Enabling Human Space Exploration Through Integrated Operational Testing
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49th International Conference on Environmental Systems ICES-2019-80 7-11 July 2019, Boston, Massachusetts Relevant Environments for Analysis and Development (READy): Enabling Human Space Exploration Through Integrated Operational Testing David A. Coan 1 The Aerospace Corporation, at the NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX 77058 USA Trevor G. Graff 2 Jacobs, at the NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX 77058 USA Kelsey E. Young 3 NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, 20771, USA Marcum L. Reagan 4 NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX 77058, USA and Bill Todd 5 Universities Space Research Association, at the NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX 77058, USA ASA is currently developing a multi-phase human exploration plan to explore various destinations throughout N the solar system. These campaigns are currently focused on missions to cislunar space, the Moon, and Mars. All future exploration missions include Extravehicular Activity (EVA) operations that will be comprised of both engineering-focused tasks for constructing and maintaining infrastructure, as well as science-driven operations for exploration of the natural environment. Integrated operational tests, also known as analogs, provide relevant data for informing concepts, fleshing out technical details, and evolving systems. Analogs close technology, capability, and science gaps; identify and develop the best systems, innovations, and operational approaches; identity things that are effective and ineffective in a mission environment; and inform the development of strategic architecture and concept of operations. These analogs further inform the Exploration EVA System Concept of Operations document by exploring the combination of operations, engineering, and science for future destinations in mission-like environments. Exploration and analog experts from NASA’s Exploration Integration & Science Directorate (EISD), located at the Johnson Space Center (JSC), established the Relevant Environments for Analysis and Development (READy) Project in order to enable human space exploration through the integration and testing of technologies, systems, operations, and science. The READy team leads the development and execution of high-fidelity operational missions that closely mimic the space environment of interest. The READy Project facilitates exploration objectives through four themes 1) Tools, 2) Techniques, 3) Technologies, and 4) Training, and takes place in three general types of environments 1) Aquatic, 2) Terrestrial, and 3) Laboratory. READy fulfills key objectives that enable human exploration, while providing synergy and ensuring integration across a wide variety of activities. These efforts will ultimately lead to mission readiness and success, reduce risk, increase scientific return, and improve the affordability of NASA programs and missions. This paper outlines READy’s strategy and implementation plan. 1 Operations & Engineering Specialist, Extravehicular Activity Office, READy Management Team, Mail Code XX4 2 Chief Scientist, Astromaterials Research & Exploration Sciences, READy Management Team, Mail Code XI3 3 Research Scientist, Planetary Geodynamic Laboratory, READy Management Team, Mail Code 6980 4 Project Manager, Exploration Mission Planning Office, READy Management Team, Mail Code XM1 5 Project Specialist, Exploration Mission Planning Office, READy Management Team, Mail Code XM Copyright © 2019 David A. Coan I. Introduction ASA is now developing plans for exploring planetary bodies throughout the solar system, with campaigns N focused on returning humans to cislunar space and the surface of the moon, and culminating with human missions to Mars. These exploration missions will include Extravehicular Activity (EVA) operations constructing and maintaining vehicles and infrastructure and for scientific exploration and sample collection of the natural environment. Multi-disciplinary integrated operational tests and mission simulations, also known as analog missions, provide relevant data for informing concepts, fleshing out technical details, and evolving systems. Analog missions allow teams to conduct early, end-to-end validation of concepts of operations (con ops), develop systems and equipment needed for exploration operations, information mission architecture development, and help close current gaps in technology, capability, and science.1-5 For EVA operations, analog missions directly inform the Exploration EVA System Concept of Operations document6 by exploring the combination of operations, engineering, and science for future destinations in mission-like environments. Engineers and scientists from NASA’s Exploration Integration & Science Directorate (EISD) established the Relevant Environments for Analysis and Development (READy) Project in order to enable human space exploration through the integration and testing of technologies, systems, operations, and science. This project utilizes four themes7 – 1) Tools, 2) Techniques, 3) Technologies, and 4) Training – and three general types of environments – 1) Aquatic, 2) Terrestrial, and 3) Laboratory – while leading the development and execution of high-fidelity operational exploration missions that closely mimic the space environment of interest. READy provides integration across a wide variety of activities, ensures synergy between various projects, and fulfills key objectives that enable human exploration. The efforts of READy will ultimately lead to mission readiness Figure 1: NASA’s EISD READy Project logo and success, reduce risk, increase scientific return, and improve the affordability of NASA programs and missions. II. NASA’s Exploration Missions NASA’s plans for the crewed exploration of the solar system include campaigns focused on missions to cislunar space, the surface of the Moon, and the surface of Mars. A. Cislunar Space Initial cislunar exploration will be focused on the Deep Space Gateway. This orbital outpost will be a crew-tended spaceport in lunar orbit which will serve as a gateway to the lunar surface, and eventually human missions to Mars. It will feature a power/propulsion element using solar electric power (instead of chemical thrusters), habitat and logistics modules, and an airlock and robotic arm for external operations (such as EVA). Ultimately it is meant to support robotic and human missions to the lunar surface, as well as assist in missions departing for other destinations in the solar system. B. Lunar Surface Exploration concepts currently being examined at NASA involve humans returning to cislunar space and the surface of the Moon for the first time since the Apollo missions. A program of both robotic and human missions will provide a robust set of capabilities to enable exploration, science, and commercial interests as part of long-term utilization plan. Lunar exploration and science missions will add to our knowledge of the Moon, explore the potential for humans to live and work on planetary surfaces, allow humans to learn how to exploit in-situ resources, and be a critical test bed for concepts of systems bound for Mars, enabling humanity to venture further into the Solar System. 2 International Conference on Environmental Systems These lunar surface missions will allow for continued scientific research of the Moon, add to our knowledge of planetary bodies, and enable profound discoveries about the Solar System and our place in it. This will include advances in astronomy, physics, materials science, astrobiology, geology, and geophysics. The return of lunar samples will improve our understanding of planetary surfaces and impact cratering, provide insight into the evolution of the Earth, and allow for studying the history of the Sun. Lunar missions will progress with a phased approach, starting with smaller, short missions and expanding to a long duration presence on the surface.6 They will take place at multiple different landing sites spread across the surface of the Moon, with EVA operations involving a variety of engineering-focused and science-driven tasks. C. Mars One of the primary goals of NASA’s future human plans is to land on and explore the surface of Mars. Once on the surface and acclimated to the gravity environment, the crew will conduct EVA operations, including pioneering tasks to assemble the base infrastructure, maintenance tasks to keep the infrastructure operating, and science tasks for geoscience and astrobiology data and sample acquisition.6 With such a long signal latency and blockage, EVA operations will be directed by an IV crewmember, with input from the Science Team both during and between EVAs. The crew will utilize their in-situ knowledge to plan some of the operations, with MCC concurring and putting together the detailed timelines. Many of the science operations tasks will likely be far from the habitat, so the EVA crew will rely on a navigation system to find the correct sampling area and find their way back to the habitat or rover. III. Utilizing Analog Testing for Exploration Mission Development & Maturation NASA teams utilize integrated operational test (analog mission) evaluations to close knowledge and technology gaps, develop systems for exploration missions, and determine viable operational approaches.1-5 These missions drive out results for things that do and do not work in a mission environment, using the results to inform strategic architectural development efforts. Analog sites and the skills that enable them to be used as realistic representations of the targeted spaceflight environment are likely to turn