摘要:

The future international manned exploration of planet Mars will require some independency of food and oxygen supplies to the crews on Mars. Vegetables, growing inside secure vessels on the Martian ground, are the best candidates for supplying a quasi‐continuous production of proteins, salt minerals, water and oxygen to the astronauts working in a semi‐permanent possible future living facility at Mars’ surface, for a future, possible secure and controlled Mars terraformation. © 2004 American Institute of Physics

ISSN:0094-243X    

DOI:10.1063/1.1649661

出版商:AIP    

年代:1904

数据来源: AIP

摘要:

Excavation of surface regolith material is the first step in processes to extract volatile materials from planetary surface regolith for the production of propellant and life support consumables. Typically, concentrations of volatiles are low, so relatively large amounts of material must be excavated. A bucket wheel excavator is proposed, which has the capability of continuous excavation, which is readily adapted to granular regolith materials as found on the Moon, in drift deposits on Mars, and probably on the surface of asteroids and satellites, such as Phobos. The bucket wheel excavator is relatively simple, compared to machines such as front end loaders. It also has the advantage that excavation forces are principally horizontal rather than vertical, which minimizes the need for excavator mass and suits it to operations in reduced gravity fields. A prototype small bucket wheel excavator has been built at approximately the scale of the rovers that are carried to Mars on the Mars Exploration Rover Mission. The prototype allows the collection of data on forces exerted and power requirements for excavation and will provide data on which more efficient designs can be based. At excavation rates in the vicinity of one rover mass of material excavated per hour, tests of the prototype demonstrate that the power required is largely that needed to operate the excavator hardware and not related strongly to the amount of material excavated. This suggests that the excavation rate can be much larger for the same excavation system mass. Work on this prototype is continuing on the details of transfer of material from the bucket wheel to an internal conveyor mechanism, which testing demonstrated to be problematic in the current design. © 2004 American Institute of Physics

ISSN:0094-243X    

DOI:10.1063/1.1649662

出版商:AIP    

年代:1904

数据来源: AIP

摘要:

The notion of ecologically terraforming another planet (akaecopoiesis) has been discussed by a number of scholars. Some theoretical treatments of various aspects of ecopoiesis have appeared in the literature. However, experimental terraforming studies have been rare to non‐existent. This is not surprising because of the planetary scale and long durations typically discussed. We describe a concept to perform basic ecopoietic experiments in a test facility constructed on the lunar surface. Such a facility can provide long‐term observation of organisms and their ecological, physiological, and evolutionary interactions in a low gravity environment. Salient features of other extraterrestrial environments (e.g. the 0.38g Mars gravity) can be simulated more easily in the lunar milieu than on Earth while providing much greater access for experimenters than ecopoiesis experiments on Mars itself. Besides application of these proposed studies to possible future terraforming efforts, basic evolutionary and ecological processes could be studied under extreme selection pressures including fractional gravity, high radiation, and with a variety of atmospheres, soils, and other parameters. Novel, genetically engineered and selectively bred organisms could be tested in such a facility without concern for accidental release into Earth’s environment. © 2004 American Institute of Physics

ISSN:0094-243X    

DOI:10.1063/1.1649663

出版商:AIP    

年代:1904

数据来源: AIP

摘要:

The extraction of oxygen from the lunar regolith is relatively straightforward and has been studied extensively. Extraction of hydrogen is also straightforward, but because the concentration of hydrogen is so low (∼50 ppm), the economics is problematical. However, a process for extracting hydrogen may also extract carbon, which is typically present at the 100 ppm level. A small amount of available oxygen can be extracted in the same process, through the hydrogen or carbon reduction of iron oxide in the regolith. Thus, a combined process is possible in which methane and oxygen are the end products. Methane has advantages over hydrogen in terms of storage and liquefaction energy requirements. We show that the combined hydrogen and carbon content of a given quantity of lunar regolith, if converted to methane and used in a methane/oxygen engine, can lift more payload off of the Moon than a hydrogen/oxygen engine utilizing hydrogen and oxygen extracted from the same amount of regolith. We examine the conditions under which it might become economically feasible to utilize these minor constituents of the lunar regolith. It is concluded that improved excavator, extractor, and power technologies could make the extraction economically feasible. This would open practically any place on the Moon as a source of rocket propellant. © 2004 American Institute of Physics

ISSN:0094-243X    

DOI:10.1063/1.1649664

出版商:AIP    

年代:1904

数据来源: AIP

摘要:

This paper follows up on the idea of using potential fields for automatic construction of massive objects of desired shape in Space. In STAIF03, we showed the commonality between the theories for acoustic and optical positioning/shaping methods. Using this theoretical framework, we developed a simple engineering estimation scheme to predict the acceleration per unit intensity. The radiation pressure is achieved by interaction of electromagnetic waves and particles of a given dielectric material and size. The theory was limited to the Rayleigh domain, where particle size is much less than the wavelength, and isotropic scattering could be assumed. With this theoretical framework in hand, we now consider how electromagnetic waves could be utilized in a Space‐based construction project. In the test case project, the question of how to construct a safe radiation shelter for humans, in the Near‐Earth Object (NEO) region is considered. NEO material, pulverized to an average particle size of 0.1m radius, is formed into desired shapes using the radiation pressure and gradient forces experienced by dielectric objects in a standing‐wave field of radio waves. The force field is produced by solar‐powered transmitter/antenna carrying spacecraft, which are positioned in formation around the particle cloud to set up a resonant field of the desired mode. As a test case, formation of cylindrical shells is considered. The field level is set to induce an average particle acceleration of a millionth of an Earth‐surface gravitational acceleration. Once in position, the particles are fused by solar‐powered energy beams through a sintering process. Results show that 50m diameter, 50m‐tall cylinders can be formed in the course of 12 to 13 hours per cylinder. Order‐of‐magnitude arguments show that the selected acceleration level is adequate to overcome noise from all other forces in this region. The paper also begins the consideration of tradeoffs between solar collector area, number of resonators, and capacitive storage‐discharge of energy in the fabrication process. © 2004 American Institute of Physics

ISSN:0094-243X    

DOI:10.1063/1.1649665

出版商:AIP    

年代:1904

数据来源: AIP

摘要:

The human exploration of Mars will require the identification of a region that includes the largest number of beneficial sites and properties. Because of the numerous relevant parameters and the complexity of the Martian surface an automated technique was tested using Ian L. McHarg’s (1969) sieve mapping method. Beginning with a global inventory of features areas of interest were determined by astrobiology, geology and other mission parameters, with the goal of finding a series of possible habitat sites to support a traverse mission through Utopia Planitia, Isidis, and Elysium Planitia. We identified important occurrences of hydrogen isotopes, centers of past volcanic activity, significant impact craters and possible evidence of past and present water and superimposed these locations to determine the best site for the habitat, which is situated between the Elysium volcanoes, Isidis, Gale Crater. © 2004 American Institute of Physics

ISSN:0094-243X    

DOI:10.1063/1.1649666

出版商:AIP    

年代:1904

数据来源: AIP

摘要:

Caves and subsurface voids on Mars and other bodies can provide significant advantages when used for human habitat and operational space. They are also targets for significant scientific investigations. We have developed a suite of technology concepts to make utilization of extraterrestrial caves feasible. Our goal is to provide a solid foundation of information and options so that mission planners may realistically consider the subsurface option in development of mission scenarios. We have concentrated on identifying the primary challenges to human operation in the extraterrestrial cave environment. Employing concepts like inflatable cave liner habitats, foamed‐in‐place airlock technologies, and micro‐robotic self‐deploying communication, mapping, and data transmission networks, we are developing solutions to meet those challenges and demonstrate the feasibility of cave use on Mars. We present the results of field trials of an incave mission simulation in several Earth caves as a proof‐of‐concept demonstration. These trials during the summer and fall of 2003 culminate in a high fidelity simulation scheduled for January 2004. Concepts and prototypes were developed during a completed Phase I and on‐going Phase II NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts (NIAC) study. © 2004 American Institute of Physics

ISSN:0094-243X    

DOI:10.1063/1.1649667

出版商:AIP    

年代:1904

数据来源: AIP

摘要:

Global Aerospace Corporation (GAC) is developing a revolutionary system architecture for exploration of planetary atmospheres and surfaces from atmospheric altitudes. The work is supported by the NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts (NIAC). The innovative system architecture relies upon the use of Directed Aerial Robot Explorers (DAREs), which essentially are long‐duration‐flight autonomous balloons with trajectory control capabilities that can deploy swarms of miniature probes over multiple target areas. Balloon guidance capabilities will offer unprecedented opportunities in high‐resolution, targeted observations of both atmospheric and surface phenomena. Multifunctional microprobes will be deployed from the balloons when over the target areas, and perform a multitude of functions, such as atmospheric profiling or surface exploration, relaying data back to the balloons or an orbiter. This architecture will enable low‐cost, low‐energy, long‐term global exploration of planetary atmospheres and surfaces. A conceptual analysis of DARE capabilities and science applications for Mars is presented. Initial results of simulations indicate that a relatively small trajectory control wing can significantly change planetary balloon flight paths, especially during summer seasons in Polar Regions. This opens new possibilities for high‐resolution observations of crustal magnetic anomalies, polar layered terrain, polar clouds, dust storms at the edges of the Polar caps and of seasonal variability of volatiles in the atmosphere. © 2004 American Institute of Physics

ISSN:0094-243X    

DOI:10.1063/1.1649668

出版商:AIP    

年代:1904

数据来源: AIP

摘要:

This presentation addresses a concept‐level model that produces technical design parameters and economic feasibility information addressing future human spaceflight exploration platforms. This paper uses a design methodology and analytical tools to create feasible concept design information for these space platforms. The design tool has been validated against a number of actual facility designs, and appropriate modal variables are adjusted to ensure that statistical approximations are valid for subsequent analyses. The tool is then employed in the examination of the impact of various payloads on the power, size (volume), and mass of the platform proposed. The development of the analytical tool employed an approach that accommodated possible payloads characterized as simplified parameters such as power, weight, volume, crew size, and endurance. In creating the approach, basic principles are employed and combined with parametric estimates as necessary. Key system parameters are identified in conjunction with overall system design. Typical ranges for these key parameters are provided based on empirical data extracted from actual human spaceflight systems. In order to provide a credible basis for a valid engineering model, an extensive survey of existing manned space platforms was conducted. This survey yielded key engineering specifications that were incorporated in the engineering model. Data from this survey is also used to create parametric equations and graphical representations in order to establish a realistic range of engineering quantities used in the design of manned space platforms. © 2004 American Institute of Physics

ISSN:0094-243X    

DOI:10.1063/1.1649669

出版商:AIP    

年代:1904

数据来源: AIP

摘要:

A novel observing system known as Global Environmental MEMS Sensors (GEMS) offers the potential to significantly improve the ability to take in situ measurements for a variety of space missions. The GEMS concept features devices with completely integrated sensing, power, and communications with characteristic dimensions of just millimeters. Thousands of these low‐cost devices could potentially be deployed together from a spacecraft to enable distributed sensing in planetary and other space environments. The deployment of such probes is analyzed and discussed for various scenarios on Mars that would provide measurements with unprecedented spatial and temporal resolution. The extended coverage provided by the arrays would improve the ability to calibrate remote sensing data while also extending the areas traditionally measured by localized landers. The unique features of such a system could significantly improve the capabilities for planetary and space exploration in the near and far term. © 2004 American Institute of Physics

ISSN:0094-243X    

DOI:10.1063/1.1649670

出版商:AIP    

年代:1904

数据来源: AIP