Team Explorer CALTECH SPACE CHALLENGE - 2015 Team Explorer CALTECH | GALCIT | JPL Project Explorer Team Members Bill Tandy Marilena Di Carlo Christopher Wynard Mathieu Lapotre Dan Fries Alex Takeshi Davide Conte Priyanka Das Henna Jethani Rahul Goel Koki Ho Simon Dandavino Lee Wilson Thierry de Roche Max Khatsenko Valentina Boccia 1 | P a g e Project Explorer Executive Summary Project Explorer establishes a concept mission for the exploration and utilization of the asteroid that will be returned by the Asteroid Retrieval Mission (ARM). The mission launches in August 2025 with a science lab flying on a Falcon Heavy. It flies to the asteroid on a ballistic trajectory and takes 8.5 days. In March 2024, a crew of 3 launches in an Orion capsule on a SLS. A service module is contributed by the European Space Agency. The crew returns 39 days later. The mission is divided into three primary phases of crew delivery, asteroid operations, and return. They take 8.5, 22, and 8.5 days respectively. The primary objectives of the operations phase are to characterize the asteroid and its environment, extract and process the asteroid’s resources, and to demonstrate the ability of these processed resources to support future space missions. Public outreach is considered a fundamental part of the mission. The mission is designed to operate within a reasonable budget and schedule. 2 | P a g e Project Explorer Contents Team Members ....................................................................................................................................................................... 1 Executive Summary ................................................................................................................................................................. 2 1.0 Introduction ...................................................................................................................................................................... 6 2.0 Mission Overview .............................................................................................................................................................. 8 2.1 Mission Statement ........................................................................................................................................................ 8 2.2 Objectives ...................................................................................................................................................................... 8 2.3 Requirements ................................................................................................................................................................ 9 2.4 Mission Architecture ................................................................................................................................................... 10 2.5 Mission Design Choices ............................................................................................................................................... 10 3.0 Science ............................................................................................................................................................................ 12 3.1 Context ........................................................................................................................................................................ 12 3.2 Science Objectives....................................................................................................................................................... 13 3.3 Science Payload ........................................................................................................................................................... 17 4.0 Technology Demonstration ............................................................................................................................................. 19 4.1 Context ........................................................................................................................................................................ 19 4.2 Tech Demonstrations Objectives ................................................................................................................................ 19 4.3 Technology Demonstration Payload ........................................................................................................................... 20 4.3.1 Ring Plasma Drill ................................................................................................................................................... 20 4.3.2 Pyrolysis Chamber ................................................................................................................................................ 22 4.3.3 Microgravity Centrifuge ....................................................................................................................................... 25 4.3.4 Sintering Mirror and Mold ................................................................................................................................... 25 4.3.5 Radiation Shielding .............................................................................................................................................. 26 4.3.6 ARC (Asteroid Regolith Crusher) .......................................................................................................................... 26 4.3.7 EPM2 (Electrostatic Powder Manipulator for Microgravity) ............................................................................... 28 4.3.8 Compact Electrostatic Separator (CES) ................................................................................................................ 28 4.3.9 Steam Rocket ....................................................................................................................................................... 28 4.3.10 Experimental Garden ......................................................................................................................................... 29 4.3.11 SPHEREs.............................................................................................................................................................. 29 5.0 Operations....................................................................................................................................................................... 30 5.1 (Structure as needed for the proposed mission) ........................................................................................................ 30 5.2 Science and Technology Demonstration Operation Plan ........................................................................................... 30 5.3 EVA Detailed Schedule ................................................................................................................................................ 32 6.0 Engineering ..................................................................................................................................................................... 40 6.1 Launch ......................................................................................................................................................................... 40 3 | P a g e Project Explorer 6.2 Transit ......................................................................................................................................................................... 45 6.2.1 Theory .................................................................................................................................................................. 45 6.2.2 Cargo Mission ....................................................................................................................................................... 49 6.2.3 Crewed Trajectory ................................................................................................................................................ 52 6.2.4 Launch Date Selection .......................................................................................................................................... 56 6.2.5 Reentry ................................................................................................................................................................. 60 6.4 Spacecraft ................................................................................................................................................................... 63 6.4.1 GNC ...................................................................................................................................................................... 65 6.4.2 Communications, C&DH ....................................................................................................................................... 67 6.4.4 Propulsion ............................................................................................................................................................ 69 6.4.5 Structural Design .................................................................................................................................................. 70 6.4.6 Thermal Control ................................................................................................................................................... 72 6.5 Science and Technology Demonstration ...................................................................................................................