The Aurora Programme Europe’S Framework for Space Exploration Aurora
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Report of the Commission on the Scientific Case for Human Space Exploration
1 ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY Burlington House, Piccadilly London W1J 0BQ, UK T: 020 7734 4582/ 3307 F: 020 7494 0166 [email protected] www.ras.org.uk Registered Charity 226545 Report of the Commission on the Scientific Case for Human Space Exploration Professor Frank Close, OBE Dr John Dudeney, OBE Professor Ken Pounds, CBE FRS 2 Contents (A) Executive Summary 3 (B) The Formation and Membership of the Commission 6 (C) The Terms of Reference 7 (D) Summary of the activities/meetings of the Commission 8 (E) The need for a wider context 8 (E1) The Wider Science Context (E2) Public inspiration, outreach and educational Context (E3) The Commercial/Industrial context (E4) The Political and International context. (F) Planetary Science on the Moon & Mars 13 (G) Astronomy from the Moon 15 (H) Human or Robotic Explorers 15 (I) Costs and Funding issues 19 (J) The Technological Challenge 20 (J1) Launcher Capabilities (J2) Radiation (K) Summary 23 (L) Acknowledgements 23 (M) Appendices: Appendix 1 Expert witnesses consulted & contributions received 24 Appendix 2 Poll of UK Astronomers 25 Appendix 3 Poll of Public Attitudes 26 Appendix 4 Selected Web Sites 27 3 (A) Executive Summary 1. Scientific missions to the Moon and Mars will address questions of profound interest to the human race. These include: the origins and history of the solar system; whether life is unique to Earth; and how life on Earth began. If our close neighbour, Mars, is found to be devoid of life, important lessons may be learned regarding the future of our own planet. 2. While the exploration of the Moon and Mars can and is being addressed by unmanned missions we have concluded that the capabilities of robotic spacecraft will fall well short of those of human explorers for the foreseeable future. -
Lara (Lander Radioscience) on the Exomars 2020 Surface Platform
EPSC Abstracts Vol. 13, EPSC-DPS2019-891-1, 2019 EPSC-DPS Joint Meeting 2019 c Author(s) 2019. CC Attribution 4.0 license. LaRa (Lander Radioscience) on the ExoMars 2020 Surface Platform. Véronique Dehant1,2, Sébastien Le Maistre1, Rose-Marie Baland1, Özgür Karatekin1, Marie-Julie Péters1, Attilio Rivoldini1, Tim Van Hoolst1, Bart Van Hove1, Marie Yseboodt1, and Alexander Kosov3 (1) Royal Observatory of Belgium (ROB), Brussels, Belgium, (2) Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium, (3) Space Research Institute Russian Academy of Sciences (IKI), Moscow, Russia Abstract The surface platform Kazachok will house the radio science experiment LaRa (Lander Radioscience) to support specific scientific objectives of the ExoMars 2020 mission. The LaRa experiment is described and the scientific objectives and strategies are detailed in this presentation. Figure 1. LaRa principle. 1. Introduction 2. The LaRa instrument In the last decade, several missions and observations As LaRa performs a coherent retransmission of the have brought new data on the planet Mars, obtained uplink carrier to the downlink carrier, the downlink by either spacecraft orbiting around Mars or landers frequency is scaled by a constant multiplier, the and rovers on the surface. Among other things, the transponder ratio (880/749). By emitting the uplink information acquired will improve our understanding signal from Earth, the masers in the ground stations of Mars’ interior, evolution and habitability. Data ensure frequency stability of LaRa’s radiosignal. obtained by new space missions are driving further The LaRa instrument is built in collaboration with progress in this field. In 2020, the European Space other Belgian actors under the lead of ESA PRODEX, Agency ESA and the Russian space agency and ROB providing the instrument specifications. -
Russia's Posture in Space
Russia’s Posture in Space: Prospects for Europe Executive Summary Prepared by the European Space Policy Institute Marco ALIBERTI Ksenia LISITSYNA May 2018 Table of Contents Background and Research Objectives ........................................................................................ 1 Domestic Developments in Russia’s Space Programme ............................................................ 2 Russia’s International Space Posture ......................................................................................... 4 Prospects for Europe .................................................................................................................. 5 Background and Research Objectives For the 50th anniversary of the launch of Sputnik-1, in 2007, the rebirth of Russian space activities appeared well on its way. After the decade-long crisis of the 1990s, the country’s political leadership guided by President Putin gave new impetus to the development of national space activities and put the sector back among the top priorities of Moscow’s domestic and foreign policy agenda. Supported by the progressive recovery of Russia’s economy, renewed political stability, and an improving external environment, Russia re-asserted strong ambitions and the resolve to regain its original position on the international scene. Towards this, several major space programmes were adopted, including the Federal Space Programme 2006-2015, the Federal Target Programme on the development of Russian cosmodromes, and the Federal Target Programme on the redeployment of GLONASS. This renewed commitment to the development of space activities was duly reflected in a sharp increase in the country’s launch rate and space budget throughout the decade. Thanks to the funds made available by flourishing energy exports, Russia’s space expenditure continued to grow even in the midst of the global financial crisis. Besides new programmes and increased funding, the spectrum of activities was also widened to encompass a new focus on space applications and commercial products. -
Outline of Aurora Funding
Outline of Aurora funding The £3 million from the Aurora Science Programme has gone to the following 17 academics and individual scientists working at UK research organisations: 1. An improved understanding of Mars photochemistry using NOMAD and ACS measurements – Professor Paul Palmer, Edinburgh University - £73,442 The proposal aims to develop the existing photochemistry (the chemistry effects of light) to prepare for measurements collected by the NOMAD and ACS instruments aboard the Trace Gas Orbiter. They will develop the chemical mechanism so it can be used to interpret observed variations of atmospheric gases on Mars. 2. Dust storms and the dust transport cycle: their impact on the Martian climate in a multi annual reanalysis of MCS, THEMIS and TGO/ACS data – Professor Peter Read, Oxford University - £346,592 The proposal aims to improve our understanding of the Martian dust cycle, its impact on climate and the physical features of the Martian surface. Using a new approach towards analysing daily variations in the Martian atmosphere it is proposed to extend this dataset using measurements of the Martian atmosphere from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter and Mars Odyssey missions in orbit around Mars, and from the Atmospheric Chemistry Suite (ACS) on ESA's Trace Gas Orbiter mission when they become available. This may be useful for future spacecraft operations at the Martian surface, as well as to improve our understanding of both the present and past states of the Martian climate. 3. ExoMars TGO Guest Investigator Support – Dr Matt Balme, Open University - £56,367 This proposal seeks funding for a Guest Investigator position on ESA's ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter mission. -
Nasa As an Instrument of U.S. Foreign Policy
CHAPTER 11 Nasa as an Instrument of U.S. Foreign Policy John Krige as space exploration,and NASA’s role in it in particular,had an effect on society, Hand, if so, on what aspects of it? And how do we measure any such impact? These are challenging questions indeed. The stakeholders in the huge American space program are multiple and include scientists; engineers; research, development, and launch facilities; industry; administrators; and many government agencies, not to speak of Congress and the U.S. taxpayer.The impacts of spaceflight vary widely, from adding to the stockpile of knowledge and stimulating innovation and industry, to training, education, and creating jobs and—if we move beyond the civilian sphere— to enhancing national security and intelligence gathering. And then there are the intangible, difficult to quantify cultural effects that range from inspiring a young girl to become an astronaut to building national pride and prestige in what are, after all, spectacular scientific and technological, managerial, and industrial achievements. This paper briefly considers one small, but I think important and often overlooked, corner of this vast panorama: the place of spaceflight in American foreign policy. I do not simply want to insist that naSa’s international programs have had an important impact as instruments of foreign policy.I also want to suggest that today they have a particularly significant political and cultural role to play in projecting a positive image of American power and American democracy abroad. In a world increasingly torn apart by conflicts over values—conflicts which history teaches us can seldom be resolved by force—i believe we overlook the potential of NASA as an instrument for American foreign policy at our peril. -
Outer Space in Russia's Security Strategy
Outer Space in Russia’s Security Strategy Nicole J. Jackson Simons Papers in Security and Development No. 64/2018 | August 2018 Simons Papers in Security and Development No. 64/2018 2 The Simons Papers in Security and Development are edited and published at the School for International Studies, Simon Fraser University. The papers serve to disseminate research work in progress by the School’s faculty and associated and visiting scholars. Our aim is to encourage the exchange of ideas and academic debate. Inclusion of a paper in the series should not limit subsequent publication in any other venue. All papers can be downloaded free of charge from our website, www.sfu.ca/internationalstudies. The series is supported by the Simons Foundation. Series editor: Jeffrey T. Checkel Managing editor: Martha Snodgrass Jackson, Nicole J., Outer Space in Russia’s Security Strategy, Simons Papers in Security and Development, No. 64/2018, School for International Studies, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, August 2018. ISSN 1922-5725 Copyright remains with the author. Reproduction for other purposes than personal research, whether in hard copy or electronically, requires the consent of the author(s). If cited or quoted, reference should be made to the full name of the author(s), the title, the working paper number and year, and the publisher. Copyright for this issue: Nicole J. Jackson, nicole_jackson(at)sfu.ca. School for International Studies Simon Fraser University Suite 7200 - 515 West Hastings Street Vancouver, BC Canada V6B 5K3 Outer Space in Russia’s Security Strategy 3 Outer Space in Russia’s Security Strategy Simons Papers in Security and Development No. -
Change in the Wind and Climate at the Exomars 2022 Landing Site in Oxia Planum (Mars)
52nd Lunar and Planetary Science Conference 2021 (LPI Contrib. No. 2548) 1442.pdf CHANGE IN THE WIND AND CLIMATE AT THE EXOMARS 2022 LANDING SITE IN OXIA PLANUM (MARS). S. Silvestro1,2, D. Tirsch3, A. Pacifici4, F. Salese5,4, D.A. Vaz6, A. Neesemann7, C.I. Popa1, M. Pajola8, G. Franzese1, G. Mongelluzzo1,9, A.C. Ruggeri1, F. Cozzolino1, C. Porto1, F. Esposito1. 1INAF, Osservatorio Astronomico di Capodimonte, Napoli, Italy ([email protected]). 2SETI Institute, Carl Sagan Center, Mountain View, CA, USA. 3Institute of Planetary Research, DLR, Berlin, Germany. 4IRSPS, Università G. D’Annunzio, Pescara, Italy. 5Centro de Astrobiología, CSIC- INTA, Madrid. 6CESR University of Coimbra, Portugal. 7Freie Universitat, Berlin, Germany. 8INAF, Osservatorio Astronomico di Padova, Padova, Italy. 9Department of Industrial Engineering, Università Federico II, Napoli, Italy. Introduction: The ESA/ROSCOSMOS ExoMars Ridges are even visible in association with impact crater 2022 (a rover named “Rosalind Franklin” and a surface ejecta and are superimposed by 10-25 m craters and platform named “Kazachok”) [1] will land in Oxia boulders, so they pre-date these impact events (Fig. 1c). Planum (18.2° N; 24.3° W) to search for signs of past or When associated with crater ejecta, ridges locally show present life on Mars and to perform long-term two different crests (Fig. 2b). Both crests are truncated atmospheric investigations [2,3]. Oxia Planum shows by craters, which suggest that the double crest large outcrops of clay-rich Noachian-aged arrangement was emplaced before the impacts (Fig. 2c). phyllosilicates [4,5]. The clay bearing unit is To better understand the relative age of the ridges, we unconformably overlain by an Amazonian dark resistant mapped their occurrence on 316 craters in the study area unit (Adru), which was interpreted to be remnants of an that we qualitatively classified as relatively Early Amazonian (2.6 Ga) volcanic material [4]. -
Exploration of Mars by the European Space Agency 1
Exploration of Mars by the European Space Agency Alejandro Cardesín ESA Science Operations Mars Express, ExoMars 2016 IAC Winter School, November 20161 Credit: MEX/HRSC History of Missions to Mars Mars Exploration nowadays… 2000‐2010 2011 2013/14 2016 2018 2020 future … Mars Express MAVEN (ESA) TGO Future ESA (ESA- Studies… RUSSIA) Odyssey MRO Mars Phobos- Sample Grunt Return? (RUSSIA) MOM Schiaparelli ExoMars 2020 Phoenix (ESA-RUSSIA) Opportunity MSL Curiosity Mars Insight 2020 Spirit The data/information contained herein has been reviewed and approved for release by JPL Export Administration on the basis that this document contains no export‐controlled information. Mars Express 2003-2016 … First European Mission to orbit another Planet! First mission of the “Rosetta family” Up and running since 2003 Credit: MEX/HRSC First European Mission to orbit another Planet First European attempt to land on another Planet Original mission concept Credit: MEX/HRSC December 2003: Mars Express Lander Release and Orbit Insertion Collission trajectory Bye bye Beagle 2! Last picture Lander after release, release taken by VMC camera Insertion 19/12/2003 8:33 trajectory Credit: MEX/HRSC Beagle 2 was found in January 2015 ! Only 6km away from landing site OK Open petals indicate soft landing OK Antenna remained covered Lessons learned: comms at all time! Credit: MEX/HRSC Mars Express: so many missions at once Mars Mission Phobos Mission Relay Mission Credit: MEX/HRSC Mars Express science investigations Martian Moons: Phobos & Deimos: Ionosphere, surface, -
2020 Defense Space Strategy Summary
DEFENSE SPACE STRATEGY SUMMARY JUNE 2020 Image courtesy of NASA DEFENSE SPACE STRATEGY SUMMARY JUNE 2020 This page left intentionally blank TABLE OF CONTENTS Executive Summary ........................................ 1 Desired Conditions .......................................... 2 Strategic Context ............................................ 3 Strategic Approach ........................................ 6 Conclusion....................................................... 10 This page left intentionally blank DEFENSE SPACE STRATEGY EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Department of Defense (DoD) is embarking on the most significant transformation in the history of the U.S. national security space program. Space is now a distinct warfighting domain, demanding enterprise-wide changes to policies, strategies, operations, investments, capabilities, and expertise for a new strategic environment. This strategy identifies how DoD will advance spacepower to enable the Department to compete, deter, and win in a complex security environment characterized by great power competition. Space is vital to our Nation’s security, prosperity, and scientific achievement. Space-based capabilities are integral to modern life in the United States and around the world and are an indispensable component of U.S. military power. Ensuring the availability of these capabilities is fundamental to establishing and maintaining military superiority across all domains and to advancing U.S. and global security and economic prosperity. Space, however, is not a sanctuary from attack and space systems are potential targets at all levels of conflict. In particular, China and Russia present the greatest strategic threat due to their development, testing, and deployment of counterspace capabilities and their associated military doctrine for employment in conflict extending to space. China and Russia each have weaponized space as a means to reduce U.S. and allied military effectiveness and challenge our freedom of operation in space. -
Investigating Mars' Atmosphere Using the NOMAD Instrument on The
Investigating Mars’ atmosphere using the NOMAD instrument on the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter Supervision team: Dr Manish Patel, Dr Stephen Lewis, Dr Jonathon Mason External supervisor: N/A Lead contact: [email protected] Description: This project provides the opportunity to be directly involved in an active space mission and play a key role in the preparation and exploitation of results from a spaceflight instrument on the ESA ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter mission, which is currently in orbit around Mars. The project will involve supporting work on: - Continued development of a radiative transfer model of the martian atmosphere in preparation for ExoMars - Characterisation of Flight Spare instrumentation and data interpretation from mid-cruise checkouts - Preparation of new techniques for retrieval of atmospheric species - Exploitation of data returned from the NOMAD-UVIS instrument This mission is aimed at furthering our understanding of the composition and dynamics of the martian environment, through the measurement of trace gases such as ozone and methane in the martian atmosphere from orbit. The project relates to the UVIS channel of the NOMAD instrument; UVIS is an optical spectrometer led by the Open University to measure solar radiation travelling through the martian atmosphere at UV and visible wavelengths, in order to detect and map the presence of ozone, dust and ice clouds in the atmosphere of Mars in unprecedented detail. This project will involve scope for a wide range of potential research from instrument testing through to exploitation of real spaceflight instrument data. The focus of the project is on the retrieval of ozone and aerosol abundance and properties from spectra that will be returned from the UVIS instrument. -
Exomars Rover Battery Modeling & Life Tests
ExoMars Rover Battery Modeling & Life Tests Geoff Dudley NASA Aerospace Battery Workshop Huntsville USA November 16-18 2010 ExoMars Rover Battery • Mass is critical ! Nominal mission duration: 180 sols • Battery ExoMars Rover Battery | G. Dudley | Nov 16-18 2010 | NASA Aerospace Battery Workshop | Page 2 Background to tests - 1 • Low ambient temperature means either battery has to operate cold or extra is energy needed from somewhere to maintain higher battery temperature • Li-Ion cell manufacturers data sheets show discharge capability down to below -20 deg. C but rarely indicate low temperature charge capability • Required charge rates are quite low for rover application so low-temperature charging was investigated • ABSL recommended 4 cell candidates for low temperature tests at ESTEC (based on specific energy at low temperatures) • 2 of these down-selected for life tests as 6s1p strings: • ABSL 18650 LV (2.2 Ah nameplate capacity) • ABSL 18650 NL (2.4 Ah nameplate capacity) ExoMars Rover Battery | G. Dudley | Nov 16-18 2010 | NASA Aerospace Battery Workshop | Page 3 Background to tests - 2 • ESTEC tests carried out under contract to ABSL in the frame of ExoMars phase B1 “Rover Vehicle Battery Breadboard” activity. – By 180 cycles of life testing both cell types showed large dispersion in voltage, capacity and resistance – Evidence for lithium plating • Characterisation tests performed in parallel with life tests – NL cell model (derived from these) subsequently confirmed that Li plating was inevitable at the charge rates previously used. – Model used to help select a more suitable charge management • New life tests on new 6s1p modules of NL and LV cell types with new charge management – After 120 sols discontinued worst-performing cell module (LV) and replaced by second NL module using more aggressive charge management ExoMars Rover Battery | G. -
Human Spaceflight Plans of Russia, China and India
Presentation to the ASEB Committee on NASA Technology Roadmaps Panel on Human Health and Surface Exploration June 1, 2011 by Marcia S. Smith Space and Technology Policy Group, LLC Russia Extensive experience in human spaceflight First animal in space (1957), first man in space (1961), first woman in space (1963), first spacewalk (1965), first space station (1971) Seven successful space stations (Salyut 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and Mir) before partnering in International Space Station (ISS) No people beyond low Earth orbit (LEO), however For earth orbit, continues to rely on Soyuz, first launched in 1967, but upgraded many times and is key to ISS operations Designed space shuttle, Buran, but launched only once in automated mode (no crew) in 1988 06-01-2011 2 Russia (2) Existing reliable launch vehicles Proton is largest: 21 tons to LEO; 5.5 tons to geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) Attempts to build Saturn V-equivalent in 1960s and 1970s failed (N1 failed four times in four attempts 1969-1972) Energiya booster in 1980s only flew twice (1987 with Polyus and 1988 with Buran). Abandoned for financial reasons. Was 100 tons to LEO; 18-20 tons to GTO; 32 tons to lunar trajectory. RD-170 engines for Energiya’s strap-ons live on today in other forms for Zenit, Atlas V, and Angara (under development) 06-01-2011 3 Russia (3) Robotic planetary space exploration mixed Excellent success at – Moon (Luna and Lunokhod series, plus Zond circumlunar flights) Venus (Venera series) Halley’s Comet (Vega 1 and 2—also Venus) Jinxed at Mars More than a dozen failures in 1960s - 1970s Partial success with Phobos 2 in 1988 (Phobos 1 failed) Mars 96 failed to leave Earth orbit Phobos-Grunt scheduled for later this year; designed as sample return from Phobos (includes Chinese orbiter) 06-01-2011 4 Russia (4) Grand statements over decades about sending people to the Moon and Mars, but never enough money to proceed.