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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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41 records · Page 3

The Cloud: Obstacles and Barrier Encountered By Users

Increasing exposure to and adoption of the Earthdata Cloud yields new concerns from users include: financial resource allotment, steep learning curves, institutional support, and cloud-readiness of data. We present common concerns expressed by early cloud adopters, and encourage conference-goers to relay their own or users's experiences. We also encourage brainstorming for how open science principles can help solve some of the barriers and obstacles users encounter with the cloud.

Alexis Hunzinger↗

Artemis and Ethics Workshop Lessons Learned

As NASA lays out its Artemis activities, it expects to set precedents in spaceflight for decades to come. Including ethical and social considerations in Artemis planning will improve the likelihood that the future we create is one where humanity collectively wants to live. NASA’s Office of Technology, Policy, and Strategy (OTPS) hosted an Artemis and Ethics Workshop. This workshop was held at NASA’s Mary Jackson Headquarters in Washington, DC from April 12th -14th 2023 and brought together invited experts in social science, humanities, and technical fields to discuss ethical, legal, and social implications (ELSI) of Artemis and human exploration in general. The two key study questions that the workshop aimed to address were: 1) How should NASA consider the ELSI of the Artemis and Moon to Mars efforts?; and 2) What are the key ethical and societal implications that need consideration? After briefly summarizing the formal workshop report, this paper addresses the lessons learned from implementing an interdisciplinary workshop of this nature, and from reflecting on the complexities of societal implications long-term. Issues of breadth vs depth, preparing people to engage across cultures, and allowing for structured brainstorming of specific issues are of particular importance. We also reflect on the limits of a workshop full of experts for addressing these issues and note ways in which other participatory processes or adjustments to policy practices may be worthwhile.

Artemis↗

Artemis and Ethics Workshop Lessons Learned

As NASA lays out its Artemis activities, it expects to set precedents in spaceflight for decades to come. Including ethical and social considerations in Artemis planning will improve the likelihood that the future we create is one where humanity collectively wants to live. NASA’s Office of Technology, Policy, and Strategy (OTPS) hosted an Artemis and Ethics Workshop. This workshop was held at NASA’s Mary Jackson Headquarters in Washington, DC from April 12th-14th 2023 and brought together invited experts in social science, humanities, and technical fields to discuss ethical, legal, and social implications (ELSI) of Artemis and human exploration in general. The two key study questions that the workshop aimed to address were: 1) How should NASA consider the ELSI of the Artemis and Moon to Mars efforts?; and 2) What are the key ethical and societal implications that need consideration? After briefly summarizing the formal workshop report, this paper addresses the lessons learned from implementing an interdisciplinary workshop of this nature, and from reflecting on the complexities of societal implications long-term. Issues of breadth vs depth, preparing people to engage across cultures, and allowing for structured brainstorming of specific issues are of particular importance. We also reflect on the limits of a workshop full of experts for addressing these issues and note ways in which other participatory processes or adjustments to policy practices may be worthwhile.

Artemis↗

A Crew and Logistics Lander for the Common Habitat Architecture

The Common Habitat Architecture is a conceptual study that explores the use of a large habitat derived from the Space Launch System (SLS) liquid oxygen tank as a core habitation element that can be used for crew missions or training in 0g, 1/6g, 3/8g, and 1g. This is not part of current NASA Artemis mission planning, but instead represents an architecture that could potentially follow after the Artemis missions and initial human Mars landings. This architecture leverages Starship-derived vehicles for crew landing on and ascent from the Moon and Mars in support of long-duration surface missions with pressurized crew transfer baselined as a nominal capability. This is not the Human Landing System variant of Starship but represents a number of modifications to enable long-duration surface missions with an eight-person crew size. A rapid brainstorming study was conducted in February of 2021, using only public data, to identify options to deliver the 90-ton Common Habitat to the surface and emplace it at the intended habitation site. This study compared three lunar lander concepts and three Mars lander concepts before ultimately selecting the SpaceX Starship as the most viable lander. The Common Habitat Architecture assumes that this Starship variant can further be modified for crew and cargo delivery, assuming that the use of a common system will lead to cost benefits. It is assumed that the Starship will expend too much propellant in landing crew and logistics to be able to launch, given the assumed absence of surface propellant production. Consequently, a separable ascent stage is used for crew ascent. The pressurized elements of this modified Starship are discussed: Starship Ascent Module, Airlock, Transfer Tunnel, Pressurized Crew Transfer Module, and Logistics Modules. For each element, a description, dimensions, rough mass estimates, core capabilities, and design features are presented. Key mechanisms and internal structures of the starship are also discussed. This will include flame diverters for the ascend module, the orbital docking hatch, Pressurized Crew Transfer Module Garage door, Starship Ascent Module fairing, flame diverter blow-out panels, Pressurized Crew Transfer Module lift system, logistics module lift system, contingency crew ascent via the logistics module lift system, internal catwalks, and structural interfaces. Concept of Operations will be discussed for both Moon and Mars. This will include in-space crew rendezvous and transfer, crewed landing, shirtsleeve crew transfer, crew departure, contingency surface operations, and final element disposition. Key differences for Mars will be discussed, such as the Martian atmosphere, dust storms, the absence of crew handover, and Deep Space Exploration Vehicle rendezvous. Contingency microgravity maintenance access will also be discussed. This work will demonstrate viable pressurized crew transfer with a Starship-based lander architecture. Forward work includes Garage lighting and camera systems, Starship Ascent Module propulsion system and docking port trades, contingency habitation trades, and mass/power equipment estimation. Finally, forward work includes developing a heavy cargo return system derived from the Crew and Logistics Starship. The goal of this system is the return of at least 10,000 kg payloads from the surfaces of the Moon and Mars.

Lunar Lander↗