Detection and Mitigation of Transient Instabilities in Deployable Booms
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Engineering topics
Publications and source records attributed to Quadrelli, M..
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In this paper, we present the conceptual design of a Lunar Crater Radio Telescope (LCRT) on the far side of the Moon. We propose to deploy a wire mesh using wall-climbing DuAxel robots in a 3–5 km diameter lunar crater on the farside, with a suitable depth-to-diameter ratio, to form a parabolic reflector with a 1 km diameter. LCRT will be the largest filled-aperture radio telescope in the Solar System. LCRT could enable scientific discoveries in the field of cosmology by observing the early Universe in the 10–50 m wavelength band (i.e., 6-–30 MHz frequency band), which has not been explored for cosmological observations to date. We have described LCRT’s science objectives and key technology challenges, that we need to overcome to make this concept a reality. We envisage that LCRT will open a new window for humanity’s exploration of the Universe.
"Surviving Extreme Space Environments" (EE) is one of NASA's Space Technology Grand Challenges. Power generation and thermal control are the key survival ingredients that allow a robotic explorer to cope with the EE using resources available to it, for example, by harvesting the local solar energy or by utilizing an onboard radioisotope thermoelectric generator (RTG). TransFormers (TFs) are a new technology concept designed to transform a localized area within a harsh extreme environment into a survivable micro-environment by projecting energy to the precise location where robots or humans operate. For example, TFs placed at a location on the rim of Shackleton Crater, which is illuminated by solar radiation for most of the year, would be able to reflect solar energy onto robots operating in the dark cold crater. TFs utilize a shape transformation mechanism to un-fold from a compact volume to a large reflective surface, and to control how much-and where-the energy is projected, and by adjusting for the changing position of the sun. TFs would enable in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) activities within locations of high interest that would normally be unreachable because of their extreme environment
As part of the Space Exploration Analysis and Simulation (SEAS) task, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is using physics-based simulations at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) to explore potential surface and near-surface mission operations at Near Earth Objects (NEOs). The simulator is under development at JPL and can be used to provide detailed analysis of various surface and near-surface NEO robotic and human exploration concepts. In this paper we describe the SEAS simulator and provide examples of recent mission systems and operations concepts investigated using the simulation. We also present related analysis work and tools developed for both the SEAS task as well as general modeling, analysis and simulation capabilites for asteroid/small-body objects.
In this paper we provide an independent modeling and dynamic analysis of the MARSIS Antenna segmented booms deployed on the Mars Express Spacecraft. The Mars Express Mission is a joint NASA/ESA Cooperative project. The Mars Express Spacecraft being built by ESA will be launched in June 2003 and arrive at Mars in December 2003 to begin a four year study of the planet's atmosphere, surface, and subsurface. The Mars Advanced Radar for Subsurface and Ionospheric Mapping (MARSIS), provided by NASA and managed by JPL, is a key instrument in the search for water on Mars. Our objective was to determine the antenna's dynamic interaction with the spacecraft bus (or central rigid body).
In this paper we present formation flying performance analysis initial results for a representative large space telescope composed of separated optical elements [Mett 02]. A virtual-structure construct (an equivalent rigid body) is created by unique metrology and control that combines both centralized and decentralized methods. The formation may be in orbit at GEO for super-resolution Earth observation, as in the case of Figure 1, or it may be in an Earth-trailing orbit for astrophysics, Figure 2. Extended applications are envisioned for exo-solar planet interferometric imaging by a formation of very large separated optics telescopes, Figure 3. Space telescopes, with such large apertures and f/10 to f/100 optics, are not feasible if connected by massive metering structures. Instead, the new virtual-structure paradigm of information and control connectivity between the formation elements provides the necessary spatial rigidity and alignment precision for the telescope.
In this paper we conduct a feasibility analysis of a 25-meter aperture virtual-structure space telescope example concept based on formation control of separated free-flying optical modules orbiting the Earth at GEO. We develop a Formation Flying implementation approach, and design and analyze the dynamics, control, metrology and estimation methods.
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We describe a rather general model used to predict the dynamics and control performance of formations of spacecraft connected by tethers in heliocentric orbit and in low Earth orbit.
Formation flying spacecraft is emerging as an enabling technology for the discovery of new type of science for the emerging NASA deep space and Earth science missions.
The sub-orbital rocket mission was a collaborative project between the University of New Hampshire, Cornell University, and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory to study filamentation phenomenon in the northern Auroral zone.