Mission Proposal April 18th, 2017 Prepared for: AE 443 Space Systems Design II Department of Aerospace Engineering University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Aries III Prepared by: Eric Dowdy Pranika Gupta Luke Hawkins Kaushik Ponnapalli Brett Schmidt Kyle Stanevich Aries III Design Team: Eric Dowdy Scientific Returns Engineer/Human Factors, Pg. 12-14, 16-23 Pranika Gupta Environmental Control and Life Support System/Crew/TCS, Pg. 23-24, 44-50, 60-61 Luke Hawkins Trajectory Engineer, Pg. 24-29 Kaushik Ponnapalli Communications Engineer/Electrical Power Engineer, Pg. 50-59 Brett Schmidt Propulsion and Launching Engineer/GNC, Pg. 29-38 Kyle Stanevich Team Lead Engineer/Structural Engineer, Pg. 38-44 Faculty Advisor: Zachary Putnam TAs: Patrick Haddox, Ankit Jain, Jose Sepulveda Freshmen Attachment: Elena Kamis 2 List of Acronyms WRS Water Recovery System ADCS Attitude Determination and Control System AIAA American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics ARS Air Revitalization System BOL Beginning of Life CDRA Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly CRA CO2Reduction Assembly DSN Deep Space Network ECLSS Environmental Control and Life Support System EOL End of Life EPS Electrical Power System FH Falcon Heavy GNC Guidance, Navigation, and Control HGA High Gain Antenna IMU Inertial Measurement Unit LEO Low-Earth Orbit LEOP Launch and Early Operation Phase LGA Low Gain Antenna Li-Ion Lithium Ion MCA Major Constituent Analyzer MCS Mission Concept Summary MLI Multi-Layer Insulation NASA National Aeronautics and Space Administration Ni-Cd Nickel-Cadmium NiH2 Nickel Hydrogen NSBRI National Space Biomedical Research Institute OGA Oxygen Generation Assembly OGS Oxygen Generation System RAM Radiation Area Monitor RFP Request for Proposal SLS Space Launch System TCS Thermal Control System TEPC Tissue Equivalent Proportional Counter TT&C Telemetry, Tracking, and Command TWTA Traveling Wave Tube Amplifier UPA Urine Processor Assembly WCS Waste Collection System WPA Water Processor Assembly 3 Executive Summary Crewed spacecraft have not travelled beyond Low-Earth orbit (LEO) since the 1972 Apollo 17 moon mission. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has both new lunar surface missions and Near-Earth Asteroid exploration plans. However, in the Earth- independent regime of deep space, Mars is the destination of most interest. Given the significant robotic exploration, manned Mars missions would be the next logical step. A human spaceflight mission to Mars would lay the foundation for future human exploration of Mars and beyond. The Aries III mission would demonstrate the capabilities of numerous technological developments including launch vehicles, space propulsion systems, and habitable space modules [1]. However, one of the largest concerns regarding deep space travel remains the impact of long-term exposure to the deep space environment on humans. The physical dangers posed from long-term exposure to deep space include muscle atrophy and bone density loss due to absence of gravity, radiation sickness, and spinal cord stretching. Behavioral problems include cognitive maladies, sleep loss, and potential declining interpersonal relationships. These bioastronautic issues pose a substantial threat to astronauts during deep space travel and are a significant uncertainty for journeys of this magnitude [2]. The spacecraft shall house three astronauts as signified by the name “Aries III.” Science to be performed on-board include medical monitoring of the physiological and psychological conditions of the astronauts. The mission will therefore address significant knowledge gaps in the field of bioastronautics. In order to achieve its goals, Aries III will utilize several key technologies that are currently under development such as the Space Launch System (SLS) for the launch vehicle, the Bigelow B330 module for the habitat, the SpaceX Dragon capsule for re-entry, and the Vinci 4 rocket engine for the spacecraft propulsion. The use of these systems in the Aries III mission will act to validate these technologies for future deep space travel. The spacecraft will be composed of two primary components, a habitat module and a re- entry capsule. The habitat module will be a Bigelow B330 modified to have an Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) suitable for long-term human presence; a Guidance, Navigation, and Control system for deep space flight; a communications system for deep space communication; and solar arrays for power generation. In addition to these systems, the B330 will be modified to interface with the SpaceX Dragon re-entry capsule. This capsule serves to protect the astronauts during Earth re-entry. The proposed crewed mission, launches October 2032 into a free return trajectory, performs a fly-by of Mars and subsequently returns the astronauts safely to Earth. The projected time of rendezvous with Mars is July 2033 with return to Earth May 2034. Upon arriving in the vicinity of Earth, the spacecraft performs highly elliptic Earth orbits, utilizing atmospheric drag to slowly reduce the spacecraft’s altitude. Once the altitude reaches 800 km, the habitat is jettisoned and the astronauts return in the re-entry capsule. GNC will reorient the habitat for a less aerodynamic re-entry, guaranteeing its destruction within the atmosphere. This trajectory would result in a mission duration of approximately 650 days, almost twice as long as the previous record for consecutive human space-flight [3]. The design choices and technology selection have been made to minimize cost while balancing risks. The chosen technologies will be flight-proven by the time the mission is commenced. The total mission cost is $3.9 billion. This gives a margin of 21.8% from the $5 billion budget cap. The design fulfills the requirements posed in the RFP. 5 Table of Contents Executive Summary ............................................................................................................ 4 1. Fact sheet ........................................................................................................................ 7 2. Mission Goals and Justification ...................................................................................... 8 2.1. Requirements ........................................................................................................... 8 2.2. Science Goals ........................................................................................................... 9 2.3. Mission Requirements ........................................................................................... 11 3. Mission Implementation ............................................................................................... 13 3.1. Management and Timeline .................................................................................... 13 3.2. Scientific Returns ................................................................................................... 15 3.3. Crew Selection ....................................................................................................... 20 3.4. Trajectory ............................................................................................................... 21 3.5. Propulsion .............................................................................................................. 26 3.5.1. Launch Vehicle Selection ............................................................................... 26 3.5.2. Guidance Navigation and Control .................................................................. 30 3.5.3. Development and Design of the CMGs .......................................................... 34 3.5.4. Attitude Determination ................................................................................... 34 3.5.5. GNC Data........................................................................................................ 35 3.6. Structure ................................................................................................................. 35 3.6.1. Habitat and Sizing ........................................................................................... 35 3.6.2. Radiation Protection........................................................................................ 38 3.6.3. Ballistic Protection .......................................................................................... 38 3.6.4. Earth Return Capsule ...................................................................................... 39 3.6.5. Structure Overview ......................................................................................... 40 3.7. Environmental Control and Life Support System .................................................. 41 3.7.1. Atmosphere Control ........................................................................................ 43 3.7.2. Water ............................................................................................................... 44 3.7.3. Food ................................................................................................................ 45 3.7.4. Waste Management ......................................................................................... 46 3.7.5. ECLSS Overview ............................................................................................ 47 3.8. Communications .................................................................................................... 47 3.8.1. Subsystem Component Selection ...................................................................