FUTURE SPACE EXPLORATION: FROM REFERENCE SCENARIO DEFINITION TO KEY TECHNOLOGIES ROADMAPS

The human exploration of multiple deep space destinations (e.g. Cis-lunar, NEAs), in view of the final challenge of sending astronauts to Mars, represents a current and consistent study domain especially in terms of its possible scenarios and mission architectures assessments, as proved by the numerous on-going activities about this topic and moreover by the Global Exploration Roadmap. After exploring and analysing different possible solutions to identify the most flexible path, a detailed characterization of one out of several Design Reference Missions (DRM) represents a necessity in order to evaluate the feasibility and affordability of deep space exploration missions, specifically in terms of enabling technological capabilities. A human expedition to a NEA, milestone of the GER ‘Asteroid Next' scenario, is considered the mission that would offer the largest suite of benefits in terms of scientific return, operational experience and familiarity on human deep space missions, test of technologies and assessment of human factors for future long-duration expeditions (including planetary bodies), evaluation of In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) and, more specifically, opportunity to test asteroid collision avoidance techniques. The study started from the identification and analysis of feasible evolutionary scenarios for Deep Space Exploration. Different destinations were considered as targets, with particular attention to Earth-Moon Lagrangian points, NEA and Mars as an alternative path to a Moon campaign. In the frame of the scenario selected as the preferable one, a DRM to a NEA (reference target) was defined in detail in terms of architecture and mission elements, as well as of the subsystems composing them. Successively, the critical subsystems and the relevant key technologies were investigated in detail, from their status-of-the-art up to an assessment of their development roadmaps. They shall enable the DRM and support the whole scenario. The paper describes the process that was followed within the study and reports the major obtained results, in terms of scenarios and mission analysis. Furthermore the key technologies that were identified are listed and described highlighting the derived roadmaps for their development according to the reference scenario

A methodology to support strategic decisions in future human space exploration: from scenario definition to building blocks assessment

The human exploration of multiple deep space destinations (e.g. Cis-Lunar, NEAs), in view of the final challenge of sending astronauts to Mars, represents a current and consistent study domain especially in terms of its possible scenarios and mission architectures assessments, as proved by the numerous on-going activities about this topic and moreover by the global exploration roadmap. After exploring and analysing different possible solutions to identify the most flexible path, a detailed characterisation of several Design Reference Missions (DRMs) represents a necessity in order to evaluate the feasibility and affordability of deep space exploration missions, specifically in terms of enabling technological capabilities. The study presented in this paper was aimed at defining an evolutionary scenario for deep space exploration in the next 30 years with the final goal of sending astronauts on the surface of Mars by the end of 2030 decade. Different destinations were considered as targets to build the human exploration scenario, with particular attention to Earth-Moon Lagrangian points, NEA and Moon. For all the destinations selected as part of the exploration scenario, the assessment and characterisation of the relative Design Reference Missions were performed. Specifically they were defined in terms of strategies, architectures and mission elements. All the analyses were based on a pure technical approach with the objective of evaluating the feasibility of a long term strategy for capabilities achievement and technological development to enable future space exploration. This paper describes the process that was followed within the study, focusing on the adopted methodology, and reports the major obtained results, in terms of scenario and mission analysi

Future Human Space Exploration: key technologies assessment and applicability analysis

The paper deals with the assessment of the key technologies needed for future space exploration missions. A human expedition to Mars is so far considered the most interesting target for the future Human Space Exploration (HSE). To accomplish this challenging goal, a gradual approach shall be implemented through the exploration of multiple deep space intermediate destinations (e.g Cis-lunar, NEAs). Several studies are being carried out in this perspective, aimed at defining the best path to be followed in order to achieve the capabilities required for a human mission on Mars surface. According to this, a HSE reference scenario was built and an analysis of the most critical technologies needed to accomplish the missions was performed. To build up the reference HSE scenario, the human expedition to Mars by the end of 2030’s, as defined by NASA DRA 5.0, was taken as reference mission. The intermediate destinations were selected so that they will guarantee the implementation and achievement, through a step-by-step approach, of all the capabilities required to accomplish the human mission to Mars. All the scenario destinations missions were analyzed and characterized in terms of architectures and needed building blocks. The most innovative and not yet space qualified technologies were identified that can be applicable in HSE elements and missions. They were organized in Technological Areas and mapped on all the elements included in the HSE Scenario, in order to get an overall picture of the “required” technologies through the various destinations as well as their “applicability”. This kind of mapping allows understanding and visualizing where and in which elements each technology can potentially be applied and tested (maybe at limited extent), before being implemented in a specific mission where it is absolutely required. This database can be very useful to understand how much (in terms of percentage of required or applicable technologies) each destination, according to the defined concept/missions, can contribute in the achievement of specific capabilities needed for further destinations. In the first part of the paper an overview of the HSE reference scenario, as well as the adopted methodology, is provided. Then, it focuses on the assessment and analysis of the key technologies with particular attention to their applicability throughout the various destinations (applicability maps)

Future Human Space Exploration: key technologies assessment and applicability analysis

The paper deals with the assessment of the key technologies needed for future space exploration missions. A human expedition to Mars is so far considered the most interesting target for the future Human Space Exploration (HSE). To accomplish this challenging goal, a gradual approach shall be implemented through the exploration of multiple deep space intermediate destinations (e.g Cis-lunar, NEAs). Several studies are being carried out in this perspective, aimed at defining the best path to be followed in order to achieve the capabilities required for a human mission on Mars surface. According to this, a HSE reference scenario was built and an analysis of the most critical technologies needed to accomplish the missions was performed. To build up the reference HSE scenario, the human expedition to Mars by the end of 2030's, as defined by NASA DRA 5.0, was taken as reference mission. The intermediate destinations were selected so that they will guarantee the implementation and achievement, through a step-by-step approach, of all the capabilities required to accomplish the human mission to Mars. All the scenario destinations missions were analyzed and characterized in terms of architectures and needed building blocks. The most innovative and not yet space qualified technologies were identified that can be applicable in HSE elements and missions. They were organized in Technological Areas and mapped on all the elements included in the HSE Scenario, in order to get an overall picture of the "required" technologies through the various destinations as well as their "applicability". This kind of mapping allows understanding and visualizing where and in which elements each technology can potentially be applied and tested (maybe at limited extent), before being implemented in a specific mission where it is absolutely required. This database can be very useful to understand how much (in terms of percentage of required or applicable technologies) each destination, according to the defined concept/missions, can contribute in the achievement of specific capabilities needed for further destinations. In the first part of the paper an overview of the HSE reference scenario, as well as the adopted methodology, is provided. Then, it focuses on the assessment and analysis of the key technologies with particular attention to their applicability throughout the various destinations (applicability maps

HUMAN EXPLORATION MISSION TO A NEAR EARTH ASTEROID: MISSION DESCRIPTION AND KEY TECHNOLOGIES ASSESSMENT

The human exploration of multiple deep space destinations (e.g. Cis-lunar, NEAs), in view of the final challenge of sending astronauts to Mars, represents a current and consistent study domain especially in terms of possible scenarios and mission architectures assessments, as proved by the numerous on-going activities about this topic. After exploring and analyzing different possible solutions to identify the most flexible path, a detailed characterization of one out of several Design Reference Missions (DRM) represents a necessity in order to evaluate the feasibility and affordability of deep space exploration missions, specifically in terms of enabling technological capabilities. A human expedition to a NEA is considered the mission that would offer the largest suite of benefits in terms of scientific return, operational experience and familiarity on human deep space missions, test of technologies and assessment of human factors for future long-duration expeditions (including planetary bodies), evaluation of In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) and, more specifically, opportunity to test asteroid collision avoidance techniques. In the proposed study a DRM of a human expedition to a NEA is characterized in terms of overall architecture, mission elements and modular space system elements. Several solutions and concepts have been considered at the different levels of the reference mission design, and the trade-offs among them have been carried out. Within the paper the description and justifications of the most relevant and crucial aspects of the mission (e.g. ΔV, Mission Duration, Crew, Operations...) are reported. Once the space system elements have been identified, an overview of the critical Technological Areas and the specific enabling key technologies that, at the status of the art, require deeper studies, developments and assessments, is illustrated. The proposed DRM would represent a baseline mission, the result of a detailed and justified process of strategies and scenarios evaluation, and the starting point for the characterization of the mission elements subsystems and the required technologies developments. The final goal is to enable multiple destinations deep space human exploration missions in the next few decades, achieving the globally shared mission objective

BIAXIAL LOADING OF A TEXTILE RIBBONS STRUCTURE FOR AN INFLATABLE MODULE OF SPACE HABITATS

The aim of the experimental campaign was to assess and observe the biaxial tensile mechanical response of a ribbons structure as part of an inflatable module of space habitats. The structure consists of orthogonal ZylonTM and KevlarTM ribbons connected at crossover by Nylon thread seams. A clamping system was designed and manufactured to reproduce the biaxial loading condition supposed in the inflatable module application. The tests were assisted by a digital image correlation system. The images post-processing allowed the observation and measurement of the full field strain of the different connection schemes. The results of the tests show the excellent mechanical performance of the ribbons structure at the maximum biaxial load level without visible damage