mars
    A Trip to Mars Overview Participants play a game that steps through a human mission to Mars, to learn about the variety of people on the ground supporting missions, and the factors that can affect a mission outcome. Activity Time 10 minutes, although participants may opt to repeat the game multiple times Intended Audience Families or other mixed-age groups, including children as young as 4 years old with assistance from an older child, teen, or adult School-aged children ages 5 and up Tweens What’s the Point? Each space mission is supported by a large team with different responsibilities. Missions are influenced by many factors, including weather, solar storms, human health, and technological problems. Materials For the facilitator: ☐ 2 to 4 large dice constructed using: ☐ 2-4 (6-12-inch-wide) cube-shaped boxes ☐ 12-24 pieces of colorful paper ☐ 1 thick, dark marker ☐ Tape ☐ 7 (28" x 22") poster boards for the different mission stages ☐ A printout of the “Poster Scenarios” on thin cardstock or thick paper so that participants cannot see through it. ☐ An uploaded copy of the video “How Do You Get to Mars?” from http://mars.nasa.gov/msl/multimedia/videos/ind€ex.cfm?v=32# For each participant: ☐ A copy of the Mission Instructions Preparation Before the event • Prepare the posters: − Each Poster should have the step written at the top: Step One: Launch, Step Two: Travel, Step Three A: Habitat, Step Three B: Greenhouse, Step Three C: Ice, Step Four: Return − Print and fold the poster scenarios, then tape each of the six (Flight Director, Space Communicator, Flight Activities Officer, Flight Surgeon, Weather Officer, and Public Affairs Officer) to the appropriate poster, so that lifting the flap will reveal the information.
    [Show full text]
  • NASA Technical Memorandum 0000
    NASA/TM–2016-219182 Frontier In-Situ Resource Utilization for Enabling Sustained Human Presence on Mars Robert W. Moses and Dennis M. Bushnell Langley Research Center, Hampton, Virginia April 2016 NASA STI Program . in Profile Since its founding, NASA has been dedicated to the CONFERENCE PUBLICATION. advancement of aeronautics and space science. The Collected papers from scientific and technical NASA scientific and technical information (STI) conferences, symposia, seminars, or other program plays a key part in helping NASA maintain meetings sponsored or this important role. co-sponsored by NASA. The NASA STI program operates under the auspices SPECIAL PUBLICATION. Scientific, of the Agency Chief Information Officer. It collects, technical, or historical information from NASA organizes, provides for archiving, and disseminates programs, projects, and missions, often NASA’s STI. The NASA STI program provides access concerned with subjects having substantial to the NTRS Registered and its public interface, the public interest. NASA Technical Reports Server, thus providing one of the largest collections of aeronautical and space TECHNICAL TRANSLATION. science STI in the world. Results are published in both English-language translations of foreign non-NASA channels and by NASA in the NASA STI scientific and technical material pertinent to Report Series, which includes the following report NASA’s mission. types: Specialized services also include organizing TECHNICAL PUBLICATION. Reports of and publishing research results, distributing completed research or a major significant phase of specialized research announcements and feeds, research that present the results of NASA providing information desk and personal search Programs and include extensive data or theoretical support, and enabling data exchange services.
    [Show full text]
  • Annual Report
    The 2008 Annual Report of the International Space Exploration Coordination Group Released March 2009 International Space Exploration Coordination Group (ISECG) – Annual Report:2008 THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY BLANK 1 International Space Exploration Coordination Group (ISECG) – Annual Report:2008 CONTENTS Introduction …………………………………………………………………………… 4 Part 1: The Role of the ISECG 1.1 Overview …………………………………………………………………………. 6 1.2 Working Groups of the ISECG …………………………………………………… 7 1.2.1 Enhancement of Public Engagement …………………………………………… 7 1.2.2 Establishment of Relationships with Existing International Working Groups …. 7 1.2.3 The International Space Exploration Coordination Tool (INTERSECT) ……. 8 1.2.4 The Space Exploration Interface Standards Working Group (ISWG) ………….. 8 1.2.5 Mapping the Space Exploration Journey ………………………………………... 8 Part 2: Current and Near-Term Activities of ISECG Members 2.1 Low Earth Orbit (LEO) …………………………………………………………… 10 2.1.1 The International Space Station (ISS) …………………………………………… 10 2.1.2 Emerging Government Capabilities …………………………………………….. 10 2.1.3 Emerging Commercial Providers ……………………………………………….. 11 2.2 Beyond LEO – The Moon and Mars ……………………………………………….. 11 2.2.1 Moon ……………………………………………………………………………… 11 2.2.2 Mars ………………………………………………………………………………. 12 Part 3: Progress in 2008 towards Opportunities for Integrated and Collaborative Space Exploration 3.1 Robotic Network Science – The International Lunar Network ……………………… 16 3.2 Joint Development for Robotic Exploration – Mars Sample Return ………………………… 17 3.3 Collaborative
    [Show full text]
  • Mars Insight Launch Press Kit
    Introduction National Aeronautics and Space Administration Mars InSight Launch Press Kit MAY 2018 www.nasa.gov 1 2 Table of Contents Table of Contents Introduction 4 Media Services 8 Quick Facts: Launch Facts 12 Quick Facts: Mars at a Glance 16 Mission: Overview 18 Mission: Spacecraft 30 Mission: Science 40 Mission: Landing Site 53 Program & Project Management 55 Appendix: Mars Cube One Tech Demo 56 Appendix: Gallery 60 Appendix: Science Objectives, Quantified 62 Appendix: Historical Mars Missions 63 Appendix: NASA’s Discovery Program 65 3 Introduction Mars InSight Launch Press Kit Introduction NASA’s next mission to Mars -- InSight -- will launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California as early as May 5, 2018. It is expected to land on the Red Planet on Nov. 26, 2018. InSight is a mission to Mars, but it is more than a Mars mission. It will help scientists understand the formation and early evolution of all rocky planets, including Earth. A technology demonstration called Mars Cube One (MarCO) will share the launch with InSight and fly separately to Mars. Six Ways InSight Is Different NASA has a long and successful track record at Mars. Since 1965, it has flown by, orbited, landed and roved across the surface of the Red Planet. None of that has been easy. Only about 40 percent of the missions ever sent to Mars by any space agency have been successful. The planet’s thin atmosphere makes landing a challenge; its extreme temperature swings make it difficult to operate on the surface. But if a spacecraft survives the trip, there’s a bounty of science to be collected.
    [Show full text]