National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Small Business Innovation Research 2001 Program Solicitation
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S4.01 Science Instruments for Conducting Solar System
Exploration
S4.02 Planetary Mobility and Robotics, Sub-Surface Access,
and Autonomous Control Technologies
S4.03 Detection and Reduction of Biological Contamination
on Flight Hardware
S4.04 Lightweight Materials for Planetary Aerocapture,
and Spacecraft Structures and Deployables
S4.05 Advanced Miniature and Micro Avionics and Electronics
for Deep Space Systems
S4.06 Telecommunications Tech. for High Rate Transmission
over Large Distances and Local Planetary Networks
S4.07 Deep Space Power and Propulsion Systems
NASA's program for Exploration of the Solar System seeks to answer fundamental questions about the Solar System and life: How do planets form? Why are planets different from one another? Where did the makings of life come from? Did life arise elsewhere in the Solar System? What is the future habitability of Earth and other planets? The search for answers to these questions requires that we augment the current remote sensing approach to solar system exploration with a robust program that includes in situ measurements at key places in the Solar System and the return of materials from them for later study on the Earth. We envision a variety of missions to achieve this including a comet nucleus sample return, a Europa lander, a rover or balloon-borne experiment on Saturn's moon Titan, and a possible Pluto Express to name a few. Numerous, new technologies will be required to enable such ambitious missions.
Being able to achieve the Solar System exploration goals requires innovative miniaturized science instruments and instrument components that offer significant improvement over the state of the art in terms of size, mass, power, cost, performance, and robustness. This subtopic seeks to support the development of advanced instrument technology that has potential for scientific investigation on future planetary missions. New measurement concepts, advances in existing instrument concepts, advances in critical components such as detectors, sampling handling techniques and technologies that enable integrated instrument architectures are all of interest. Proposers are encouraged to relate their proposed technology development to future planetary science goals as much as possible.
While both remote and in situ sensing instruments are of interest, NASA's space science missions will increasingly rely upon in situ characterization of the atmosphere, surface and subsurface regions of planets, satellites, and small bodies. These instruments may be deployed on surface landers and rovers, subsurface penetrators, cryobots, and airborne platforms. These instruments must be capable of withstanding operation in space and planetary environmental extremes, which include temperature, pressure, radiation, and impact stresses. A reasonable target for an in situ science instrument concept is 1-kilogram mass, 1-liter volume, and 1 watt-hour of energy although for mission critical capabilities, additional resources might be available.
A wide range of in situ instruments is of interest--geological, chemical, biological, physical, and environmental. Particular emphasis is needed for astrobiology related measurements seeking to understand the origin and evolution of life and pre-biotic processes. New in situ analysis techniques are desired to identify and quantify biogenically important elements (C, H, N, O, P, and S) and their compounds (e.g., CH4, NOx, H2O) within extraterrestrial atmospheres, soils, ices, sedimentary rocks, and minerals.
The following future mission needs will receive emphasis during proposal selection.
Mars Surveryor Missions. Missions to Mars will include both orbiters and landers with launches occuring approximately every 26 months. The high-level science drivers for Mars include determining if life ever arose on Mars, characterizing the ancient and present climate as well as climate processes, determining the evolution of the Martian surface and interior, and characterizating of the environment in preparation for human exploration.
Outer Solar System Missions. Future, outer planet, mission opportunities might include a Europa lander, a Titan lander, a Pluto Express, and/or a comet nucleus sample return. Instruments for Europa and Titan are particularly challenging because of the extreme environmental constraints. Europa measurement needs include characterization of the near-surface composition, determination of the compositional, geophysical, and geological context for the surface site, and a search for indications of Europan biology. Titan drivers include a determination of the distribution and composition of organics, and atmospheric dynamics.
Discovery Program Missions. Discovery program missions represent a series of competed focused missions to a variety of solar system objects. These objects may include orbiters, landers, flybys, balloons, and airplanes to study a wide variety of science goals involving geology, geochemistry, geophysics, atmospheres and climates, and particles and fields. Instrumentation and instrument concepts that address this broad range of needs will be considered.
Example Measurement Needs
Meeting the needs for the Solar System exploration goals requires a significant
arsenal of advanced scientific instrumentation. Examples of instruments that
might meet some of the above goals include, but are not limited to, the following:
During the future exploration of planetary and lunar surfaces and the surface of small solar system bodies (such as comets and asteroids), new tools in the areas of surface robotic systems, subsurface systems, aerial systems, and autonomous software need to be developed. These technologies are required for advanced scientific exploration of planetary surfaces by providing access to challenging surface sites, collection of sub-surface samples, investigation of a site through an aerial survey, and the software required for long-duration survival on the planet surface. In particular, this subtopic seeks to solicit research contributions that are in the following areas:
As space flight missions venture into planetary atmospheres and onto surfaces, NASA is committed to the implementation of its planetary protection policy and regulations. There is a need to support projects in all mission phases from design to close-out. One of the great challenges is to develop or find the technologies that will make compliance with planetary protection policy routine and affordable. Planetary protection is directed to (1) the control of terrestrial microbial contamination associated with robotic space vehicles intended to land, orbit, flyby, or otherwise be in the vicinity of extraterrestrial solar system bodies, and (2) the control of contamination of the Earth by extra-terrestrial solar system material collected and returned by such missions. The implementation of these requirements will ensure that biological safeguards to maintain extraterrestrial bodies as biological preserves for scientific investigations are being followed in NASA's space program.
To fulfill its commitment, NASA seeks technologies that will support its needs in the area of cleaning, cleaning validation, maintenance of biologically clean work areas, encapsulation and containerization, and archival preservation of organic and inorganic samples. Examples of such technologies include but are not limited to:
The desire to launch deep space mission payloads on lower cost, smaller launch
vehicles has increased as projects have become more constrained due to budget
pressures. In light of these factors, new concepts of using thin film structures
or space systems to accomplish mission critical functions such as mobility (balloons),
aerocapture (ballutes), and deployable multifunctional structures (radiators,
struts, antenna, etc.) are gaining importance. Low mass, low volume, space asset
functionality is critical to enabling new missions to withstand the harsh environments
(For example, temperature and atmospheric conditions) at Venus and Titan if
we wish to dramatically reduce the cost of in situ science. We wish to identify,
evaluate, and develop thin film materials, systems and associated technologies
that will be compatible with ballute, balloon and the low-mass multifunctional-structure
requirements listed below. A systems engineering perspective is encouraged.
Proposals should address how materials/ configurations are compatible with expected
preflight configurations, subsequent in-flight configurations, and attendant
environments. Materials and processes and their associated mission use constraints
and must have the potential to meet all important requirements, or they will
not be considered.
Technology innovations sought include these areas:
The strategic plan within the Space Science Enterprise at NASA requires intense exploration of a wide variety of bodies in the Solar System within a modest budget. To achieve this will require revolutionary advances over the capabilities of traditional spacecraft systems and a broadening of the tool set through the introduction of new kinds of space exploration systems. These systems will include, but are not limited to, orbiters, landers, atmospheric probes, rovers, penetrators, aerobots (balloons), planetary aircraft, subsurface vehicles (ice/soil), and submarines. Also of interest is the delivery of distributed sensor systems consisting of networks of tiny (< 1 kg), individual elements which combine sensors, control, and communications in highly integrated packages and which are scattered over planetary surfaces, atmospheres, oceans, or subsurfaces.
New technology is needed in all spacecraft areas for mass, power, and volume reductions, and for application to harsh environments such as extreme temperature, radiation, and mechanical shock. Advances in microelectronics, avionics architecture, packaging and thermal control are encouraged. Applicable technology areas include but are not limited to:
This subtopic discusses innovations for both Optical and RF communication technologies.
RF Communications
Optical Communications
Innovative concepts utilizing advanced technology are solicited in the areas of energy conversion, storage, power electronics, and power system materials. Power levels of interest range from tens of milliwatts to several kilowatts. NASA Space Science missions require energy systems with high energy density, reliability and low overall costs (including operations). Likewise, propulsion is a critical technology area for Space Science missions. Propulsion functions include precision positioning, in-space maneuvering, vehicle reaction control, planetary injection, and planetary descent/ascent. The mass and volume of spacecraft are usually dominated by the propulsion system, limiting mission capabilities. Innovations are needed in chemical and electric propulsion technologies to reduce the mass and volume of propulsion systems while increasing their capability, reliability, and lifetime. Advances are sought in the following areas:
Energy Conversion
Advances in photovoltaic technology are sought, including rigid arrays, thin
film arrays, and concentrator arrays with substantial increases in specific
power (w/kg) and decreased cost. Must accommodate radiation resistance, low
temperature/low intensity, and high temperature/ high intensity operation.
Advances in radioisotope power conversion to electricity (tens of milliwatts to hundreds of watts with efficiencies > 20 percent). Includes advances in AMTEC, thermophotovoltaics, thermoelectrics, Stirling, and microfabricated power systems.
Energy Storage
Includes advances in primary and secondary (rechargeable) battery technologies.
Technologies include lithium ion batteries, lithium polymer batteries and other
advanced concepts providing dramatic increases in mass and volume energy density
(w-hr/kg and w-hr/liter). Must be able to operate in harsh environments, including
high radiation and low/high temperature regimes.
For operation on planetary surfaces, the use of regenerative fuel cells, both conventional and unitized - passive designs, with substantial increases in mass and volume specific energy for those situations where there are substantial time periods of charging/recharge (anywhere from hours to days).
Power Electronics
Advanced electronic technologies with reduced volume and mass capable of high-temperature,
low-temperature (cryogenic), or wide-temperature operation, radiation resistance,
and/or electromagnetic shielding with thermal control.
Thermal control integral to electrical devices capable of > 100 W/cm2 heat flux.
Advanced electronic materials, devices and circuits including transformers, integrated circuits, capacitors, ultra capacitors, electro-optical devices, micro electro-mechanical systems (MEMS), sensors, low loss magnetic cores, motor drives, electrical actuation.
Advanced PMAD control technologies including fault detection, isolation, and system reconfiguration, including "smart components," built-in test, health management, and power-line or wireless communication.
Power System Materials
Advances are sought in materials, surfaces, and components that are durable
for atomic oxygen, soft x-ray, electron, proton, and ultraviolet radiation and
thermal cycling environments, lightweight electromagnetic interference shielding,
and high-performance, environmentally durable radiators.
Propulsion Systems
Advanced electric propulsion technologies, including thrusters and advanced
power processing, are needed for robotic planetary transportation applications.
Technologies are sought that increase efficiency, reduce mass, and reduce system
complexity. High-performance, bipropellant technologies (specific impulse >
350 sec) are of high interest for planetary propulsion applications. Micropropulsion
technologies, applicable to spacecraft that less than 40 kg, are of high interest
to Space Science. These propulsion technologies should emphasize system simplicity,
low power requirements, minimal mass, and leverage the unique nature of microscale
devices. Propellant management components (valves, flow control/regulation,
fluid isolation) are needed for all of the electric, chemical, and micro propulsion
systems described above.
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