SMALL SATELLITE MISSIONS FOR PLANETARY SCIENCE
Carolyn R. Mercer, Ph.D. Program Executive, Small Innovative Missions for Planetary Exploration (SIMPLEx)
AIAA Small Spacecraft Missions Conference August 4, 2019 Logan, Utah Apollo 15 Particles and Fields Subsatellite (PFS-1)
• 35 kg spacecraft flown with Apollo 15 in 1971 • Orbited the Moon for 6 months • Science mission: • Measured the strength and direction of interplanetary and terrestrial magnetic fields • Detected variations in the lunar gravity field • Measured proton and electron flux
2 NASA SCIENCE AN INTEGRATED PROGRAM
Helio- Earth physics Science
Planetary Astrophysics Science
Joint Agency Satellite Division 4 Small Spacecraft for Planetary Science Astrobiology Science and Technology Instrument Development (ASTID) 2008 • O/OREOS (2010 launch) Small Innovative Missions for Planetary Exploration (SIMPLEx-1) 2014 • LunaH-Map, Q-PACE Directed and Partnered Secondary Payloads • MarCO (2018 launch) • LICIA Cube (2021) – potential ASI contribution Planetary Science Deep Space SmallSat Studies (PSDS3) 2017 • 19 Studies – Presented March 2018 at LPSC Small Innovative Missions for Planetary Exploration (SIMPLEx-2) 2018 • Janus, Escapade, Lunar Trailblazer • Next proposals due no earlier than June 2020
5 Planetary Science Deep Space SmallSat Studies Solicitation requested: • Concepts for planetary science missions • 180 kg total spacecraft mass limit • $100M cost cap • No constraints on rides, infrastructure, etc.
Solicitation sought answers to: • Can deep space missions be credibly done using small spacecraft? • What science might be accomplished? • What technology development is needed? • What are credible mission costs?
Note: This solicitation is closed and not expected to be repeated 6 Planetary Science Deep Space SmallSat Studies 19 Studies Funded Maryland
of • Study destinations were to Mars, Venus, the Moon, Park the Outer Planets, and small Solar System bodies Hewagama Tilak University College PrOVE Conclusions: • Excellent planetary science can credibly be done using small spacecraft • Critical enabling technology includes high delta-V propulsion, high bandwidth communications, low-
Petro volume power systems, radiation-tolerant flight
Space Flight Center computers, and aerocapture • Small spacecraft can carry large price tags. Several
Noah Edward Noah Edward NASA Goddard concepts had difficulty staying within the $100M cap MiLuV
https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/smallsat2018/smallsat_program.pdf 7 Planetary Science Icy Worlds and Outer Planets Deep Space Robert Ebert, JUpiter MagnetosPheric boundary SmallSat Studies ExploreR (JUMPER) Kunio Sayanagi, SNAP: Small Next-generation Atmospheric Probe Mars Robert Lillis, Mars Ion and Sputtering Escape Network Small Bodies (MISEN) Beau Bierhaus, Ross (formerly CAESAR) Anthony Colaprete, Aeolus - to study the thermal and wind environment of Mars Jeffrey Plescia, APEX: Asteroid Probe Experiment Luca Montabone, Mars Aerosol Tracker (MAT) Tilak Hewagama, Primitive Object Volatile Explorer (PrOVE) Michael Collier, PRISM: Phobos Regolith Ion Sample Mission The Moon David Minton, Chariot to the Moons of Mars Suzanne Romaine, CubeSat X-ray Telescope (CubeX) Venus Charles Hibbitts, Lunar Water Assessment, Valeria Cottini, CUVE - Cubesat UV Experiment Transportation, and Resource Mission (WATER) Christophe Sotin, Cupid's Arrow Noah Petro, Mini Lunar Volatiles (MiLUV) Mission Attila Komjathy, Venus Airglow Monitoring Orbiter for Timothy Stubbs, Bi-sat Observations of the Lunar Seismicity (VAMOS) Atmosphere above Swirls (BOLAS) Tibor Kremic, Seismic and Atmospheric Exploration of Venus David Draper, Irregular Mare Patch Exploration Lander (SAEVe) (IMPEL)
8 Planetary Science Icy Worlds and Outer Planets Deep Space Robert Ebert, JUpiter MagnetosPheric boundary SmallSat Studies ExploreR (JUMPER) Kunio Sayanagi, SNAP: Small Next-generation Atmospheric Probe Mars Robert Lillis, Mars Ion and Sputtering Escape Network Small Bodies (MISEN) Beau Bierhaus, Ross (formerly CAESAR) Anthony Colaprete, Aeolus - to study the thermal and wind environment of Mars Jeffrey Plescia, APEX: Asteroid Probe Experiment Luca Montabone, Mars Aerosol Tracker (MAT) Tilak Hewagama, Primitive Object Volatile Explorer (PrOVE) Michael Collier, PRISM: Phobos Regolith Ion Sample Mission The Moon David Minton, Chariot to the Moons of Mars Suzanne Romaine, CubeSat X-ray Telescope (CubeX) Venus Charles Hibbitts, Lunar Water Assessment, Valeria Cottini, CUVE - Cubesat UV Experiment Transportation, and Resource Mission (WATER) Christophe Sotin, Cupid's Arrow Noah Petro, Mini Lunar Volatiles (MiLUV) Mission Attila Komjathy, Venus Airglow Monitoring Orbiter for Timothy Stubbs, Bi-sat Observations of the Lunar Seismicity (VAMOS) Atmosphere above Swirls (BOLAS) Tibor Kremic, Seismic and Atmospheric Exploration of Venus David Draper, Irregular Mare Patch Exploration Lander (SAEVe) (IMPEL)
Low Delta-V missions: NEO fly-by, and/or rideshare direct to destination High Delta-V missions: use electric propulsion 9 Small Innovative Missions for Planetary Exploration (SIMPLEx) Solicitation Requirements • Missions to conduct planetary science • 180 kg total spacecraft mass limit • $15M - $55M cost cap • Must ride as a secondary payload on a specific launch opportunity
Schedule • First proposals were due July 2018 • First selections were made June 2019 • Next proposals will be due no earlier than June 2020
Up to 50% of the total mission cost may be from non-U.S. contributions
10 Small Innovative Missions for Planetary Exploration (SIMPLEx)
ESCAPADE Escape, Plasma and Acceleration Dynamics Explorers
11 Small Spacecraft Selection for Planetary Science: Notional Schedule Launch minus 4-5 years Solicit small spacecraft for • Select and award ~1 year Phase A/B specific launch design studies opportunities • Expected product is PDR-level design • Launch trajectory is known
Launch minus 3-4 years Phase A/B design studies • Launch Vehicle procurement includes and Technology readiness ESPA ring and/or CubeSat dispenser demonstration options based on selections
Launch minus 2-3 years Select secondary mission • Selection determined in coordination in accordance with with launch vehicle selection expected launch capacity • Provided for Phase C design/build: More Procure Launch Vehicle for detailed Launch Vehicle trajectory, Primary and Secondary environments, and interfaces
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