briefing topic: potential locations for neo mission simulations, black point lava flow ... ·...
TRANSCRIPT
Kring/Space Sciences 2010Lunar Exploration Initiative
Briefing Topic:
Potential Locations for NEO Mission Simulations, Black Point Lava Flow, Arizona
David A. Kring
Analogue Mission Simulations
Kring/Space Sciences 2010Lunar Exploration Initiative
Analogue Mission Simulations
Contents:
• Previous BPLF Mission Simulations 3
• Suitability for Future Mission Simulations 7
• Physical Parameters of an NEO Mission Simulation 8
• Three Potential Sites for NEO Mission Simulations 13
• Summary 37
• Conclusions 39
Kring/Space Sciences 2010Lunar Exploration Initiative
Background of BPLF Mission Simulations
Formative Flight Era
In 1969, four test areas near Flagstaff were developed, including the eastern lobe of the Black Point Lava Flow.
Modern Era
NASA returned to the Black Point Lava Flow (BPLF) area in 2008-2010 for a series of planetary surface mission simulations through Joe Kosmo’s Desert RATS program.
Kring/Space Sciences 2010Lunar Exploration Initiative
Recent BPLF Simulations
2008
Unpressurized (UPR Chariot)vs
Pressurized Rover (SPR)
~40 km
2008 Test Area
Kring/Space Sciences 2010Lunar Exploration Initiative
Recent BPLF Simulations
~40 km
2009
14-day-long Mission Simulationwith
Lunar Electric Rover (LER)
2009 Test Area
Kring/Space Sciences 2010Lunar Exploration Initiative
Recent BPLF Simulations
2010
Simulation of Dual-LER Operationsduring a 28-day-long mission near the
Malapert Massif (South Pole-Aitken Basin)
~40 km
2010 Test Area
Kring/Space Sciences 2010Lunar Exploration Initiative
Looking Forward
The expanded BPLF test region, defined for the 2010 simulations, is sufficiently large to accommodate several complex missions scenarios.
• Multiple sortie-type mission scenarios• Multiple 28-day-long mission scenarios using assets deployed from a common base• A very-long-duration traverse mission• Multiple mixtures of robotic and crewed assets• Integrated tests of technology, operational equipment, and human assets that are relevant to all planetary surface mission scenarios and apply as easily to the Moon as to future Mars missions
Furthermore, the BPLF test region can continue to be expanded westward, as outlined in Kring’s briefing of 9 September 2009, if additional acreage is needed.
It also has the capacity to serve the operational needs of several fixed or anchored assets, limited mobility assets, and/or missions that target small areas (e.g., NEO).
Kring/Space Sciences 2010Lunar Exploration Initiative
Physical Parameters of an NEO Test Area
NEO Mission Simulation Criteria – Physical Constraints• Relatively small area (~1 km2)
• Near-Earth asteroids come in all sizes, but the smaller ones are more common and are, thus, more likely to be in the orbits suitable for rendezvous
• Contain a relatively flat area for simulated landing or anchoring• Yet, have sufficient topographic contrast to test short-distance “over the horizon” concepts that characterize asteroid surfaces• Reasonable surface terrain
• NEO can have cratered surfaces that provide several topographic lows and highs, so an area with a basin will be ideal• NEO may also have boulder-strewn surfaces, so a distribution of boulders will be ideal• NEO may have linear terrain features, so an area with a gully or ravine would augment the site
Test Criteria• Accessible to support vehicles and staff
Kring/Space Sciences 2010Lunar Exploration Initiative
Views of an NEO
Example of NEA topography
• Eros
• The first discovered near-Earth asteroid
• 34 x 11 x 11 km in size
• A mosaic of images highlights the north polar region of the asteroid
• The Earth’s Meteor Crater is approximately the same size as the crater in the center field of view
• The crater in the upper saddle is about 5.3 km in diameter
Kring/Space Sciences 2010Lunar Exploration Initiative
Views of an NEO
Example of NEA topography
• Eros
• Image taken from an altitude of38 km by the NEAR spacecraft in2000
• Field of view is 0.9 km across
• This perspective looks down the length of the asteroid, illustrating undulating topography as one moves from the foreground, to a middle distance, and onward to the far field.
Kring/Space Sciences 2010Lunar Exploration Initiative
Views of an NEO
Example of NEA topography
• Eros
• Image taken from an altitude of51 km by the NEAR spacecraft in2000
• Field of view is 1.4 km across
• A valley occurs in the middledistance, followed by a steep wallin the background
• The valley is roughly 5 km across
Kring/Space Sciences 2010Lunar Exploration Initiative
Geologic Caveats
The Colorado Plateau (and the BPLF test site) is not an NEO• Many (if not most) NEO encountered will be undifferentiated primitive solar nebula sediments and, thus, composed of materialunlike anything in the BPLF region• Some NEO will be composed of metallic Fe,Ni-alloys, similar to those in the Earth’s core, which are not exposed in the BPLF region• There is only a small population of NEO from differentiated parent bodies, including those with lava flows, that have a modest geologic similarity to the lava flows and pyroclastics in the BPLF region• The dominant geologic process affecting NEO and their parent bodies is impact cratering, which produces types of rocks and terrain features lacking in the BPLF region, except in the degraded explosion crater field created by the Apollo program on the east margin of the Black Point Lava Flow
Although the BPLF test site can be meaningfully used to test hardware deployment and operational protocols (including sample description and collection), its analogy to the surface of an NEO has its limits.
Kring/Space Sciences 2010Lunar Exploration Initiative
Geologic Map for Simulations
USGS – Skinner et al. (2010)
Kring/Space Sciences 2010Lunar Exploration Initiative
Options for NEO Simulations
Pocket on North Side of BPLF
Spider (or Hot Dog) Hill& Adjacent Basin
Colton Crater
Kring/Space Sciences 2010Lunar Exploration Initiative
Options for NEO Simulations
Pocket on North Side of BPLF
Spider (or Hot Dog) Hill& Adjacent Basin
Colton Crater
Kring/Space Sciences 2010Lunar Exploration Initiative
Option: Pocket on North Side of BPLF
Topographic Map View
This location was visited by crew and the LER in the 2009 mission simulation.
We know it is accessible and satisfies the other operational constraints, including over-the-horizon limitations.20 ft contours
Kring/Space Sciences 2010Lunar Exploration Initiative
Option: Pocket on North Side of BPLF
Geologic Map view
This location was visited by crew and the LER in the 2009 mission simulation.
We know it is accessible and satisfies the other operational constraints, including over-the-horizon limitations.
Kring/Space Sciences 2010Lunar Exploration Initiative
Option: Pocket on North Side of BPLF
Satellite view
This location was visited by crew and the LER in the 2009 mission simulation.
We know it is accessible and satisfies the other operational constraints, including over-the-horizon limitations.
Image from pre-traverse briefing 2009
Kring/Space Sciences 2010Lunar Exploration Initiative
Option: Pocket on North Side of BPLF
Satellite view
This location was visited by crew and the LER in the 2009 mission simulation.
We know it is accessible and satisfies the other operational constraints, including over-the-horizon limitations.
“basins”
Kring/Space Sciences 2010Lunar Exploration Initiative
Option: Pocket on North Side of BPLF
Satellite view
This location was visited by crew and the LER in the 2009 mission simulation.
We know it is accessible and satisfies the other operational constraints, including over-the-horizon limitations.
Ridges limiting the horizon
Kring/Space Sciences 2010Lunar Exploration Initiative
Option: Pocket on North Side of BPLF
Ground level view
Kring/Space Sciences 2010Lunar Exploration Initiative
Options for NEO Simulations
Pocket on North Side of BPLF
Spider (or Hot Dog) Hill& Adjacent Basin
Colton Crater
Kring/Space Sciences 2010Lunar Exploration Initiative
Option: Spider (“hot dog”) Hill
Topographic Map View
This location was visited by crew and the LER in the 2008, 2009, and 2010 mission simulations.
We know it is accessible and satisfies the other operational constraints, including over-the-horizon limitations.
20 ft contours
Kring/Space Sciences 2010Lunar Exploration Initiative
Option: Spider (“hot dog”) Hill
Geologic Map view
This location was visited by crew and the LER in the 2008, 2009, and 2010 mission simulations.
We know it is accessible and satisfies the other operational constraints, including over-the-horizon limitations.
Kring/Space Sciences 2010Lunar Exploration Initiative
Option: Spider (“hot dog”) Hill
“Hot Dog” Hill
Kring/Space Sciences 2010Lunar Exploration Initiative
Option: Spider (“hot dog”) Hill
Good outcrop for sampling
Kring/Space Sciences 2010Lunar Exploration Initiative
Option: Spider (“hot dog”) Hill
A basin lurks behind the hill
Kring/Space Sciences 2010Lunar Exploration Initiative
Option: Spider (“hot dog”) Hill
With cobbled surface in ravine
Kring/Space Sciences 2010Lunar Exploration Initiative
Options for NEO Simulations
Pocket on North Side of BPLF
Spider (or Hot Dog) Hill& Adjacent Basin
Colton Crater
Kring/Space Sciences 2010Lunar Exploration Initiative
Option: Colton Crater
Topographic Map View
This location was visited by crew and the SEV in the 2010 mission simulation.
We know it is accessible and satisfies the other operational constraints, including over-the-horizon limitations.
Kring/Space Sciences 2010Lunar Exploration Initiative
Option: Colton Crater
Geologic Map view
This location was visited by crew and the SEV in the 2010 mission simulation.
We know it is accessible and satisfies the other operational constraints, including over-the-horizon limitations.
The geology is more complex than the map colors might suggest.
Kring/Space Sciences 2010Lunar Exploration Initiative
Layered volcanic deposits
Hikearizona.com
Option: Colton Crater
Plus several geologic surprises
Kring/Space Sciences 2010Lunar Exploration Initiative
15 m tuff
25 m cinders
7.5 m basalt flow
27.5 m cinders
75 m of total section measured by Cummings (1972)
Option: Colton Crater
Kring/Space Sciences 2010Lunar Exploration Initiative
Late stage cinder cone(6 m high)
Hikearizona.com
Option: Colton Crater
Kring/Space Sciences 2010Lunar Exploration Initiative
Option: Colton Crater
Visited by crews during the 2010 simulations
Kring/Space Sciences 2010Lunar Exploration Initiative
Option: Colton Crater
Astronaut Stan Love at Colton Crater 2010
NASA Desert RATS
Kring/Space Sciences 2010Lunar Exploration Initiative
Summary
Pocket on North Side of BPLF
Spider (or Hot Dog) Hill& Adjacent Basin
Colton Crater
This is a target-rich area for NEO simulations…
Kring/Space Sciences 2010Lunar Exploration Initiative
Summary
Pocket on North Side of BPLF
Spider (or Hot Dog) Hill& Adjacent Basin
Colton Crater
…that takes advantage of our experience in the area & existing infrastructure
Kring/Space Sciences 2010Lunar Exploration Initiative
Conclusions
For 2011, the expanded BPLF test region is suitable for:• Complex planetary surface mission simulations like those envisioned for the Moon and Mars• Mission simulations to smaller exploration targets (e.g., NEO)• And the test area is sufficiently large that both types of mission simulations can be run in parallel if needed, although a sensible serial sequence can be designed that uses a partial overlap of assets.
Any questions can directed to:David A. Kring, Ph.D.USRA-LPICenter for Lunar Science and Exploration (an NLSI Team)Houston, [email protected]