Worden NanoLaunch talk

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The Need for Nanosat Launch Vehicles7 November
2008
S. Pete WordenDirector, NASA Ames Research Center
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Ames Research Center
65 Years of Innovation
Tektites
NASA Research Park
Apollo Re-Entry Shape
Pioneer
ER-2
Lunar Prospector
Air Transportation System
Apollo Heat Shield Tests
Blunt body concept)
Worlds fastest operational supercomputer
Galileo
Tiltrotor
Transonic Flow
Nanotechnology
Apollo Guidance System
Viking
Flight Research
Pioneer Venus
Astrobiology
Flight Simulation
Hypervelocity Free Flight
Human Centered Computing
X-36
Kuiper Observatory
Swept-Back/wing
Lifting body
ComputationalFluid Dynamics
Conical chamber
Arcjet Research
80x120 Wind Tunnel
Life SciencesResearch
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ARC Projects
LADEE
Kepler
LCROSS
SOFIA
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ARC Projects
AGESS
TESS
MAAT
CRESPO
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Spacecraft Mission Sizing

• Larger Missions Excel at
• Large Diameter Sensors, Optics, Antennas,
  Detectors
• Large Scale Investigations, Several Instruments
• Lower calculated risk per individual mission
• Lower cost per kilogram
• Utilize Proven Launchers
• Smaller Missions Excel at
• Simple Focused Missions, Science, Technology or
  Ops Demo
• Unique Data Obtained in Near Term (Solar Cycle)
• Short Duration Missions (lt14 days for Landers, lt2
  years orbiters)
• Diversity of operating sites, landing sites or
  Orbits
• Lower Cost Enables Increased Number Of Missions
• Faster Learning Cycle, Lead to Lower Costs
• If New Technology Sooner, Lowers Cost of Flagship
  Missions
• Smaller Teams, Fewer Interfaces, Improved
  Collaboration

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Roles of Very Small Spacecraft

• Science and Exploration Missions
• Astrophysics
• Space Sciences
• Astrobiology
• Space Physics
• Lunar Sciences
• Technology Demonstrations
• Propulsion
• Communications
• Mass reduction - MEMS and smaller
• Autonomous operations
• Formation flying/constellations
• Novel space architectures - tethers
• Evolvable, reconfigurable satellites

• Payload packages on larger spacecraft
• Flight heritage from Cubesat missions
• Use Cubesat derived technologies to support other
  spacecraft missions
• Lunar Orbiters
• Lunar Landers

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NASA-Ames Nanosatellite Projects
GeneSat-1
PharmaSat-1
Nanosail-D
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Benefits of Nanosats

• Existing Nanosats Standard(s)
• Large, Open Development Community
• Richness Of Approaches
• Flight Proven Platform Interfaces And
  Accommodations
• Low Cost
• Small Size And Mass
• Secondary Payload Accommodations
• Repeatable Missions, Multiple Spacecraft Possible
• Affordable Operations
• Expanding Capabilities
• Ideal Test Bed For New Technologies
• Wide Variety Of Mission Architectures Supportable
• Capable of Development of Real Science

CalPoly SLO PPOD
Genesat
Boeing CSTB1
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NMO Nanosatellite Roadmap (near-term)
Super Strypi
Minotaur I
Falcon 1
Taurus
Atlas V
Minotaur IV
Launch Vehicles (Domestic) (- indicates flown
or manifested)
Delta IV
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Advanced Nanosats

• Advanced NanoSat Program Goals
• High Capability Achieve 80 capability of larger
  spacecraft (100-150 kg class)
• Low Recurring Costs 1 M for bus
• Leverage Latest technology advancements
  existing Ames Nanosat bus (GeneSat) for space
  validation of key sub-systems
• Enable Space Exploration Big science in a small,
  highly functional form factor

Advanced Nanosat 2

• Delta-V gt700 m/s
• 3-axis Stabilized, lt10 arc-sec pointing
• Ultra-low power ADACS
• Advanced Multifunctional Materials
• lt4 kg bus mass
• 6 W payload power
• 1 kg payload capability

Advanced Nanosat
NASA Ames NanoSat In-Space Validation of Key
Technologies
Advanced Nanosat I

• High Data Rate Downlink (Gb/day)
• 30 arc-sec pointing accuracy
• High performance Avionics
• Nano-thruster validation
• lt5 kg bus mass
• Mission Opps

Advanced Nanosat X
Micro-Propulsion

• Delta-v gt 300 m/s
• Sub-arc min pointing accuracy
• Ultra-low power commercial CPUs
• Micro/Nano based attitude position tracking
  sensors
• Integrated GPS receiver/antenna

NASA Ames NanoSat In-Space Validation of Key
Technologies
Nano-ACS Thrusters
High Capacity, Lightweight Batteries
NANOSAT CAPABILITY
Enables a Variety of Science Missions
5.8 GHz Transceiver
Precision Formation Flying Remote Imaging-
Earth/Lunar Science Autonomous Satellite
Maintenance Space Physics Astrophysics Explorati
on- Lunar, NEOs, Comets
GPS Receiver
Nano Reaction Wheels
High Performance, Low Power Computing
Ultra light weight IMU
Sun Sensor
Mini Star Tracker
Month 18
12 Months
18-24 Months
6-9 Months
12-15 Months
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The Nanosat Market

• NASA
• SMD
• Astrobiology, Planetary Sciences
• Nanosat missions every 18 months (SALMON)
• ESMD Advanced Capabilities
• Fundamental Space Biology
• Nanosat missions every 18 months (SALMON)
• NSF
• Space Weather missions
• Frequency TBD pending on available funding
• First flight in December, 2009 (Minotaur IV)
• Universities
• 80 universities with active cubesat (nanosat)
  programs
• DoD
• University Nanosat Program
• SERB-reviewed missions

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Education And Training

• Education and training
• Space systems development and test
• Systems Engineering
• Operations

CalPoly SLO
Santa Clara University
SRI/Santa Clara
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The Current Situation

• Launch availability is still limited
• Only 2 US LVs currently can carry PPODs
• Minotaur I
• Falcon 1
• Hopefully more LVs will provide secondary
  accommodations
• Minotaur IV
• Others
• Costs are high
• NRE to implement first article in some cases is
  prohibitive
• Marginal launch costs are also a barrier for some
• Infrastructure is fragmented
• Many groups are attacking the same problem ad hoc
• LV Providers and Primaries are still risk adverse
• This may be getting better, but whats in it for
  them?

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How to overcome these issuessome ideas

• Targeted design philosophies
• Efficient (or elimination of) range safety
  systems (FTS)
• Reduced logistics complexity
• Teaming/leveraging to share costs, where possible
• Standardized Accommodations
• Common subsystems and Components
• Interfaces and Adapters
• Processes and Policies
• Reduced mass
• Wireless data management
• Composite structures
• Centralized avionics

Question Is it a low cost, dedicated LV... or
more aggregated secondaries?
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Comparison
Answer It depends.