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All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2002

Aeroheating Environments for a Mars Smart Lander

A proposed Mars Smart Lander is designed to reach the surface via lifting-body atmospheric entry (alpha = 16 deg) to within 10 km of the target site. CFD (computational fluid dynamics) predictions of the forebody aeroheating environments are given for a direct entry from a 2005 launch. The solutions were obtained using an 8-species gas in thermal and chemical nonequilibrium with a radiative-equilibrium wall temperature boundary condition. Select wind tunnel data are presented from tests at NASA Langley Research Center. Turbulence effects are included to account for both smooth body transition and turbulence due to heatshield penetrations. Natural transition is based on a momentum-thickness Reynolds number value of 200. The effects of heatshield penetrations on turbulence are estimated from wind tunnel tests of various cavity sizes and locations. Both natural transition and heatshield penetrations are predicted to cause turbulence prior to the nominal trajectory peak heating time. Laminar and turbulent CFD predictions along the trajectory are used to estimate heat rates and loads. The predicted peak turbulent heat rate of 63 W/sq cm on the heatshield leeward flank is 70% higher than the laminar peak. The maximum integrated heat load for a fully turbulent heat pulse is 38% higher than the laminar load on the heatshield nose. The predicted aeroheating environments with uncertainty factors will be used to design a thermal protection system.

Edquist, Karl T.↗
NASA NTRS2002

Heat Shield Cavity Parametric Experimental Aeroheating for a Proposed Mars Smart Lander Aeroshell

The proposed Mars Smart Lander is to be attached through its aeroshell to the main spacecraft bus, thereby producing cavities in the heat shield. To study the effects these cavities will have on the heating levels experienced by the heat shield, an experimental aeroheating investigation was performed at the NASA Langley Research Center in the 20-Inch Mach 6 Air Tunnel. The effects of Reynolds number, angle-of-attack, and cavity size and location on aero-heating levels and distributions were determined and are presented. To aid the discussion on the effects of the cavities, laminar, thin-layer Navier-Stokes flow field solutions were post-processed to calculate relevant boundary layer properties such as boundary layer height and momentum thickness, edge Mach number, and streamwise pressure gradient. It was found that the effect of the cavities varies with angle-of-attack, freestream Reynolds number, and cavity size and location. The presence of a cavity raised the downstream heating rates by as much as 325% as a result of boundary layer transition.

Liechty, Derek S.↗
NASA NTRS2002

Mars Smart Lander Simulations for Entry, Descent, and Landing

Two primary simulations have been developed and are being updated for the Mars Smart Lander Entry, Descent, and Landing (EDL). The high fidelity engineering end-to-end EDL simulation that is based on NASA Langley's Program to Optimize Simulated Trajectories (POST) and the end-to-end real-time, hardware-in-the-loop simulation testbed, which is based on NASA JPL's (Jet Propulsion Laboratory) Dynamics Simulator for Entry, Descent and Surface landing (DSENDS). This paper presents the status of these Mars Smart Lander EDL end-to-end simulations at this time. Various models, capabilities, as well as validation and verification for these simulations are discussed.

Striepe, S. A.↗
NASA NTRS2002

Aerodynamic Database Development for Mars Smart Lander Vehicle Configurations

An aerodynamic database has been generated for the Mars Smart Lander Shelf-All configuration using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations. Three different CFD codes, USM3D and FELISA, based on unstructured grid technology and LAURA, an established and validated structured CFD code, were used. As part of this database development, the results for the Mars continuum were validated with experimental data and comparisons made where applicable. The validation of USM3D and LAURA with the Unitary experimental data, the use of intermediate LAURA check analyses, as well as the validation of FELISA with the Mach 6 CF(sub 4) experimental data provided a higher confidence in the ability for CFD to provide aerodynamic data in order to determine the static trim characteristics for longitudinal stability. The analyses of the noncontinuum regime showed the existence of multiple trim angles of attack that can be unstable or stable trim points. This information is needed to design guidance controller throughout the trajectory.

Bobskill, Glenn J.↗
NASA NTRS2002

Mars Smart Lander Parachute Simulation Model

A multi-body flight simulation for the Mars Smart Lander has been developed that includes six degree-of-freedom rigid-body models for both the supersonically-deployed and subsonically-deployed parachutes. This simulation is designed to be incorporated into a larger simulation of the entire entry, descent and landing (EDL) sequence. The complete end-to-end simulation will provide attitude history predictions of all bodies throughout the flight as well as loads on each of the connecting lines. Other issues such as recontact with jettisoned elements (heat shield, back shield, parachute mortar covers, etc.), design of parachute and attachment points, and desirable line properties can also be addressed readily using this simulation.

Queen, Eric M.↗
NASA NTRS2002

Control Surface and Afterbody Experimental Aeroheating for a Proposed Mars Smart Lander Aeroshell

Several configurations, having a Viking aeroshell heritage and providing lift-to-drag required for precision landing, have been considered for a proposed Mars Smart Lander. An experimental aeroheating investigation of two configurations, one having a blended tab and the other a blended shelf control surface, has been conducted at the NASA Langley Research Center in the 20-Inch Mach 6 Air Tunnel to assess heating levels on these control surfaces and their effects on afterbody heating. The proposed Mars Smart Lander concept is to be attached through its aeroshell to the main spacecraft bus, thereby producing cavities in the forebody heat shield upon separation prior to entry into the Martian atmosphere. The effects these cavities will have on the heating levels experienced by the control surface and the afterbody were also examined. The effects of Reynolds number, angle-of-attack, and cavity location on aeroheating levels and distributions were determined and are presented. At the highest angle-of-attack, blended tab heating was increased due to transitional reattachment of the separated shear layer. The placement of cavities downstream of the control surface greatly influenced aeroheating levels and distributions. Forebody heat shield cavities had no effect on afterbody heating and the presence of control surfaces decreased leeward afterbody heating slightly.

Liechty, Derek S.↗
NASA NTRS2002

Boundary Layer Transition Correlations and Aeroheating Predictions for Mars Smart Lander

Laminar and turbulent perfect-gas air, Navier-Stokes computations have been performed for a proposed Mars Smart Lander entry vehicle at Mach 6 over a free stream Reynolds number range of 6.9 x 10(exp 6/m to 2.4 x 10(exp 7)m(2.1 x 10(exp 6)/ft to 7.3 x 10(exp 6)ft) for angles-of-attack of 0-deg, 11-deg, 16-deg, and 20-deg, and comparisons were made to wind tunnel heating data obtained at the same conditions. Boundary layer edge properties were extracted from the solutions and used to correlate experimental data on the effects of heat-shield penetrations (bolt-holes where the entry vehicle would be attached to the propulsion module during transit to Mars) on boundary-layer transition. A non-equilibrium Martian-atmosphere computation was performed for the peak heating point on the entry trajectory in order to determine if the penetrations would produce boundary-layer transition by using this correlation.

Hollis, Brian R.↗
NASA NTRS2002

Boundary Layer Transition Correlations and Aeroheating Predictions for Mars Smart Lander

Laminar and turbulent perfect-gas air, Navier-Stokes computations have been performed for a proposed Mars Smart Lander entry vehicle at Mach 6 over a free stream Reynolds number range of 6.9 x 10(exp 6)/m to 2.4 x 10(exp 7)/m (2.1 x 10(exp 6)/ft to 7.3 x 10(exp 6)/ft) for angles-of-attack of 0-deg, 11-deg, 16-deg, and 20-deg, and comparisons were made to wind tunnel heating data obtained a t the same conditions. Boundary layer edge properties were extracted from the solutions and used to correlate experimental data on the effects of heat-shield penetrations (bolt-holes where the entry vehicle would be attached to the propulsion module during transit to Mars) on boundary-layer transition. A non-equilibrium Martian-atmosphere computation was performed for the peak heating point on the entry trajectory in order to determine if the penetrations would produce boundary-layer transition by using this correlation.

Hollis, Brian R.↗
NASA NTRS2002

Entry Vehicle Control System Design for the Mars Smart Lander

The NASA Langley Research Center, in cooperation with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, participated in a preliminary design study of the Entry, Descent and Landing phase for the Mars Smart Lander Project. This concept utilizes advances in Guidance, Navigation and Control technology to significantly reduce uncertainty in the vehicle landed location on the Mars surface. A candidate entry vehicle controller based on the Reaction Control System controller for the Apollo Lunar Excursion Module digital autopilot is proposed for use in the entry vehicle attitude control. A slight modification to the phase plane controller is used to reduce jet-firing chattering while maintaining good control response for the Martian entry probe application. The controller performance is demonstrated in a six-degree-of-freedom simulation with representative aerodynamics.

Calhoun, Philip C.↗
NASA NTRS2002

Mars Exploration Program and Mars Technology Program

The Mars Exploration Program and constituent Mars Technology Program are described. Current, ongoing and future NASA-led missions are presented, including discussions of scientific accomplishments and objectives as well as technology validations accomplished and technological enablers for future missions. The missions summarized include (in order of actual or planned launch): Mars Global Surveyor, Mars Pathfinder, 2001 Mars Odyssey, Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, Mars 'Smart' Lander, Mars Scouts, Mars Sample Return. Key technology areas hdiscussed include: Navigation, Entry, Descent and Landing, Science and Surface Operations, Orbital Transport and Sample Return Technologies.

overview↗
NASA NTRS2002

Supersonic Aerodynamic Characteristics of Proposed Mars '07 Smart Lander Configurations

Supersonic aerodynamic data were obtained for proposed Mars '07 Smart Lander configurations in NASA Langley Research Center's Unitary Plan Wind Tunnel. The primary objective of this test program was to assess the supersonic aerodynamic characteristics of the baseline Smart Lander configuration with and without fixed shelf/tab control surfaces. Data were obtained over a Mach number range of 2.3 to 4.5, at a free stream Reynolds Number of 1 x 10(exp 6) based on body diameter. All configurations were run at angles of attack from -5 to 20 degrees and angles of sideslip of -5 to 5 degrees. These results were complemented with computational fluid dynamic (CFD) predictions to enhance the understanding of experimentally observed aerodynamic trends. Inviscid and viscous full model CFD solutions compared well with experimental results for the baseline and 3 shelf/tab configurations. Over the range tested, Mach number effects were shown to be small on vehicle aerodynamic characteristics. Based on the results from 3 different shelf/tab configurations, a fixed control surface appears to be a feasible concept for meeting aerodynamic performance metrics necessary to satisfy mission requirements.

Murphy, Kelly J.↗
NASA NTRS2003

Mars Mission Surface Operation Simulation Testing of Lithium-Ion Batteries

The objectives of this program are to 1) Assess viability of using lithium-ion technology for future NASA applications, with emphasis upon Mars landers and rovers which will operate on the planetary surface; 2) Support the JPL 2003 Mars Exploration Rover program to assist in the delivery and testing of a 8 AHr Lithium-Ion battery (Lithion/Yardney) which will power the rover; 3) Demonstrate applicability of using lithium-ion technologyfor future Mars applications: Mars 09 Science Laboratory (Smart Lander) and Future Mars Surface Operations (General). Mission simulation testing was carried out for cells and batteries on the Mars Surveyor 2001 Lander and the 2003 Mars Exploration Rover.

Smart, M. C.↗
NASA NTRS2002

Science Target Assessment for Mars Rover Instrument Deployment

This paper introduces the system being developed at NASA Ames Research Center, intended for the Mars '09 Smart Lander, to robustly place sensors or tools against rocks in a single communications cycle. Science targets must be assessed prior to instrument placement in order to segment them from the background and determine where, if possible, to position the instrument. An initial result of this research effort is a novel Bayesian based method for segmenting rocks from the ground using 3D data.

Pedersen, Liam↗