A New Vehicle for Planetary Surface Exploration PDF Download

Author: J. Antol
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 12

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Author: Phillip M. Cunio
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 285

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Book Description
Robotic planetary surface exploration, which has greatly benefited humankind's scientific knowledge of the solar system, has to date been conducted by sedentary landers or by slow, terrain-limited rovers. However, there are other types of vehicles which can conduct planetary surface exploration. One of these is hopping vehicles, which do not require fluid contact or ground contact in order to move, but instead propulsively balance thrust from their engines against gravity to propel themselves over the surface. Hopping vehicles are still a nascent technology, however, and no spaceborne hopping vehicles have yet flown. In order to bring hopping vehicles into the decision space for planetary surface exploration missions, in this thesis we provide a framework to understand hopping vehicles' key characteristics and advantages, as well as a tradespace model to size hopping vehicles based on mission characteristics. The tradespace model takes user-input mission requirements, including target planetary body, scientific payload, and a detailed flight profile, and produces a subsystem-level model of a hopping vehicle which can complete the mission. Information on the operational profile and lifecycle costs of the hopping vehicle is also produced. The tradespace model also permits users to capture results from one model run and compare them to other model runs, or to results produced by other models. In this thesis, the tradespace model is described, and initial tradespace investigation is performed using the model. Finally, lessons learned are summarized and suggestions are offered for future research. The thesis closes with a summation of the potential offered by hopping vehicles for planetary surface exploration missions in the decades to come.

Author: N. C. Costes
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Space vehicles
Languages : en
Pages : 15

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Author: Ranjan Vepa
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 1108422845
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 371

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Book Description
Presents the established principles underpinning space robotics with a thorough and modern approach. This text is perfect for professionals in the field looking to gain an understanding of real-life applications of manipulators on satellites, and of the dynamics of satellites carrying robotic manipulators and of planetary rovers.

Author: National Aeronaut Administration (Nasa)
Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
ISBN: 9781722692537
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 74

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Book Description
Planetary surface exploration micro-rovers for collecting data about the Moon and Mars was designed by the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Idaho. The goal of both projects was to design a rover concept that best satisfied the project objectives for NASA-Ames. A second goal was to facilitate student learning about the process of design. The first micro-rover is a deployment mechanism for the Mars Environmental SURvey (MESUR) Alpha Particle/Proton/X-ray instruments (APX). The system is to be launched with the sixteen MESUR landers around the turn of the century. A Tubular Deployment System and a spiked-legged walker was developed to deploy the APX from the lander to the Martian surface. While on Mars the walker is designed to take the APX to rocks to obtain elemental composition data of the surface. The second micro-rover is an autonomous, roving vehicle to transport a sensor package over the surface of the moon. The vehicle must negotiate the lunar-terrain for a minimum of one year by surviving impacts and withstanding the environmental extremes. The rover is a reliable track-driven unit that operates regardless of orientation which NASA can use for future lunar exploratory missions. A detailed description of the designs, methods, and procedures which the University of Idaho design teams followed to arrive at the final designs are included. Stauffer, Larry and Dilorenzo, Matt and Austin, Dave and Ayers, Raymond and Burton, David and Gaylord, Joe and Kennedy, Jim and Lentz, Dale and Laux, Richard and Nance, Preston Unspecified Center...

Author: Farah Alibay
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 243

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Book Description
Planetary exploration missions are becoming increasingly complex and expensive due to ever more ambitious scientific and technical goals. On the other hand, budgets in planetary science have suffered from dramatic cuts over the past decade and projections estimate a flat budget of approximately $1.2B/year for the upcoming years. This has led to a desire for a reduction in the risk and complexity, as well as an increase in the robustness and reliability, of planetary exploration vehicles. One of the methods proposed to deal with this issue is the use of distributed, multi-vehicle architectures as a replacement for the traditional large, monolithic systems used in flagship missions. However, mission concept formulation engineers do not possess the tools to include multi-vehicle architectures in their early trade space exploration process. This is mostly due to the fact that these types of architectures cannot be readily evaluated against monolithic systems through the use of traditional mass-based metrics. Furthermore, in multi-vehicle system, architectural decisions about one vehicle, such as instrument or capability selection, quickly propagate through the entire system and impose requirements on the other vehicles. This can be difficult to model without going through detailed point designs. The objective of this thesis is to explore the potential benefits of both spatially and temporally distributed multi-vehicle systems, where the vehicles are heterogeneous, as compared to monolithic systems. Specifically, a set of metrics mapping the effects of using multi-vehicle systems on science benefit, complexity, mass, cost, coverage, productivity and risk are developed. Furthermore, a software tool to simulate the performance of teams of planetary surface vehicles in their operational environment has been built and its use demonstrated. Finally, the framework put forward in this thesis is used to perform several case studies, including a case study on the exploration of the Jovian moon Europa and another on the ascent and return components of a Mars Sample Return mission. From these, distributed systems are shown to provide increased science return and robustness as well as lower development and manufacturing costs as compared to their monolithic equivalents.

Author: NASA Advisory Council. Solar System Exploration Committee
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Astronautics in astronomy
Languages : en
Pages : 244

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Author: National Research Council
Publisher: National Academies Press
ISBN: 0309224640
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 399

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Book Description
In recent years, planetary science has seen a tremendous growth in new knowledge. Deposits of water ice exist at the Moon's poles. Discoveries on the surface of Mars point to an early warm wet climate, and perhaps conditions under which life could have emerged. Liquid methane rain falls on Saturn's moon Titan, creating rivers, lakes, and geologic landscapes with uncanny resemblances to Earth's. Vision and Voyages for Planetary Science in the Decade 2013-2022 surveys the current state of knowledge of the solar system and recommends a suite of planetary science flagship missions for the decade 2013-2022 that could provide a steady stream of important new discoveries about the solar system. Research priorities defined in the report were selected through a rigorous review that included input from five expert panels. NASA's highest priority large mission should be the Mars Astrobiology Explorer Cacher (MAX-C), a mission to Mars that could help determine whether the planet ever supported life and could also help answer questions about its geologic and climatic history. Other projects should include a mission to Jupiter's icy moon Europa and its subsurface ocean, and the Uranus Orbiter and Probe mission to investigate that planet's interior structure, atmosphere, and composition. For medium-size missions, Vision and Voyages for Planetary Science in the Decade 2013-2022 recommends that NASA select two new missions to be included in its New Frontiers program, which explores the solar system with frequent, mid-size spacecraft missions. If NASA cannot stay within budget for any of these proposed flagship projects, it should focus on smaller, less expensive missions first. Vision and Voyages for Planetary Science in the Decade 2013-2022 suggests that the National Science Foundation expand its funding for existing laboratories and establish new facilities as needed. It also recommends that the program enlist the participation of international partners. This report is a vital resource for government agencies supporting space science, the planetary science community, and the public.

Author: Shayler David
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 1846285968
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 266

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Book Description
MARSWALK ONE: First Steps on a New Planet addresses the question of why we should embark on a journey to Mars, documenting what the first human crew will do when they place their feet in the red dust of the planet. The book also addresses why we need to carry out these tasks and, more importantly, what a human crew could achieve that an automated mission could not. Understanding the clear benefits of sending a human crew to the surface of Mars, and how these benefits can be seen back on Earth, is the key to sustained long-term public and political support for the programme in terms of cash and commitment. The book accepts that the journey will be made, but does not specify precisely when. Flight time, and how to get to and from the planet are discussed briefly, to understand why the suggested duration spent at Mars is reasonable. The main objective of the work is to look at what science will be done on the surface – supported by orbital operations – and what hardware and technology will be employed to achieve the mission objectives. This analysis is drawn from previous experiences in manned and unmanned space programmes, including Apollo, Skylab, Salyut/Mir, Shuttle and ISS, Viking, Luna/Lunokhod, and recent Mars missions such as Pathfinder and Global Surveyor. In addition, new interviews with key personalities involved in planning Martian exploration, and discussions about current thoughts on what we need to accomplish on Mars when we get there, will provide a lively and thought provoking account that could generate fresh debate. When the decision is finally made to go to Mars, it will be made in the knowledge that most of the world knows why we are going and what benefits mankind will see for the effort. The authors’ primary objective is to begin this understanding.

Author: Alex Ellery
Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 3642032591
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 721

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Book Description
This will be the only book on planetary rover development covering all aspects relevant to the design of systems