Modeling Planetary Entry, Descent and Landing System Technologies for Interplanetary Mission Design Studies
- Paper number
IAC-06-D1.P.1.02
- Author
Mr. Ben Bieber, University of North Dakota, United States
- Coauthor
Mr. Craig Peterson, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, United States
- Year
2006
- Abstract
New technology in robotic planetary exploration is often developed without full awareness of its synergetic affects. While the immediate benefits of new or advanced technology are obvious, it is difficult to understand its direct and indirect consequences, which ripple through the entire system. Thus, the ability to calculate on how specific technology choices affect a mission at the system-level becomes essential. For example, planetary entry missions with higher entry velocity constraints would necessitate a higher thermal protection system mass fraction and require advanced technology. Therefore, data accounting for the infusion of new or advanced technologies would help in guiding developments leading up to a mission launch. This allows the effects of technology improvement to be calculated for a given baseline mission that will result in estimates more truly representative. In addition, the capability is available to conduct comprehensive trade studies with respect to other systems. It offers the advantage of determining benefits of various unknown technology improvements. Several partner universities under the guidance of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory are developing this trade evaluation tool. The methodology was to use simplified models for mass and cost to analyze performance parameters. Systems are sized according to first principles subject to reasonable approximations. This includes semi-analytical, semi-empirical, and rules of thumb on continuous mechanics without finite element analysis tools. Contingency is applied at the system-level, based on expert engineering input. This allows technological development to be focused on areas that will most drastically improve spacecraft performance and follow through on the Vision for Space Exploration.
- Abstract document