National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Pioneering Space

Jason Crusan

Director, Advanced Exploration Systems

Human Exploration & Operations Mission Directorate

NASA Headquarters

26 February 2015

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Pioneering Space - Goals

“Fifty years after the creation of NASA, our goal is no longer just a

destination to reach. Our goal is the capacity for people to work and learn

and operate and live safely beyond the Earth for extended periods of time,

ultimately in ways that are more sustainable and even indefinite. And in

fulfilling this task, we will not only extend humanity’s reach in space -- we

will strengthen America’s leadership here on Earth.”

- President Obama - April, 2010

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NASA Strategic Plan Objective 1.1

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Expand human presence into

the solar system and to the

surface of Mars to advance

exploration, science,

innovation, benefits to

humanity, and international

collaboration.

Strategic Principles for Sustainable Exploration

• Implementable in the near-term with the buying power of current budgets

and in the longer term with budgets commensurate with economic growth;

• Exploration enables science and science enables exploration, leveraging

robotic expertise for human exploration of the solar system

• Application of high Technology Readiness Level (TRL) technologies for

near term missions, while focusing sustained investments on technologies

and capabilities to address challenges of future missions;

• Near-term mission opportunities with a defined cadence of compelling and

integrated human and robotic missions providing for an incremental buildup of

capabilities for more complex missions over time;

• Opportunities for U.S. commercial business to further enhance the

experience and business base;

• Multi-use, evolvable space infrastructure, minimizing unique major

developments, with each mission leaving something behind to support

subsequent missions; and

• Substantial international and commercial participation, leveraging current

International Space Station and other partnerships.6

Global Exploration Roadmap: Common Goals and Objectives

•Develop Exploration Technologies and

Capabilities

•Enhance Earth Safety

•Extend Human Presence

•Perform Science to Enable Human

Exploration

•Perform Space, Earth, and Applied

Science

•Search for Life

•Stimulate Economic Expansion

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Strategic Knowledge Gaps

• SKG development is ongoing and is jointly sponsored

by HEOMD and SMD, who enlist the expertise of

international partners and three analysis groups: the

Lunar Exploration Analysis Group (LEAG), the Mars

Exploration Program Analysis Group (MEPAG), and the

Small Bodies Assessment Group (SBAG).

• SKGs inform mission/system planning and design and

near-term agency investments

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A Strategic Knowledge Gap (SKG) is an unknown or incomplete data

set that contributes risk or cost to future human missions to the moon,

Mars or Near-Earth objects

SKGs: Common Themes and Some Observations

• There are common themes across potential destinations (not in priority order)

– The three R’s for enabling human missions

• Radiation

• Regolith

• Reliability

– Geotechnical properties

– Volatiles (i.e., for science, resources, and safety)

– Propulsion-induced ejecta

– In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU)/Prospecting

– Operations/Operability (all destinations, including transit)

– Plasma Environment

– Human health and performance (critical, and allocated to HRP)

• Some Observations

– The required information is measurable and attainable

– These measurements do not require “exquisite science” instruments but could be

obtained from them

– Filling the SKGs requires a well-balanced research portfolio

• Remote sensing measurements, in-situ measurements, ground-based assets,

and research & analysis (R&A)

• Includes science, technology, and operational experience 9

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CREW CREW

DEEP SPACE DEEP SPACE

VEHICLEVEHICLE

PRECURSORSPRECURSORS

Rapid development and testing of prototype systems and validation of operational concepts to

reduce risk and cost of future exploration missions:

• Crew Mobility Systems

- Systems to enable the crew to conduct “hands-on” surface exploration and in-space operations,

including advanced space suits, portable life support systems, and EVA tools.

• Habitation Systems

- Systems to enable the crew to live and work safely in deep space, including beyond earth orbit

habitats, reliable life support systems, radiation protection, fire safety, and logistics reduction.

• Vehicle Systems

- Systems to enable human and robotic exploration vehicles, including advanced in-space

propulsion, extensible lander technology, modular power systems, and automated propellant

loading on the ground and on planetary surfaces.

• Foundational Systems

– Systems to enable more efficient mission and ground operations and those that allow for more

earth independence, including autonomous mission operations, avionics and software, in-situ

resource utilization, in-space manufacturing, synthetic biology, and communication technologies.

• Robotic Precursor Activities

- Robotic missions and payloads to acquire strategic knowledge on potential destinations for

human exploration to inform systems development, including prospecting for lunar ice,

characterizing the Mars surface radiation environment, radar imaging of NEAs, instrument

development, and research and analysis

Summary for FY15

• AES has established 72 milestones for FY15 (see backup)

• Over 60% include flight demonstration elements

• Goal is to achieve at least 80%

• AES includes 580 civil servants in FY15 12

ADVANCED EXPLORATION SYSTEMS

Crew Mobility Systems Domain

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Advanced EVA: Development and testing of next generation space

suits and portable life support systems (JSC).

Portable Life Support System 2.0

incorporates new technology

components for CO2 removal,

thermal management, pressure

regulation, and energy storage.

Testing Modified Advanced Crew

Escape Suit (MACES) in Neutral

Buoyancy Lab for Asteroid Redirect

Mission.Z-2 Space Suit

Deep Space Habitation Systems Domain

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Atmosphere Resource

Recovery & Environmental

Monitoring: Integrated

ground testing of ISS-derived

life support system

components (MSFC).

Radiation Protection:

Development and testing of

radiation sensors and

shielding (JSC).

Bigelow Expandable

Activity Module

(BEAM): Test of

commercial inflatable

module on ISS (JSC).

Logistics Reduction:

Waste processing to

reduce logistics mass

(JSC).

Exploration

Augmentation Module:

Integration of key

systems in prototype

habitat ground test unit

(JSC).

Spacecraft Fire Safety:

Flight experiment on Cygnus

to investigate how large-

scale fires propagate in

microgravity (GRC).

Additive Manufacturing:

Demonstration of 3D printing

on ISS to fabricate spare parts

(MSFC).

Water Recovery:

Development of

processes and systems

for recycling wastewater

(JSC).

Cost Sharing Contract –

Bigelow Expandable Activity Model

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Concept image. Credit: Bigelow

• BEAM was initiated in January 2013

• BEAM will be berthed to Node 3 Aft

• BEAM planned launch date in 2015 in SpaceX8 mission

• Total Internal Inflated Volume ~565 ft3

Vehicle Systems Domain

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Morpheus/ALHAT: Flight

demonstration of autonomous landing

and hazard avoidance technology

(ALHAT) on Morpheus lander (JSC).

Nuclear Cryogenic Propulsion

Stage: Development of reactor fuel

elements for nuclear thermal

propulsion (MSFC, DOE).

Modular Power Systems:

Modular power systems for

Exploration Augmentation

Module and EVA suit (GRC).

Fiber Optic Sensors: Development

and testing of fiber optic sensors for

measuring engineering data on

launch vehicles (AFRC).

Lunar CATALYST: Supporting

commercial partners to develop

lunar landing capabilities

(MSFC).

Morpheus Rapid Prototype Lander Development

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Lunar CATALYST (Lunar CArgo Transportation And Landing bY Soft Touchdown)

Lunar CATALYST (Lunar CArgo Transportation And Landing bY Soft Touchdown)

• Private investment in space transportation systems

is increasing

• Commercial lunar cargo transportation is a

potential new area of opportunity that could

provide services to both public and private

customers and enable science and exploration

missions

• Per National Space Transportation Policy, NASA is

"committed to encouraging and facilitating a viable,

healthy, and competitive U.S. commercial Space

Transportation Industry.”

• NASA has accumulated decades of technical

experience relevant to lunar cargo transportation

Lunar CATALYST Selectees – April 2014

Griffin Lander

Astrobotic Technology Inc.,

Pittsburgh, PA

Credit: Astrobotic Technology, Inc.

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XEUS Lander

Masten Space Systems Inc., Mojave, CA

Credit: NASA/Masten Space Systems, Inc.

MX-1 Lander

Moon Express Inc., Moffett Field, CA

Credit: Moon Express Inc.

Operations Domain

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Autonomous Mission Operations:

Software tools to reduce crew's

dependence on ground-based

mission control (ARC).

Integrated Ground Operations

Demonstration Units: Automation

of cryogenic propellant handling and

storage (KSC).

Avionics Architectures:

Common avionics components

and architectures for exploration

systems (JSC).

Core Flight Software:

Development of core flight software

for exploration systems (JSC).

Disruption Tolerant Networking:

Demonstrating protocols and

technologies to enable efficient and

reliable space communications (JSC).

Ka-Band Objects Observation &

Monitoring: Phased antenna array to

detect orbiting objects and near-Earth

asteroids (KSC).

Robotic Precursors Domain

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Solar System Exploration

Research Virtual Institute

(SSERVI): Research on moon and

small bodies to support exploration

and science objectives (ARC).

Radiation Assessment

Detector: Mission operations for

RAD to acquire radiation data

from surface of Mars (JPL).

Mars 2020: MEDLI-2 temperature and

pressure sensors on heat shield to validate

aerothermal models (LaRC); Demonstration

of oxygen production from Mars

atmosphere (JPL).

Resource Prospector:

Development of lunar

volatiles prospecting mission

in partnership with JAXA

(ARC).

EM-1 Secondary Payloads: CubeSats for

investigating deep space radiation

effects on simple organisms, remote

sensing of lunar volatiles, and flyby of

near Earth asteroid (ARC, JPL, MSFC).

Goldstone Radar: Ground-based

radar to image near-Earth asteroids

(JPL).

AES University Engagement Strategy

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CubeSat Launch Initiative : Provides

launch opportunities for low-cost

technology development and scientific

research.

eXploration-Habitat

Academic Innovation

Challenge: Develop

concepts and prototypes of

technologies necessary for

future space missions.

Revolutionary Aerospace Concepts –

Academic Linkages: Provide full or partial

solutions to design problems and challenges

currently facing human space exploration.

2222January 2013Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate 22Advanced Exploration Systems

Develop strategic partnerships and collaborations with universities and non-

profit organizations to help bridge gaps and increase knowledge in architectural

design trades, capabilities, and technology risk reduction related to AES activities.

CubeSat Launch

Initiative

79 Higher Education Institutions in 36 States

RASC-AL – Revolutionary Aerospace Concepts

RASC-AL Aerospace Concepts: Development innovative

architecture approaches for NASA’s future exploration missions.

• High-level presentations to a panel of NASA/Industry judges

• Teams develop full mission architectures

• Conceptual but based on solid engineering and costing

• Poster presentation and technical paper

• 14-18 teams Selected (graduate and undergraduate division)

• 2015 Theme: Earth Independent Mars and Lunar Pioneering

• Judges: Experts from NASA, industry and universities

RASC-AL Exploration Robo-Ops: Development innovative

astronaut tele-operated robotic exploration missions.

• Design and build rovers to be tested at JSC Rock Yard

• Demonstrate hardware, software and communication

• Poster presentation and technical paper

• Up to 8 teams annually

• 2015 Theme: Planetary Rover Design

Provide full or partial solutions to design problems and challenges currently

facing human space exploration.

SEPT – NOI

OCT – Plan

Due/Selections

JUNE – Competition

NOV – NOI

JAN – Abstracts

FEB – Selections

JUN – Forum

2323January 2013Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate 23RASC-AL Aerospace Concepts & Robo-Ops

X-Hab Academic Innovation Challenge

• NASA identifies necessary technologies and studies for deep

space missions

• Universities develop concepts and working prototypes

• Teams have System Definition Review, Preliminary Design

Review, Critical Design Review

• Administered by the National Space Grant Foundation

• Expanded from Habitation to other AES technologies

eXploration Habitat Academic Innovation Challenge: Develop concepts

and prototypes of technologies necessary for future space missions.

MAR 11 – Solicitation released

APR 30 – Proposals Due

MAY 28 – Selections

SEPT – Projects Kick-off

MAY – Project Completion Vertically Oriented

Habitat Mock-up

Robotic Plant

Growth System

Air Revitalization

System prototype

2424January 2013Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate 24X-Hab Academic Innovation Challenge

X-Hab Selections 2011-2014

2525January 2013Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate 25

California Polytechnic

University

California Polytechnic

University

University of Colorado BoulderUniversity of Colorado Boulder

Texas A&M UniversityTexas A&M University

University of South AlabamaUniversity of South Alabama

University of Alabama, HuntsvilleUniversity of Alabama, Huntsville

Ohio State UniversityOhio State University

University of BridgeportUniversity of Bridgeport

University of MarylandUniversity of Maryland

Oklahoma State UniversityOklahoma State University

University of Wisconsin - MadisonUniversity of Wisconsin - Madison

X-Hab 2013

X-Hab 2013-2014

X-Hab 2013

X-Hab 2011, 2014

X-Hab 2014

X-Hab 2012

X-Hab 2011-2014

X-Hab 2013

X-Hab 2011, 2012, 2014

X-Hab 2012

Rice UniversityRice University

X-Hab 2014

X-Hab Academic Innovation Challenge

• Provides mechanism to conduct scientific

research in the space environment.

• Provides a mechanism for low-cost technology

development and scientific research

• Enables the acceleration of flight-qualified

technology assisting NASA in raising the

Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs)

CubeSats Launch Initiative

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Provides launch opportunities to will fly as auxiliary payloads on previously

planned missions or as International Space Station deployments to

educational, non-profit organizations and NASA Centers who build CubeSats.

AUG– Solicitation released

NOV – Proposals Due

FEB – Selections

TBD – Launch

2626January 2013Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate 26CubeSat Launch Initiative

70% conducting Technology

Demonstrations

50% conducting Scientific Research

48% supporting Education

61% Higher Education

o 48% denote Space Grant or

EPSCoR funding

CubeSats are

Developed/Designed/Built

(Students) P-POD is integrated on

the Launch Vehicle (LV)

Students or Center track

and operate CubeSat from

Ground Station

Mission Launches

CubeSat burns up on

re-entry after completion

of mission

CubeSats are

placed in P-POD

Deployment spring

and pusher plate

Signal Sent to LV,

spring-loaded door is

open, CubeSats deployedStudents or Center analyze

data, write technical

papers, provide results and

data to NASA

How It Works?

2727January 2013Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate 27CubeSat Launch Initiative

226

9

3

3

3

2

5

6 4

3

4

2

4

4

1

1

1

8

1

2

1 5

1

82

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2009–2015 CubeSat 128 Selections – 68 Organizations – 30 States & DC

122

1

1

2828January 2013Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate 28CubeSat Launch Initiative

2015 CubeSat Launch Initiative Selections

Southwest Research

Institute

Southwest Research

Institute

Cu-PACE

University of Central Florida

Cu-PACE

University of Central Florida

PATRIOT

University of Michigan

PATRIOT

University of Michigan

University of MichiganUniversity of Michigan

Cornell UniversityCornell University

West Virginia University &

NASA IV&V Program

West Virginia University &

NASA IV&V Program

University of Central FloridaUniversity of Central Florida

CuSPP

TBEx

SurfSat

Cu-PACE

STF-1

KickSat-2

MiTEE

Arizona State UniversityArizona State University

AOSAT

Capitol Technology

University

Capitol Technology

University

CACTUS-1

California State

University Northridge

California State

University Northridge

CSUNSat-1

Colorado State UniversityColorado State University

TEMPEST-D

Montana State UniversityMontana State University

RadSat

OPEN

University of North Dakota

OPEN

University of North Dakota

OPEN

NASA Glenn

Research Center

NASA Glenn

Research Center

ALBus

2929January 2013Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate 29CubeSat Launch Initiative

White House Maker Initiative – Spacecraft Nation

Goal to broaden NASA’s CubeSat Launch Initiative to reach all states by

targeting the 20 “rookie states” that have had no previous presence in space.

“will leverage the

existing NASA

Space Grant

network of

colleges and

universities.”

~ White House

Maker Faire

Fact Sheet

3030January 2013Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate 30CubeSat Launch Initiative

CubeSat Announcement of Flight Opportunity

Release Date: ~August 7, 2015 Response Date: ~November 24, 2015

Payload Eligibility

Benefit to NASA

Investigation must demonstrate a benefit to NASA by addressing goals

and objectives of the NASA Strategic Plan and/or the NASA Education

Vision and Goals.

Merit Review

Feasibility Review

Prior to submission each CubeSat investigation must have passed passed

a feasibility review in which the technical implementation, including

feasibility, resiliency, risk and probability of success, was assessed.

Prior to submission each CubeSat investigation must have passed an

intrinsic merit review. In the review, goals and objectives of the proposed

investigation must be assessed to determine scientific, educational or

technical quality of the investigation.

2009–2015 CubeSat 128 Selected – 36 Flown – 9 Manifested

Selected

Flown

Scheduled

CubeSat Status

3232January 2013Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate 32CubeSat Launch Initiative

33