Footprints on Mars Presentation to Boeing REACH
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
National Aeronautics Footprints on Mars and Space Administration Presentation to Boeing REACH Bret G. Drake 12 June, 2013 NASA Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center 1 Mid-20th Century Fascination with Space Wernher von Braun and Chesley Bonestell prediction of the future in 1951 Illustration by Robert McCall Drake – Footprints on Mars Boeing REACH – 12 June, 2013 2 Dr. Wernher von Braun’s Manned Mars Landing Presentation to the Space Task Group - 1969 Nuclear Thermal 640 Total Days Venus Swing-by Propulsion 60 Days on Mars Propulsive Earth Return Collectors Guide Publishing December 1, 2006 100 in LEO 48 on Moon 48 on Surface 24 in Orbit Drake – Footprints on Mars Boeing REACH – 12 June, 2013 3 So What Happened? Drake – Footprints on Mars Boeing REACH – 12 June, 2013 4 1 = ( 1) N 1 1 − ∆ = + + ∗ ∗ − ∗ −∗ = � − � =1 = ∆ 1 + α N ∆ � ∗ − − ∗ = + − � − � � � � � =1 = * α = + � = * − = * = * − = = * ∆ ∗ Space, Especially Mars, is Hard = 1 1 = + + + ∆ ∗ 1 = � − � ( ) ∗ = 1 − 1 = g * = * 1 + α − ∆ − − ∗ ∗ − ∗ −∗ − � − � � � � � N N = + + =1 = + + =1 � and, unfortunately, � = + 1 = + = ( 1) 1 N − = + −∗ N =1 ∗ − ∗ = g * = * α = + � =1 The Laws of Physics Can’t be Rewritten � = + + + 1 ∆ ∗ = ∆ = � − � = * ∗ − 1 + α ∆ − − = g * ∗ − � − � � � � � = + + + = 1 ∗ Drake – Footprints on Mars Boeing REACH – 12 June, 2013− 5 Human Exploration of Mars Key Challenges Drake – Footprints on Mars Boeing REACH – 12 June, 2013 6 A Brief History of Human Exploration Beyond LEO A trail of studies … to Mars America at DPT / NEXT NASA Case the Constellation National Studies Threshold Program Lunar Review of Commission First Lunar Architecture U.S. Human on Space Outpost Team Spaceflight Plans Committee Columbia Challenger 1980 1990 2000 2010 Bush 41 Bush 43 Obama Speech Speech Speech Report of the 90-Day Study on Human Exploration of the Moon and Mars National Aeronautics and Space Administration November 1989 Global Leadership Exploration and 90-Day Mars Design Mars Design Roadmap America’s Study Reference Mars Design Reference Future in Mission 1.0 Reference Exploration Architecture Space Mission 3.0 System 5.0 Exploration Architecture Blueprint Study Drake – Footprints on Mars Boeing REACH – 12 June, 2013 7 Why Do We Want To Explore Mars? • Long-standing curiosity, particularly since it appears that humans could one day visit there Goals and Objectives • A NASA chartered group, Mars Summary Implications Exploration Program Analysis Group, The first three human missions to has organized a set of four primary Mars should be to three different goals: geographic sites — Determine if life ever arose on Mars — Understand the processes and history Maximize mobility to extend the of climate on Mars reach of human exploration — Determine the evolution of the surface beyond the landing site and interior of Mars Maximize the amount of time that — Prepare for human exploration the astronauts spend exploring • Two additional goals considered as the planet well: Provide subsurface access — Preparing for sustained human presence Return a minimum of 250 kg of — Ancillary science such as heliophysics, samples to Earth space weather, astrophysics Drake – Footprints on Mars Boeing REACH – 12 June, 2013 8 Mars Trajectory Classes • A trip to Mars with a return back to Earth is a double rendezvous problem — Mars round-trip missions are flown in heliocentric space — Relative planetary alignment is a key driver in the mission duration and propulsion required Example “Short-Stay” Example “Long-Stay” Opposition Class Mission Conjunction Class Mission MARS ARRIVAL MARS ARRIVAL MARS DEPARTURE EARTH RETURN SUN γ SUN γ MARS DEPARTURE EARTH RETURN EARTH DEPARTURE EARTH DEPARTURE VENUS SWING-BY Drake – Footprints on Mars Boeing REACH – 12 June, 2013 9 Synodic Period – Variation in Delta-V • The difference in orbits of the Earth and Mars influence the mission delta-v and timing — Earth departure opportunities occur approximately ever 26 months — The Earth departure “window” lasts a few weeks and is highly dependent on the propulsion system choice — The round-trip mission delta-v varies over a 15-year cycle (the Synodic Cycle) — Although “good” opportunities occur in 2018, 2033, and 2047, the ability to conduct missions in any opportunity across the Synodic Cycle will reduce programmatic risk Drake – Footprints on Mars Boeing REACH – 12 June, 2013 10 Advanced In-Space Transportation Options, options, options…. High Thrust: Chemical Propulsion High Thrust: Nuclear Thermal Propulsion (NTP) Advantages: Advantages: • More “state of the art” • Good combination of high thrust • Multiple destinations and high efficiency (Isp) • Low architectural mass Challenges: • Both long and short stay missions • High Mass / Lots of Launches • Has been demonstrated (NERVA) • Long-term storage of cryogenic propellants, particularly H2 Challenges: • Configuration and integration • Long-term storage of cryogenic H2 challenges • Large launch volume (due to H2) • Long-stay missions only • Nuclear regulatory compliance/testing Low Thrust: Solar Electric Propulsion (SEP) Low Thrust: Nuclear Electric Propulsion (NEP) Advantages: Advantages: • Low architectural mass • Low architectural mass • Multiple destinations • Both long-stay and short-stay (if power is high) missions Challenges: Challenges: • Limited to long-stay missions • No experience base for space • Configuration and integration based high power, high efficiency, challenges (large solar arrays) nuclear reactors • Long operating times (spirals) • Configuration and integration challenges (large radiators) • Nuclear regulatory compliance/testing • Long operating times (spirals) Drake – Footprints on Mars Boeing REACH – 12 June, 2013 11 Propulsion Technology Comparisons Crew Vehicle Mass as a Function of Trip Time – Short Stay Opposition Missions ISS Reference: ~2,800 t for 31 Assembly Flights ~4,500 t to date, 131 Total Flights 1 Earth Departure Dates from 2028 - 2045 1,200 Chemical Isp=465 sec 1,000 SEP Isp=4000 sec 800 NTP Isp=900 sec 600 NEP Isp=1800-4000 sec 400 [Mass of Landers not Included] not Landers of [Mass Total Crew Vehicle Mass in Earth Orbit (t) Orbit in Mass Earth Vehicle Crew Total 200 0 360 400 440 480 520 560 600 640 680 720 760 800 840 880 920 1 Total Round-Trip Mission Duration (Days) As of February 2013 Drake – Footprints on Mars Boeing REACH – 12 June, 2013 12 SLS Architecture Block Upgrade Approach 130 t 384 ft. 105 t 314 ft. 70 t Payload Fairings 321 ft. Launch Abort System Orion Interim Cryogenic Upper Stage Propulsion Stage (ICPS) 27.5 ft. (8.4 m) 27.5 ft. (8.4 m) with Interstage J-2X Core Stage Core Stage Engines Solid Rocket Boosters Advanced Boosters RS-25 Core Stage Engines (Space Shuttle Main Engines) Starting with Available Assets and Evolving the Design Drake – Footprints on Mars Boeing REACH – 12 June, 2013 13 Example Launch Packaging Diameter and Volume are also Key Landers Nuclear Thermal Solar Electric Nuclear Electric and Other Propulsion Propulsion Propulsion Payloads SLS SLS SLS SLS 105 t 105 t 130 t 130 t Drake – Footprints on Mars Boeing REACH – 12 June, 2013 14 Orion Crew Transfer / Earth Return Vehicle • Crew Delivery to Earth Departure Point — Provide safe delivery of 4-6 crew to Earth departure point for rendezvous with the Mars Transfer Vehicle • Delivery and return of checkout crew prior to the mission • Delivery of the mission crew • End of Mission Crew Return (Mars Block) — Provide safe return of 4-6 crew from the Mars-Earth transfer trajectory to Earth at the end of the mission • 12 km/s entry speed (13+ km/s for short-stay mission) • 900 day dormant operations • 3 day active operations • Much smaller service module (~300 m/s delta-v) for re- targeting and Earth entry corridor set-up Drake – Footprints on Mars Boeing REACH – 12 June, 2013 15 Challenges of Supporting Humans in Deep Space Human missions to Mars are demanding from a human health and • performance perspective • Long-Duration: 600 days minimum, 900 days most probable • Deep-Space: Micro-gravity and harsh environment • Remote: No logistics train, no fast return aborts • Categories of Key Human Support Challenges • Ocular Syndrome: Intercranial pressure • Toxicity: Dust and other hazards • Autonomous Emergency : Response to system emergencies (e.g. life support system failure) • Radiation: Solar Proton (solutions exist), Galactic Cosmic Radiation (currently no standards for exploration) • Behavioral Health and Performance: Remote isolated missions with no real-time communications. • Autonomous Medical Care: Response to medical issues • Nutrition: Food with adequate nutrition for long missions • Hypogravity: Adjusting to the gravity of Mars • Musculoskeletal: Muscle atrophy and bone decalcification • Sensorimotor: Sensory changes/dysfunctions Drake – Footprints on Mars Boeing REACH – 12 June, 2013 16 Challenges of Landing on Mars • The Atmosphere of Mars Technology Options — The Good: Mars has an atmosphere that can help slow the entry Hypersonic Inflatable vehicle down Aerodynamic — The Bad: The atmosphere is thick enough that it requires a heat Decelerator (HIAD) shield, but not thick enough to provide substantial drag (density 1% Hypersonic Inflatable of Earth’s) Aerodynamic — Atmospheric dust may prohibit ability or timing of landing at Decelerator (HIAD) designated landing sites • The Current Mars