The Next Big Thing: Getting The Next Big Thing: Getting Canada into Human Canada into Human

ExplorationExploration

Steve BrahamSteve BrahamNASA HMP Chief Field Engineer and Canadian PINASA HMP Chief Field Engineer and Canadian PI

Director, PolyLAB, SFU Telematics Research LabDirector, PolyLAB, SFU Telematics Research Lab

Senior Researcher, CSA MarsCanadaSenior Researcher, CSA MarsCanada

Researcher, CSA Mars Interplanetary Comms StudyResearcher, CSA Mars Interplanetary Comms Study

Moon/Mars ExplorationMoon/Mars Exploration

Trying to ensure that CSA doesn’t get left behind in the car

The IssueThe Issue

ESA has Aurora - ESA has Aurora - HumansHumans to to MoonMoon and Mars and Mars EU Supporting ESA, building relationship with EU Supporting ESA, building relationship with

Russia - Russia - potentialpotential EU/Russia joint human missions EU/Russia joint human missions in 2008 onwards, using Soyuz TMA. Discussions of in 2008 onwards, using Soyuz TMA. Discussions of a joint ESA/Russian human space capsule.a joint ESA/Russian human space capsule.

US Adopted Vision for Space ExplorationUS Adopted Vision for Space Exploration China: human missionsChina: human missions India: will have robotic missions to the MoonIndia: will have robotic missions to the Moon Sample return missions to Mars starting in 2011 to Sample return missions to Mars starting in 2011 to

2014 timeframe2014 timeframe Even Japan is now looking at human missionsEven Japan is now looking at human missions

Evolving FastEvolving Fast ESA has initiated a Humans to Moon Lunar ESA has initiated a Humans to Moon Lunar

Roadmap processRoadmap process NASA is accelerating CEV scheduleNASA is accelerating CEV schedule

• Bending metal on CEV next year, single sourceBending metal on CEV next year, single source• Probable reductions in Earth ScienceProbable reductions in Earth Science• Probable reductions in Planetary ScienceProbable reductions in Planetary Science• Certain reductions in ISSCertain reductions in ISS• Possible reduction of international cooperation and use of Possible reduction of international cooperation and use of

industryindustry Both EU and US scientists are starting to have Both EU and US scientists are starting to have

doubts about robotic missions, on cost/science and doubts about robotic missions, on cost/science and cost/impact grounds. Good missions may be $1-cost/impact grounds. Good missions may be $1-$2B, similar to per-person cost for human missions.$2B, similar to per-person cost for human missions.

Problem: we’re behindProblem: we’re behind Now too late to concentrate on small robotic missions if we Now too late to concentrate on small robotic missions if we

want to be visible, or have any chance of retaining HQP – want to be visible, or have any chance of retaining HQP – NASA no longer even lists robotic missions as milestones NASA no longer even lists robotic missions as milestones in roadmapsin roadmaps

NASA wanted input last June from all agencies, if they NASA wanted input last June from all agencies, if they wanted to collaborate on Moon/Mars. No new major CSA wanted to collaborate on Moon/Mars. No new major CSA areas identified at a strong level.areas identified at a strong level.

(Just) Canadian Robotic Mars missions in 2011 or later will (Just) Canadian Robotic Mars missions in 2011 or later will not cut it - we’ll all be working for ESA and NASA by then!not cut it - we’ll all be working for ESA and NASA by then!

We’re the only country, apart from Russia, which hasn’t We’re the only country, apart from Russia, which hasn’t refocused our space agency to human space exploration. refocused our space agency to human space exploration. Indeed, we’re going the other way.Indeed, we’re going the other way.

But we have a combined human and space science-based But we have a combined human and space science-based exploration thrust? Maybe time to move Space Exploration exploration thrust? Maybe time to move Space Exploration outside Space Science?outside Space Science?

Key point of plans: No MoneyKey point of plans: No Money Getting humans into space isn’t about more moneyGetting humans into space isn’t about more money Asking for more money just increases chances agencies Asking for more money just increases chances agencies

get rejected, as we’ve seen with CSAget rejected, as we’ve seen with CSA US Space Policy already demonstrated to be hard to kill, US Space Policy already demonstrated to be hard to kill,

last year, in Senate vote on budget - works by shifting last year, in Senate vote on budget - works by shifting focus and funding, with minimal funding injectionsfocus and funding, with minimal funding injections

CSA doesn’t need more money - needs to prove it can CSA doesn’t need more money - needs to prove it can retain it’s budget as the SSRMS, Canadarm, and retain it’s budget as the SSRMS, Canadarm, and Radarsat 2 come to completion. Can we fit in with new Radarsat 2 come to completion. Can we fit in with new CSA structure and retain human spaceflight and CSA structure and retain human spaceflight and exploration?exploration?

Focus CAN including working on human missions to Focus CAN including working on human missions to Moon and beyond, with no extra budget!Moon and beyond, with no extra budget!

Interesting PointsInteresting Points ESA seems to be ahead on the CEV! Experience with ATV ESA seems to be ahead on the CEV! Experience with ATV

and ARD, and relationship with Russia.and ARD, and relationship with Russia. NASA and Boeing imply ESA ATV concept crucial to CEV, NASA and Boeing imply ESA ATV concept crucial to CEV,

Lock-Mart actually seems to be using ATV-H in their CEV Lock-Mart actually seems to be using ATV-H in their CEV design.design.

CEV requirements closer to Gemini (designed by Canadians) CEV requirements closer to Gemini (designed by Canadians) and Soyuz, not Apollo.and Soyuz, not Apollo.

Goddard has Lunar lead, not JPL: Exploration-driven R&D Goddard has Lunar lead, not JPL: Exploration-driven R&D better for science, long-term, than direct science-driven R&D.better for science, long-term, than direct science-driven R&D.

Given 10 year Dev cycles, Canada has to move very fast Given 10 year Dev cycles, Canada has to move very fast (ESA tested ARD in 1998, and NASA needs ESA).(ESA tested ARD in 1998, and NASA needs ESA).

However, if we devote enough budget, no reason we can’t However, if we devote enough budget, no reason we can’t deliver $1B+ contribution over 20 years. $50M/year. Enough deliver $1B+ contribution over 20 years. $50M/year. Enough for a Canadian to go to the Moon.for a Canadian to go to the Moon.

Human MissionsHuman Missions Extensive communication required for scientific field explorationExtensive communication required for scientific field exploration Mission operations requires complex modalities in Human missionsMission operations requires complex modalities in Human missions Missions high power, high mass, high margin: communications Missions high power, high mass, high margin: communications

operate in a far less constrained environmentoperate in a far less constrained environment Large number of interacting systems: cannot afford to add extra Large number of interacting systems: cannot afford to add extra

communication protocols or other technologies to multiple small communication protocols or other technologies to multiple small hardware ($B’s/pa spent by COTS R&D community on protocol and hardware ($B’s/pa spent by COTS R&D community on protocol and comms). Less buy-in cost, more use of comms). Less buy-in cost, more use of allall industry possible industry possible

Human Space Exploration is not Robotic Space ExplorationHuman Space Exploration is not Robotic Space Exploration Human Space Exploration is not Human LEO SpaceflightHuman Space Exploration is not Human LEO Spaceflight

Reliability is the single most important requirementReliability is the single most important requirement

Human spaceflight EASIERHuman spaceflight EASIER

Not such a hard road to follow:Not such a hard road to follow:• Having humans in the loop requires many systems Having humans in the loop requires many systems

that operate in human-survivable environment. Low that operate in human-survivable environment. Low TVAC requirements, large masses allowed, only rad TVAC requirements, large masses allowed, only rad to worry about.to worry about.

• Systems can be cheap - some NASA suppliers spend Systems can be cheap - some NASA suppliers spend less than $1M to fly hardware on ISS, with a few less than $1M to fly hardware on ISS, with a few months development time (sensor networks)months development time (sensor networks)

Lunar missions are actually WAY easier, Lunar missions are actually WAY easier, environmentally, than the conditions we face for environmentally, than the conditions we face for S/C like Anik F series!S/C like Anik F series!

Choosing our PartnersChoosing our Partners

We can’t sit on the fenceWe can’t sit on the fence NASA maybe isn’t the best choice as our only NASA maybe isn’t the best choice as our only

choicechoice ESA ahead on many technologies, including ESA ahead on many technologies, including

CEV systems, and far more interested in having CEV systems, and far more interested in having critical infrastructure development than NASAcritical infrastructure development than NASA

Possible short-term ESA and CNSA human Possible short-term ESA and CNSA human spaceflight options. NASA ones far off in the spaceflight options. NASA ones far off in the future.future.

Canadian Tech PossibilitiesCanadian Tech Possibilities

Life SupportLife Support• Mars EnvironmentMars Environment• Spacesuit TechnologySpacesuit Technology• Plant GrowthPlant Growth

Drilling and Sample HandlingDrilling and Sample Handling Communications (hardware and protocols)Communications (hardware and protocols) Computing (hardware and software)Computing (hardware and software) NavigationNavigation ImagingImaging AnaloguesAnalogues RoboticsRobotics

CommunicationsCommunications Communications rapidly growing to become Canada’s biggest industryCommunications rapidly growing to become Canada’s biggest industry Only country to supply NASA with a Criticality One system (comms) to Only country to supply NASA with a Criticality One system (comms) to

ISS, apart from Russian (eg, life-critical, not just mission critical)ISS, apart from Russian (eg, life-critical, not just mission critical) Involved with key ESA discussions on communications - EU expected to Involved with key ESA discussions on communications - EU expected to

spend millions of Euros per year on technologies derived from Canadian spend millions of Euros per year on technologies derived from Canadian concepts, but with no Canadian involvement.concepts, but with no Canadian involvement.

Canada has the best surface wireless comms system for Moon and MarsCanada has the best surface wireless comms system for Moon and Mars Canada provided the comms antenna for Apollo (start of SPAR!)Canada provided the comms antenna for Apollo (start of SPAR!) Canadians designed most of DSN, for NASA (after leaving Arrow project)Canadians designed most of DSN, for NASA (after leaving Arrow project) Mars and Moon comms relay satellites would be cheap, inside our Mars and Moon comms relay satellites would be cheap, inside our

expertise, and would multiply returned science data by a minimum of 100 expertise, and would multiply returned science data by a minimum of 100 times (probably in excess of 1000 times).times (probably in excess of 1000 times).

V-band, W-band, Optical comms are strengthsV-band, W-band, Optical comms are strengths EMS, Xiphos, ComDev, SFU, UTIAS, MDA, Bristol AerospaceEMS, Xiphos, ComDev, SFU, UTIAS, MDA, Bristol Aerospace Cheap, but high impact.Cheap, but high impact.

Networks for ExplorationNetworks for Exploration

ESA-Industry Wireless WG Scenarios ESA-Industry Wireless WG Scenarios Appropriate for Lunar/Mars Missions cont.Appropriate for Lunar/Mars Missions cont.

Several appropriate opportunities for SS RF WirelessSeveral appropriate opportunities for SS RF Wireless

ESA Concept

SFU Concept

SEA Ltd. Concept

SFU

ESA Concordia

NASA

ESA

ESA

ESA

ESA

Spacesuit Tests – Cheap, Visible!Spacesuit Tests – Cheap, Visible!

•Collaboration between NASA HMP, SFU, and Hamilton-Sundstrand •On-board Canadian Comms and Computing

• Next-generation voice control• Remote Control• Location tech•Range of head-mounted displays

Camera(Trish Garner, SFU,Canada)

Building our own small human Building our own small human spacecraft: Spacesuitsspacecraft: Spacesuits

High visibility (most other options aren’t)High visibility (most other options aren’t) Space Comms/Computing - Canadian StrengthsSpace Comms/Computing - Canadian Strengths Canada already demonstrating startling improvements in situational Canada already demonstrating startling improvements in situational

awareness in suit design, with Hamilton-Sundstrand/SFU awareness in suit design, with Hamilton-Sundstrand/SFU collaboration, at MarsCanada.collaboration, at MarsCanada.

Strong diving suit and life support knowledge in Canada, with Strong diving suit and life support knowledge in Canada, with Western Canada supportWestern Canada support

Canadian Naval submarine expertise closely related.Canadian Naval submarine expertise closely related. SFU and DCIEM/DRDC physiology knowledge and facilitiesSFU and DCIEM/DRDC physiology knowledge and facilities Major bit is mechanisms: EMS, MDAMajor bit is mechanisms: EMS, MDA Requires integration: MDARequires integration: MDA Can partner with US, ESA, Russians, ChinaCan partner with US, ESA, Russians, China Human roving vehicles a bigger spacesuit, though maybe too Human roving vehicles a bigger spacesuit, though maybe too

expensive.expensive.

Large Rovers on Mars and the Large Rovers on Mars and the Moon (Mars Institute / SFU) – Moon (Mars Institute / SFU) – Many on-board Techs neededMany on-board Techs needed

Greenhouse for Mars: TM, TC, and Greenhouse for Mars: TM, TC, and Autonomy (Guelph / SFU / Mars Institute / Autonomy (Guelph / SFU / Mars Institute /

SpaceRef Inc.) – ESA and NASA want SpaceRef Inc.) – ESA and NASA want Guelph alreadyGuelph already

BiologyBiology

U. Guelph: Mars Greenhouses - critical life U. Guelph: Mars Greenhouses - critical life support for extended Moon/Mars missionssupport for extended Moon/Mars missions

Strongly recognized by CanadaStrongly recognized by Canada World leaders in Aerospace Physiology World leaders in Aerospace Physiology

(Roberta Bondar, Andrew Blaber)(Roberta Bondar, Andrew Blaber) Extreme Physiology Program at SFU Extreme Physiology Program at SFU

(Braham, Blaber)(Braham, Blaber) Canada are leaders in Telemedicine Canada are leaders in Telemedicine

(including major CRC projects)(including major CRC projects)

ComputingComputing

Canada (EMS Technologies) a world Canada (EMS Technologies) a world leader in processors that are rad-hardened leader in processors that are rad-hardened to Mars/Moon rad environmentto Mars/Moon rad environment

EMS / Telesat build and operate systems EMS / Telesat build and operate systems that survive in GEO for 20 years!that survive in GEO for 20 years!

Goes hand in hand with CommsGoes hand in hand with Comms Human mission requirements far easier Human mission requirements far easier

than robotic missions.than robotic missions. Big impact, and maybe visible?Big impact, and maybe visible?

NavigationNavigation

Precise landing critical, as demonstrated by Precise landing critical, as demonstrated by NASA robotic missions to Mars - need to go NASA robotic missions to Mars - need to go EXACTLY to where the science is located.EXACTLY to where the science is located.

Surface traverses require detailed mapping and Surface traverses require detailed mapping and navigationnavigation

Canadian LIDAR systems may be critical to this Canadian LIDAR systems may be critical to this workwork• Only Issue: NASA and ESA developing their own.Only Issue: NASA and ESA developing their own.

ImagingImaging

Human missions allow resources for high Human missions allow resources for high bandwidth connectionsbandwidth connections

Canadian imaging systems such as SAR and Canadian imaging systems such as SAR and Hyperspectral imaging are effectively impossible Hyperspectral imaging are effectively impossible at robotic payload accommodation levelsat robotic payload accommodation levels

POSSIBLE at human mission levels!POSSIBLE at human mission levels! Highly useful for missions, as remote spotting of Highly useful for missions, as remote spotting of

important outcrops, water, essentialimportant outcrops, water, essential

Other Canadian resource techOther Canadian resource tech DrillingDrilling

• Drilling important for sample recovery, but everybody is Drilling important for sample recovery, but everybody is doing it, including robotics, but potential niche? We’ll doing it, including robotics, but potential niche? We’ll need to work on it heavily if we want it.need to work on it heavily if we want it.

• Drilling totally different issue in human missions, and Drilling totally different issue in human missions, and traversing often better than drilling (as can be seen in traversing often better than drilling (as can be seen in MER). But humans allow new ways to drill.MER). But humans allow new ways to drill.

Resource Processing (ISRU)Resource Processing (ISRU)• NASA’s own studies have show that safe missions do NASA’s own studies have show that safe missions do

not require ISRU, as orbit and return capability requires not require ISRU, as orbit and return capability requires way more mass than ISRU saves for anything short-way more mass than ISRU saves for anything short-term.term.

• However, benefits to large industry (SFU involved in However, benefits to large industry (SFU involved in potential mining applications of MarsCanada and potential mining applications of MarsCanada and emergency comms spin-offs, via NRC)emergency comms spin-offs, via NRC)

Analogue StudiesAnalogue Studies Require analogue studies for any robotic or human Require analogue studies for any robotic or human

mission developmentmission development HOWEVER:HOWEVER:

• Too expensive for just science researchToo expensive for just science research• Only makes sense if it’s supporting exploration systems Only makes sense if it’s supporting exploration systems

development (doing analogues properly will cost $10M/site over development (doing analogues properly will cost $10M/site over a few year R&D cycle)a few year R&D cycle)

• Maybe we should do it, but have to think carefullyMaybe we should do it, but have to think carefully• Maybe environmental analogues for small systems tests Maybe environmental analogues for small systems tests

(Guelph, SFU, DCIEM/DRDC, small field trips) may make more (Guelph, SFU, DCIEM/DRDC, small field trips) may make more sense. SFU-type vehicles.sense. SFU-type vehicles.

BUT:BUT:• Has been high visibility, and it’s getting our tech in people’s face, Has been high visibility, and it’s getting our tech in people’s face,

and producing impact.and producing impact.

ChoicesChoices Spacesuits and human rovers, including spacesuit comms Spacesuits and human rovers, including spacesuit comms

computing, look promisingcomputing, look promising• Involves life supportInvolves life support• CheapCheap• High visibilityHigh visibility• May be enough for a Canadian to get to fly to the MoonMay be enough for a Canadian to get to fly to the Moon• Even components: high visibility and interestingEven components: high visibility and interesting• Human Support Robotics criticalHuman Support Robotics critical

Imaging leaps right out as well, but maybe a component of Imaging leaps right out as well, but maybe a component of suits, or even human rover vehicles?suits, or even human rover vehicles?

Comms, but aimed at Mars, or maybe Lunar surface?Comms, but aimed at Mars, or maybe Lunar surface? Drilling and ISRU possible, if we can get a lead backDrilling and ISRU possible, if we can get a lead back Others may be promising, but a tougher sellOthers may be promising, but a tougher sell..

CostsCosts Beagle Class Lander to Mars: $200MBeagle Class Lander to Mars: $200M Comms Relay to Mars, supporting human mission comms / Mars Comms Relay to Mars, supporting human mission comms / Mars

Sample Return, and Canadian imaging tech: $200MSample Return, and Canadian imaging tech: $200M Spacesuit: $200M (probably $1-$5M a piece)Spacesuit: $200M (probably $1-$5M a piece) Spacesuit and spacecraft components: $1M-$10MSpacesuit and spacecraft components: $1M-$10M Imaging systems: $1M-$50MImaging systems: $1M-$50M Generic Physiology / Plant Growth / Telemedicine: $1M-$50M Generic Physiology / Plant Growth / Telemedicine: $1M-$50M

eacheach Analogue support vehicles (non-Arctic): $1M-$5MAnalogue support vehicles (non-Arctic): $1M-$5M Soyuz launches for tests: $100M (ISS time?)Soyuz launches for tests: $100M (ISS time?) So, say, $1B over 20 years could buy a lot, and make Canada a So, say, $1B over 20 years could buy a lot, and make Canada a

world leader in human space exploration. 15% of CSA budget.world leader in human space exploration. 15% of CSA budget. If we don’t, everybody else can afford it anywayIf we don’t, everybody else can afford it anyway

WHAT DO WE DO?WHAT DO WE DO?