SpaceCRAFT: Endeavouring towards a Satellite Virtual Reality for Mission Operation Evaluation
- Paper number
IAC-17,B6,3,3,x39300
- Author
Mr. Edmond Abdou, The University of Sydney, Australia
- Coauthor
Mr. Yan Zochowski, The University of Sydney, Australia
- Coauthor
Ms. Xue Yin Zhang, The University of Sydney, Australia
- Coauthor
Mr. Edward Phillips, The University of Sydney, Australia
- Coauthor
Dr. Xiaofeng Wu, The University of Sydney, Australia
- Coauthor
Mr. Benjamin Morrell, The University of Sydney, Australia
- Coauthor
Dr. Greg Chamitoff, Texas A&M University, United States
- Coauthor
Mr. Neill Philip Foweraker, The University of Sydney, Australia
- Coauthor
Mr. Neill Foweraker, The University of Sydney, Australia
- Year
2017
- Abstract
Future missions of exploration and settlement in space will involve the integration and interaction of many systems, technologies and capabilities with the purpose of executing a set of operational objectives. At present, simulating a complete space mission architecture in any integrated fashion is achieved mainly through often expensive prototyping of designs and complex analogue mission campaigns. Further, collaboration during the development of space systems is often marred by the logistical issues typical of multi-disciplinary projects. In light of these challenges, SpaceCRAFT is a new concept for collaborative space system and mission design. SpaceCRAFT is a Virtual Reality (VR) ‘Sandbox’ environment designed to provide the capability for scenario-based operational testing in an integrated mission VR setting. Taking advantage of recent developments in consumer VR hardware and high-speed parallel computing, SpaceCRAFT aims to provide an immersive testbed for institutions to collaborate in the development and evaluation of space systems. A high-level of technical fidelity is achieved in VR through the development of: (1) accurate physics and world modules, (2) modules that encompass the top-down design of an engineered system and (3) immersive 3D graphics and User Interfaces. With this VR framework in mind, this paper presents the development of a Mars VR Mission Tool to specifically investigate SpaceCRAFT as a platform for evaluating the operations on a Martian Habitat. The first section of this paper explores the development of an accurate Martian environment module in terms of topology, geology, orbital mechanics and solar modelling in order to establish operational constraints on mission aspects such as power generation, telecommunications and In-situ Resource Utilization systems. Human-environment interactions are then subsequently explored through the development of a Heads-Up Display for the relay of vital mission statistics to a VR astronaut. To demonstrate the effectiveness of SpaceCRAFT in simulating and testing complex engineering systems, a top-down development of a Mars Rover model in VR is then presented. Model complexity is built through the development of detailed rover-dynamics, power systems, and scientific instrumentation sub-modules in order to demonstrate the system integration capability of SpaceCRAFT. Finally, a teleoperation module is implemented in conjunction with the developed Rover model to explore operational considerations of controlling the motion and instrumentation of a Rover remotely. As a proof of concept, the presented scenario demonstrates the usefulness of the SpaceCRAFT platform in generating an immersive and high fidelity environment for the evaluation of mission operations.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
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