Sample Return from Shackleton Crater with the Deep Space Tether Pathfinder (DSTP) (original) (raw)
Early Results of the Multi-Application Survivable Tether (MAST) Space Tether Experiment
2007
The Multi-Application Survivable Tether (MAST) Experiment utilizes three tethered picosatellites to study the survivability of space tether structures and materials in the low Earth orbit environment. The MAST picosatellites initially deployed as a single body from a CubeSat PPOD deployer were designed to subsequently deploy a 1,000 meter long multi-line "Hoytether" between two of the picosatellites. The third picosatellite will then slowly crawl up and down the tether photographing it and transmitting the pictures to a ground station. Analysis of these photographs will provide data on how the micrometeoroid and orbital debris environment damage the tether structure. Additionally, each of the three picosatellites incorporates a GPS receiver whose measurements will provide data on the deployment and dynamics of the tethered formation of picosatellites. In this paper, we will summarize the final design and initial flight experiment results of the Multi-Application Survivable Tether (MAST) experiment, which was launched on 17 April 2007 on a Dnepr rocket as coordinated by the California Polytechnic University.
Results of the Young Engineers' Satellite Tether Programme
The emptiness of space and the near-weightlessness there make it possible to deploy very long and thin tethers. Tethers exploit basic principles of physics to provide propellantless propulsion and enable unique applications such as the provision of comfortable artificial gravity or the removal of space debris. Nevertheless there are still no tether applications in use today - there appears to be a "gap of skepticism". A safe tether and deployer system has therefore been designed and verified with the help of simulation and innovative ground testing equipment. Through a hands-on educational approach, the YES and YES2 low-cost space tether experiments have been launched into orbit. In September 2007, all 32 km of the YES2 tether are deployed in orbit. With the help of this tether, a student-built re-entry capsule is deorbited over Kazakhstan.
Data Analysis of a Tethered SpaceMail Experiment
The Second Young Engineers’ Satellite is a 36 kg student-built experiment that piggybacked on the Foton-M3 microgravity platform in September 2007. Its mission was tethered SpaceMail: a propellantless sample return from an orbital platform. The experiment included a two-stage tether deployment, leading to a swing of the tether toward the local vertical, in which finally a capsule was released from the bottom of the tethered system into a reentry trajectory. The first deployment stage of 3.4km was completed within about 20maccuracy. The second stage started on time and the end mass initially accelerated nominally. Then, due to an electrical problem, the tether was deployed to its full length of 31.7 km, rather than to the target length of 30 km. It was nevertheless released at the proper time and at a near-nominal in-plane angle. Data analysis shows that the Second Young Engineers’ Satellite scientific objectives were achieved. The two-stage deployment trajectory could be reconstructed and the capsule trajectory could be estimated. The proper performance of the deployer hardware and controller was demonstrated, and tether physical properties were also determined. Finally, simulation and test results could be matched to flight data, providing both confidence and recommendations for preparation of future tether missions.
Proceedings of the 14 th AIAA/USU …, 2000
In recent years, an increased effort to design, build, and operate small satellites has taken place in universities and laboratories all over the world. These micro-satellites (or nano-satellites) provide numerous flight opportunities for science experiments at a fraction of the cost of larger traditional missions. In addition, there has been an increasing trend towards international cooperation on space projects. From the International Space Station to joint commercial ventures, the future of space progress will be shared by countries around the world. Tomorrow's engineers must prepare for this challenge.
TETHER BALUTE LOW COST DE-ORBIT AND RECOVERY PROJECT
Balute recovery systems for sounding vehicles are well known. Such systems were proposed also for the end recovery in the US Gemini program. Tether aerodynamic planetary capture was also investigated in Seattle. Now the project TEBLOR is offered to make profit of these potentials in a new de-orbit and reentry system for recovery of small-sized payloads in a cost-effective manner. In the computational model perturbations were considered as produced by aerodynamics, the Moon and the Sun gravity fields. The system is able to achieve the initial de-orbit maneuver without reaction motors. The tethered air-brake is electrically actuated and exploits the dynamics of orbital two-body tethered systems. Potentiality to use electro-dynamic effects is suggested. Regarding the technological concept, it makes use of carbon nano-tubes in a similar, but a less risky manner than the space lift system. After the non-powered de-orbit, the high altitude, tethered air brakes are further used. Here a major impact upon the descent trajectory and landing site position is introduced by the system dynamics that causes the main concern. The last phase of low altitude, lower speed descent is running in a routine manner where the tethered balute transforms into a usual recovering device. The system should be transformed into a re-usable application for small size, low mass Earth satellites. The study consists in the appraisal and evaluation of the TEBLOR project.
Overview of future NASA tether applications
Advances in Space Research, 1999
The groundwork has been laid for tether applications in space. NASA has developed tether technology for space applications since the 1960's. Important recent milestones include retrieval of a tether in space (TSS
Study for potential candidates for a Sample Return Spase Mission to a Near Earth Object
2007
Near-Earth Objects (NEOs), namely asteroids and comets orbiting close to the Earth, are widely believed to be the remnants -or fragments -of planetesimals that accreted into the planets. Since they are supposed to come from different regions of the Solar System, they represent an optimal sample to investigate the thermal and physical processes that took place during the first evolutionary phases of the Solar System, and to investigate the initial structure of the Solar Nebula. Moreover, they are one of the principal sources of meteorites, and represent a threat for human being. Due to their scientific interest and their dynamical properties, NEOs are interesting and accessible targets for space missions. Because of that, in the last years, several national and international Space Agencies have promoted assessment studies of a mission to a NEO, and a sample return mission to a primitive object has been promoted by ESA in the framework of the Cosmic Vision programme.