Technological Evolution and Revolution for Missions to the Moon and Mars
- Paper number
IAC-07-D3.3.06
- Author
Prof. Wendell Chun, Lockheed Martin Space Systems, United States
- Coauthor
Josh Reitsema, Lockheed Martin Space Systems, United States
- Year
2007
- Abstract
NASA has had successful robotic missions to Mars and successful human missions to the moon. Each of these is a solid stepping stone to a human mission to Mars. Underlying this goal of having humans on Mars are some fundamental technologies that will enable this type of mission. This paper addresses some of the key technologies that would support such an architecture. In particular, we will address: 1) ground control automation and its evolution onto the vehicle, 2) the fidelity of the onboard vehicle model, 3) relative navigation as a revolutionary step to outer planet navigation, 4) precision docking and precise landing, and 5) planetary surface mobility as a function of its local environment. Mission designs are based on designing for the spacecraft’s intended environment and for its mission. A physics-based approach is used to broadly qualify both a manned and unmanned mission to the moon and mars. There is a set of commonalities that will benefit this set of missions, and automation and autonomy are one of those common technologies. For example, the fundamental driver for spacecraft control is the evolution from a ground-centric strategy to a vehicle-centric approach. This evolution also impacts spacecraft navigation where decisions are made onboard and in real-time between vehicle and its destination. This is a paradigm shift for future Martian mission architecture. The same analogy can be used for the concept of docking, where precision landing can be viewed as a subset such that the lander follows an intercept trajectory with the planet, except that it occurs very quickly. However, atmospheric effects can adversely determine its final landing location. Whether manned or unmanned, spacecrafts and rovers require models of itself and models of its environment. In this case, internal models are known a priori while external models (sometimes referred to models of the World) are typically sensed. We believe that Mars will be a GPS-denied environment, and so will the moon during early exploration and settlement. These simple issues will impact spacecraft landing and surface mobility.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-07-D3.3.06.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
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