1,720,972 research outputs found
How does the human presence impact a mission to a Near Earth Asteroid?
No full textThe paper deals with the major impacts that the human presence has on an exploration mission to a Near Earth Asteroid. This topic was addressed in the framework of the fifth edition of the postgraduate SEEDS Master course, which aimed at the preliminary design of a human exploration mission to a NEA, called AENEA. A mission to an asteroid may be seen as an intermediate step before going to further destination such as Mars, since it offers the possibility to test several capabilities, both in terms of technologies and human aspects, required to reach further targets. The target of AENEA mission is the 1999 RA32 asteroid. The mission has an overall duration of about 6 months and the maximum distance between Earth and the spacecraft reached during the travel is about 0.2 AU. Many benefits would derive by the presence of humans in such kind of mission, with respect to having only robotics. As a matter of fact, the asteroid is a harsh and not known environment and the flexibility and capabilities of humans would be necessary to eventually face in an easier and more efficient way not expected situations, and avoid the risk of compromising the entire mission. Of course, a human mission is usually more complex, and consequently more costly, than a robotic one due to several issues that must be accounted for, as for example the effects of the long exposure to space radiations or to microgravity. Moreover, the long duration and the far distance from Earth make AENEA a very challenging mission even from a psychological point of view. Particular attention was devoted to this aspect in designing the mission, both in terms of systems and operations. The paper highlights the advantages of having humans in this kind of exploration mission, describing the major implications it has on the design of the entire mission. Furthermore, the importance of a having a complementary contribution of both robotics and human capabilities for such kind of mission robotic contribution is underline
A DEEP SPACE HABITAT FOR EXPLORATION
Full text linkThe paper describes a habitable module to be used for long duration space exploration missions. The Deep Space
Habitat (DSH) is conceived as a cis-lunar orbital infrastructure and a space-ship for deep space exploration missions.
It will represent the first outpost beyond LEO, being deployed at the first Earth-Moon Lagrangian point (EML1), and is envisaged as a human-tended infrastructure with crew visits periodically foreseen. The DSH has to be firstly used as a platform for research and to demonstrate a set of critical technologies and associated operations required to perform a deep space human exploration mission (e.g. to a NEO). In this regard, placing the module at EML1 allows reproducing conditions that would be encountered during a travel to an asteroid (or to Mars), thus guaranteeing the possibility to test specific technologies in a more significant environment with respect to what possible on ground or in LEO (e.g. effects of radiations on human body outside the protection of the Van Allen belts and radiation protection system test). Besides being a technology test bed, the DSH will support lunar human exploration missions, providing a staging post and a safe haven for crew working on the Moon surface. The overall architecture of the
DSH has derived from a set of system trade-off performed accordingly to the objectives to be accomplished: the
most important features are described within the paper. The DSH deployed at EML1 can be seen as a first unit to be
utilized as a precursor for a habitation module to be actually adopted for hosting the crew during a deep space
mission (to a NEO or to Mars). Indeed, a second unit is envisaged, which exploits the experience gained through its precursor, having a common core with it and implementing technologies previously tested on it. Only minor changes shall be envisioned due to the peculiarities of the mission for which it is used. In particular, the description of the second unit presented in the paper refers to a specific reference mission to a NEO lasting one year. The first part of
the paper focuses on the main performed trade-offs, as well as the obtained results, in terms of both system architecture and operations, highlighting the major differences between the two envisioned units. The second part is devoted to the critical and enabling technologies, with particular attention to advanced regenerative ECLSS, rapid prototyping and radiation protection system
A SPACE TUG FOR SATELLITES SERVICING
No full textThe paper deals with the analysis of a space tug to be used in support of Earth satellites transfer manoeuvres.
Usually Earth satellites are released in a non-definitive low orbit, depending on the adopted launcher, and they need to be equipped with an adequate propulsion system able to perform the transfer to their final operational location. In order to reduce the mass at launch of the satellite system, an element pre-deployed on orbit, i.e. the space tug, can be exploited to perform the transfer manoeuvres; this allows simplifying the propulsion requirements for the satellites, with a consequent decrease of mass and volume, in favour of larger payloads.
Several utilization scenarios can be identified, which may correspond to different requirements for the definition of the tug. In any case the idea is to have a system able to perform many satellites transfers from low to high orbit and exploit as much as possible the Italian assets (e.g. VEGA launcher).
The paper reports a detailed description of the utilization scenario, defining the missions and the major elements. In particular the adopted methodology and the main results are discussed, highlighting the analyses and trade-offs carried out in order to define the most convenient mission strategy
SCENARIO ASSESSMENT FOR THE DEMONSTRATION OF ENABLING TECHNOLOGIES FOR SPACE EXPLORATION
No full textThe paper deals with the identification and analysis of a reference mission scenario defined to test advanced technologies needed for future human space exploration missions. Some technologies are critical for future manned missions to outer space, like regenerative fuel cells, inflatable, environment protection and rendezvous and docking systems (especially for what concerns the software). In order to have them available for future missions, a specific scenario was identified to test and validate these technologies in a significant environment. The first step was the identification of the technologies to be tested and the assessment of the final target, which can be for example a mission on the Moon surface. Then the scenario was defined, identifying the various missions to consider for the qualification of the selected technologies. In particular, the building blocks associated to the missions were assessed and the way of implementing the technologies was determined through the definition of specific requirements. Several trade-offs are performed to select the most suitable solutions, in terms of mass/cost and cost effectiveness. For example, a specific technology could be firstly deployed as a demo in a low Earth orbit, maybe at the International Space Station; then it can be moved to a higher orbit to test different functionalities. In particular several options are considered and among them only the most convenient is selected: different requirements are derived and the relevant missions are described in details. The scenario evaluations have been done relying on the Scenario Evaluator Tool (SET), which is a tool conceived to support the engineering team in the framework of space mission design process. SET allows building mission architectures with significant reduction of development time and computational effort, allowing the characterization, comparison, and optimization of exploration scenarios and building blocks design through a user friendly graphical interface. The tool is one of the results of STEPS (Sistemi e Tecnologie per l'EsPlorazione Spaziale) and is currently used for further analyses being carried out in the frame of STEPS-2 (Phase 2), which is a research project co-founded by EU on the "Misura Piattaforme Innovative" - Phase 2 of POR FESR 2007/2013. The paper describes both the adopted methodology and the major obtained results, focusing on the technologies and the way they are implemented through several missions and building blocks to be tested and validate
A methodology to support strategic decisions in future human space exploration: from scenario definition to building blocks assessment
Full text linkThe human exploration of multiple deep space destinations (e.g. Cis-Lunar, NEAs), in view of the final challenge of sending astronauts to Mars, represents a current and consistent study domain especially in terms of its possible scenarios and mission architectures assessments, as proved by the numerous on-going activities about this topic and moreover by the global exploration roadmap. After exploring and analysing different possible solutions to identify the most flexible path, a detailed characterisation of several Design Reference Missions (DRMs) represents a necessity in order to evaluate the feasibility and affordability of deep space exploration missions, specifically in terms of enabling technological capabilities. The study presented in this paper was aimed at defining an evolutionary scenario for deep space exploration in the next 30 years with the final goal of sending astronauts on the surface of Mars by the end of 2030 decade. Different destinations were considered as targets to build the human exploration scenario, with particular attention to Earth-Moon Lagrangian points, NEA and Moon. For all the destinations selected as part of the exploration scenario, the assessment and characterisation of the relative Design Reference Missions were performed. Specifically they were defined in terms of strategies, architectures and mission elements. All the analyses were based on a pure technical approach with the objective of evaluating the feasibility of a long term strategy for capabilities achievement and technological development to enable future space exploration. This paper describes the process that was followed within the study, focusing on the adopted methodology, and reports the major obtained results, in terms of scenario and mission analysi
FUTURE SPACE EXPLORATION: FROM REFERENCE SCENARIO DEFINITION TO KEY TECHNOLOGIES ROADMAPS
Full text linkThe human exploration of multiple deep space destinations (e.g. Cis-lunar, NEAs), in view of the final challenge of sending astronauts to Mars, represents a current and consistent study domain especially in terms of its possible scenarios and mission architectures assessments, as proved by the numerous on-going activities about this topic and moreover by the Global Exploration Roadmap. After exploring and analysing different possible solutions to identify the most flexible path, a detailed characterization of one out of several Design Reference Missions (DRM) represents a necessity in order to evaluate the feasibility and affordability of deep space exploration missions, specifically in terms of enabling technological capabilities. A human expedition to a NEA, milestone of the GER ‘Asteroid Next' scenario, is considered the mission that would offer the largest suite of benefits in terms of scientific return, operational experience and familiarity on human deep space missions, test of technologies and assessment of human factors for future long-duration expeditions (including planetary bodies), evaluation of In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) and, more specifically, opportunity to test asteroid collision avoidance techniques. The study started from the identification and analysis of feasible evolutionary scenarios for Deep Space Exploration. Different destinations were considered as targets, with particular attention to Earth-Moon Lagrangian points, NEA and Mars as an alternative path to a Moon campaign. In the frame of the scenario selected as the preferable one, a DRM to a NEA (reference target) was defined in detail in terms of architecture and mission elements, as well as of the subsystems composing them. Successively, the critical subsystems and the relevant key technologies were investigated in detail, from their status-of-the-art up to an assessment of their development roadmaps. They shall enable the DRM and support the whole scenario. The paper describes the process that was followed within the study and reports the major obtained results, in terms of scenarios and mission analysis. Furthermore the key technologies that were identified are listed and described highlighting the derived roadmaps for their development according to the reference scenario
HUMAN EXPEDITION TO A NEAR EARTH ASTEROID: REFERENCE MISSION AND TECHNOLOGIES
Full text linkThe human exploration of multiple space destinations (e.g Cis-lunar, NEAs), in view of the final challenge of sending astronauts to Mars, represents a current and consistent study domain especially in terms of its possible scenarios and mission architectures assessments, as proved by the numerous on- going activities on this topic, overall the Global Exploration Roadmap work. After proposing a flexible path scenario, a detailed characterization of a Design Reference Missions (DRM) to one of the intermediate destinations represents a necessity in order to evaluate the feasibility and affordability of human space exploration missions, specifically in terms of enabling technological capabilities. A human expedition to a NEA, milestone also of the GER ‘Asteroid Next’ scenario, is considered the mission that would offer a large suite of benefits in terms of scientific return, operational experience and familiarity on human deep space missions, test of technologies and assessment of human factors for future long-duration expeditions (including planetary bodies), evaluation of In- Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) and, more specifically, opportunity to test asteroid collision avoidance techniques. In the proposed paper a DRM of a human expedition to a NEA is characterized in terms of strategy, missions, architectures, space system elements and technologies. Several options have been considered at the different levels of the reference mission design, and trade-offs among them have been carried out. Within the paper the different traded options, as well as the final results, for the most relevant and crucial aspects of the mission (e.g. ΔV, Mission Duration, Crew, Operations...) are reported, in order to justify and support the major study choices. Once the space system elements have been identified, an overview of the critical technological areas, sub-areas and the specific enabling key technologies that, at the status of the art, require deeper studies, developments and assessments, is illustrated. The proposed DRM to a NEA would represent a milestone in human space exploration, the result of a detailed and justified process of scenario and strategies evaluation, and the starting point for the characterization of the elements subsystems and the required technologies developments. The final goal is to perform multiple destinations deep space human exploration missions in the next few decades, achieving the globally shared mission objectives and incrementally prepare the path towards the first human mission to Mars
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