Day 3
Blogging live
0945h
Q why didn’t we look at lunar requirements before ESAS?
Cooke said: ESAS was informed by past studies for crew size and lift capacity
A lot of what we have done has refined that
And shows that ESAS is right gauge of capability
Q why so important to establish standards so early
Coleman said: RFP for lunar elements expected soon and to make sure we’re consistent want to establish standards early to avoid later corrections
Q how do we enforce commonality between many partners and internationals
Yoder said: already have international communication standard groups. there is a common drive to enable interface. Won’t be global governing body but can agree standards
Cooke said: first workshop with internationals saw issues about common standards raised
Q what does rugged terrain do to mobility plans
Hensley said:
Yoder: putting terrain data into surface op simulators we can see how much energy a rover needs to climb an incline
Q Is small rover NASA or is for international/commercials to provide
Yoder said: Yes small rover is open to international/commercial provision
Q how can NASA reduce market risk
Cooke waffled but essentially was saying that NASA can mature technology
Q How about lunar analog missions as well as Mars analog?
Hensley said: analog activity we are focusing on what infomrationb do we need today for 2021 activities. An analog activity ths year is loig at unpressurised rover, what is work efficiency with that
In October doing the same with pressurised rover
Q what is status of discussions with internationals on lunar elements
Yoder: bilateral discussions going on, way to early for anything definitive
Nothing ready to be signed
Session ended
0925h
Scott Hensley
Jet Propulsion Lab
Talking about the lunar surface terrain results that were announced yesterday and the material can be found here
0910h
Sandy Coleman
ATK exploration director
Representing Space Enterprise Council and US Chamber of Commerce
Showed examples of how CoC is workig with NASA on commercial standards and are they applicable to ESMD needs and what commercial off the shelf goods/services were applicable
Developed own idea of a lunar outpost in 2030 to understand what was necessary
developed three module ideas, two of which are living habitat, work habitat for example
Considered power systems, ISRU, communicatyons and navigation, need for lunar GPS, ground based or orbital, surface transportation that may use a rocket-hopper vehicle
what interoperability do we need?
what safety standards do we need?
health habitat could include an infirmary or gym
would US living habitat mate with international partners elements
work habitat, science lab, mission management, should it be mobile?
long duration surface suits, should suit elements be interchangeable with international partner suits
Planning for 1 April 2008 lunar architecture workshop for NASA and Chamber of Commerce
Will produce results in May
So far have evaluated 11 architectural elements for value of standards when needed
Next step is to identify candidate sources for standards
0850h
Geoff Yoder
Director of integration office, ESMD at HQ
August 2007 LAT 2 detailed design concepts work
Lunar capabilities concedpt review by June 2008
work done before then is to examine Ares/Orion/Altair capabilities and are they good enough
Picked 10km distance for rover capability as that is also walk back safe
Radiation from solar event also considered, to get to habitat for a safe haven
have 2m water jacket that goes round mid-portion of rover as heat sink
on first few missions may not have a rover
but have rover wheel concept of six axis and twelve wheels
the rover is not much longer than Apollo rovers
wanted to make it easy to put EVA suits on, get in suits and on surface in 10-15min
so that is reason to climb into suit that is essentiallty located on the outside of the rover
Shackleton is 19km wide crater
Talking about open architecture method to include international agencies and industry involvement and work on developing the global exporation strategy
Talking about what ESA wants to do
ESA wants to use Ariane 5 to deliver about 1,700kg to lunar surface
This could be used to place supplies in areas for extended operation
200kg payload elements as part of total 1,700kg
0835h Now it is the Lunar architecture update
Doug Cooke, the moderator for this session is giving background to what has happened between 2006 and now
Outpost to be built up using only two or three modular habitat elements
Wanted mobility capability
Considered early delivery of small pressurised rovers; would get the crew out early beyond the outpost for exploration
Extended surface operations
Use Athlete to move habitats to another location
Crew would use rovers to reach that habitat
In second phase concluded wanted “super sortie” capability to allow 100s of kms from outpost