Planetary Exploration: SPADE - A New Integrated Entry Systems Design Tool
- Paper number
IAC-05-D1.3.08
- Author
Mr. Elie Allouis, Surrey Space Centre, University of Surrey, United Kingdom
- Coauthor
Dr. Alex Ellery, Surrey Space Centre, University of Surrey, United Kingdom
- Coauthor
Prof. Martin Sweeting, Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd., United Kingdom
- Year
2005
- Abstract
With the current emphasis on planetary missions, the pace at which missions are designed is becoming more rapid. New frontiers have been reached on Mars and Venus, and now Titan with the successful Cassini-Huygens. This paper deals with one aspect in particular: the entry, descent and landing (EDL) phase. Despite the development of new technologies, the EDL is still referred as the “6 minutes in Hell ", a delicate operation where nothing can be taken for granted. EDL systems design is a highly specialised and diverse engineering problem including aerodynamics, thermodynamics and mechanics to name just a few. Assessment of these technologies requires a number of specialists, which makes systems validation difficult. The potential for failure can be disastrous and lead to the complete loss of the mission as exemplified by the Mars Polar Lander and Beagle 2 missions. We are currently developing SPADE, a software tool that can automatically evaluate potential EDL systems designs quickly and efficiently by non-specialist systems engineers. SPADE encapsulates the expert knowledge required to develop all EDL sub-systems from heatshield design, to parachutes, as well as providing the unique capability of evaluating landing hazards such as the probability of landing on a rock or the depth of impact for penetrator missions. Built to be easily accessible to systems engineers, it interfaces with a number of databases ranging from topography such as Mars MOLA data, atmospheric properties, and past planetary missions to provide a direct feedback on the feasibility of the mission. Built-in tools provide a quick and clear assessment and visualisation of the landing site properties, size, rockiness and slope. By empowering systems engineer with these new capabilities, the mission design team will be able to deliver quickly new preliminary probe designs and detailed performances that will facilitate early decision making of future planetary programs.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-05-D1.3.08.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
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