Technology Demonstration Missions— Bridging the Technology Gap
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National Aeronautics and Space Administration Technology Demonstration Missions— Bridging the Technology Gap Technology development progresses through Center in Huntsville, Alabama, is overseeing a stages that fall under several categories: idea portfolio of technology demonstration flight and inception and initial formulation; proof-of-concept ground projects led by NASA teams and industry testing; demonstration of mature technologies partners across the country. The program is part in relevant environments; and infusion of the of NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate. technology into future missions. The TDM program focuses on crosscutting NASA’s Technology Demonstration Missions technologies that meet the needs of NASA and facts program bridges the gap between ground industry by enabling new missions or greatly demonstration tests and final flight testing in an enhancing existing ones. Chosen technologies environment relevant to those the technologies are thoroughly ground-tested and readied for are expected to operate in — space — to reduce flight testing — reducing risks to future missions, the development risk for future missions and gaining operational heritage and continuing to provide the final infusion of cost-effective, NASA’s long history as a technology leader. revolutionary new technologies into robust NASA, These technologies will enable future NASA government and commercial space programs. missions to pursue bolder goals; make human missions safer and more rewarding; and The Technology Demonstration Missions program enable new expansion of space industry in the office, managed by NASA’s Marshall Space Flight government and U.S. commercial sectors. NASA Composites for Exploration Upper Stage (CEUS) insulation, propellant fluid level gauging, an integrated The Composites for Exploration vehicle fluids system, analytical models da nmor e. sThi Upper Stage ground-demonstra- technology advancement will pr ovide significant improve- tion project will use lightweight ment for long-duration, in-space missions by e xtending composite materials in the the cryogenic fluid storage and management capability. design, build and test of liquid Near-term benefits exist for SLS in the Exploration Upper hydrogen tank skirts of the same Stage design, and eCryo advancements offer design ben- scale that would be needed for efits for future use in missions such as the Mars Transfer use on NASA’s Space Launch System Exploration Upper Stage and Cryogenic Propellant Depot. Stage. The goals of CEUS include demonstrating and validating the manufacturability, structural margins, thermal Green Propellant Infusion Mission (GPIM) isolation improvements and inspection techniques of large- The Green Propellant Infusion scale composite structures for possible use in the SLS Mission project is the nation’s program or other launch vehicles and space structures. premier spacecraft demonstra- Using composite material applications and manufacturing tion of a new high-performance techniques instead of analogous metallic materials could “green” fuel and propulsion reduce the overall mass of a launch vehicle, allowing for a system — a more environmentally higher mass of payload to be delivered for the mission. friendly alternative to the more toxic conventional fuel hydrazine Deep Space Atomic Clock (DSAC) as propellant. This technology The Deep Space Atomic Clock promises improved performance for future satellites and project will demonstrate in space other space mi ssions by providing for longer mission dura- a small, ultra-precise, mercury- tions, increased payload mass and simplified pre-launch ion atomic clock 50 times more spacecraft processing, including safer handling and transfer accurate than today’s best of propellants. Launch to low-Earth orbit is planned for navigation clocks. It will provide 2018, in partnership with the U.S. Army Space and Missile the time and frequency stability Defense Command. needed for the next generation of deep-space navigation and Laser Communications Relay radio science missions, and potentially for future Global Demonstration (LCRD) Positioning System satellites. This technology promises to The Laser Communications improve the quality and flow of mission data by enabling a Relay Demonstration project will shift to a more flexible radio navigation architecture, freeing advance optical communications precious communications bandwidth currently reserved for technology, w hich will greatly navigation. Launch to low-Earth orbit as a hosted payload improve the data transmis- is planned for 2018 in partnership with NASA’s Space sion speed to and from space, Communications and Navigation Program and the U.S. expanding industry’s capability Army Space and Missile Defense Command. to produce competitive, high- value optical communications Evolvable Cryogenics Project (eCryo) systems and components. The The Evolvable Cryogenics technology, two optical-commu- ground-demonstration project nications space terminals and associated electronics, will will validate new cryogenic fluid communicate with one or more ground stations during the management technologies for demonstration and also will enable communications with NASA’s Space Launch System other spacecraft in low-Earth orbit. The LCRD technol- and make use of large-scale sys- ogy is expected to be implemented into next-generation tems to assess performance of space communication r elays. Launch to geosynchronous technology to reduce cryogenic Earth orbit as a hosted payload on a commercial space- propellant boil-off, multilayer craft is planned for 2018 in partnership with NASA’s Space Communications and Navigation Program. Technology Demonstration Missions 2 NASA Facts Low-Density Supersonic Decelerator (LDSD) Solar Electric Propulsion (SEP) The Low-Density Supersonic The Solar Electric Propulsion Decelerator project demon- project is developing large solar strates the use of inflatable struc- arrays, power processing units tures and advanced parachutes and high-power electric thrust- that operate at supersonic ers that are critical technologies speeds to more efficiently slow to enable cost-effective future down a spacecraft navigating in-space propulsion transfer through planetary atmospheres stages, such as robotic missions to redirect an asteroid prior to landing. These new into lunar orbit for study by humans; science missions; supersonic inflatable and para- commercial use to service and reposition orbital com- chute decelerators will increase munications satellites; and a variety of robotic and crewed capability for landed payload missions to Mars or other solar system destinations. masses on Mars. They also will A SEP-powered spacecraft will weigh much less than allow for higher-altitude landings and access to a larger traditional spacecraft and require a much lower propellant portion of the Red Planet’s surface, enabling improved mass be carried for the mission. That allows each launch targeting of safe landing sites. These new technologies vehicle to carry more supplies or science instruments and are suitable for infusion into future Mars lander missions, potentially reduces launch costs due to its lower mass greatly extending performance capabilities. Continued and volume. flight testing is planned through 2015. Infusion customers include NASA’s Science Mission Directorate and NASA’s Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate. National Aeronautics and Space Administration George C. Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL 35812 www.nasa.gov/marshall www.nasa.gov FS-2015-03-20-MSFC NASA Facts G-94573.