www.nasa.gov

Exploration Innovation: Thrust, Cooperation, Challenges, and Opportunity SpacePM Challenge 2010

Douglas Craig/ Dr. John OlsonExploration Systems

NASA HQ

Used with Permission

Primary Thrust

Exploration is an Engine for Innovation for NASA & the Nation

Innovation in Programs, Paradigms, People, Plans,

Processes, Procurements, Products,

Public Outreach, Participatory Exploration,

Protection & Payloads

Cosmic Challenges: Capability, Resources, Complexity

The further we go…the more

Technology and Innovation become a critical enabler &

risk reducer

Global Exploration Themes: Inspiration for Innovation

Economic Expansion

Exploration Preparation

Human Civilization Scientific Knowledge

Global Partnerships

Public Engagement

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Trade Space for Future Exploration Capabilities

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Mars Surface, Phobos, Deimos

Lunar Orbit, Lunar Surface (Global)

Asteroids and Near-Earth Objects

Commercial and Civil LEO

Deep Space Robotics

ISS and Other LEO Destinations/Servicing

Expanding America’s Reach5

Agency Opportunities That Drive Innovative Technology, Process, and Culture Developments

The Mission Drives Innovation and Innovation Enables the Mission

FuturePath

Options

Human Mission to Mars Moon Phobos

Human Missions toNear Earth Objects

(i.e., Apophis)

Human Missionsto Mars

Human Missions to Explore the Moon

Mars DirectExtended Human Presence and

Assembling Large Systems in Deep

Space(i.e., Lagrange

Points)

Complex Challenges, Constrained Optimization & Integrated Systems Engineering Opportunities

• Supporting the President’s Agenda and the “National Mission”

• Executing a Challenging & Complex Human Space Exploration Mission

• Operating within Constrained Resources (Budget, Personnel, Facilities)

• Demonstrating Best Value for Taxpayer Dollars in a Tough Budget Climate

• Achieving Robust Progress Early and Often in Inspiring Endeavors

• Engaging in International, Commercial & Intergovernmental partnerships

• Creating Lean New Processes that Optimize ROI, Safety, Interoperability

For Exploration, Necessity is the Mother of Innovation, Invention, and Improvement in Every Area

Innovation Across All Areas in the “Exploration Universe”

Transportation System, Mission Support Infrastructure, Operations, Technologies

Innovation and Concept Validation:Agility to Enable Dynamic Options – LER Pathfinder

• Broad Area Announcements• Blue Sky Innovation Forums• Game-Changing Technologies• “Partnerships for Progress”• Space Act Agreements• Centennial Challenges

Architecture Enabled by LER Concept

Oct 2008, LER accomplished 3-day mission

(supported Inaugural Parade)

LER to performed a 14-day mission

(Aug 28- Sept 18)

Concept Formulation System and Operational Concept Validation

BAA Habitat Design by University of Maryland

Lunar Electric Rover and Suitport Concepts

Developed by Blue Sky Lithium-sulfur batteries

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Insertion of Innovative Concepts in a Flexible Architecture Development Process

Lunar Architecture Point of Departure / Mars DRA (System and Operational Concepts)

Blue SkyConcepts

Architecture System & Conops Validation using Rapid Prototype Development/Analog Tests

Innovative System Concepts Development Sources

Broad Area Announcements

NASA Tech. Dev. Game-Changing

Technologies

Lithium-sulfur batteries

Expanding NASA Partnerships to Enable Exploration

• International Partnerships (IPs)– Global Exploration Strategy (GES): 14 Int’l Space Agencies– Canada, Europe, and Japan = most progress; dialogue with

Russia, China and India still immature– International Architecture Working Group established by

ISECG members to develop Global Point of Departure Architecture (gPOD) in June 2010

– Strong IP interest/collaboration in analog field tests

• Commercial: Traditional & Non-, NewSpace– Robust interest in surface systems: cargo/logistics, power,

comm/nav, robotics, habitation and surface mobility (e.g. Google, Caterpillar, GM)

• Intergovernmental, Academia & Technology– Leveraging other government programs and technologies

to minimize costs & maximize efficiency and innovation (e.g. DoD, DOE, DARPA, NOAA, NSF)

• Science– Synergy, Human and Robotic, OSEWG, External Groups

(e,g. NLSI, LSI, LEAG, ILEWG)

The Global Exploration StrategyA Framework for Coordination

May 2007

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CONOPS Validation using Analog Field Tests:Highly Integrated Innovation

Architecture Element Concept(Rover, Habitat, Robotic Assistants, Power, etc.)

Surface Operations Concepts (Outpost Maintenance, Exploration, etc.)

Technology Development(Energy Storage, Robotics, Human Factors, etc.)

Training(Crew, Science Ops, Exploration Ops, etc.)

Participatory Exploration(Web 2.0, Virtual Reality, Simulations, etc.)

Analog Field Tests Validate

Key Integrated

Architecture Requirements and Concepts

Partner InfusionInternational, Commercial,

Other Government AgenciesLunar Science Concepts

(Site Survey’s, Geological Sampling/Curation, etc.)

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Analog field tests emphasize collaboration between ESMD, SMD, & IPs

Tightly Coupled Integration: Completing the“Circle of Innovation”

AnalogActivities

Surface Architecture Development

Mission Operations

Technology Development

Participatory Exploration

TechnologyRequirements

Leveraged Communications

& Simulation Capabilities

Exploration & Science Objectives

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Expanding on an Innovative Architecture Design Philosophy

• Primary tenets of architecture design philosophy applied at the Systems, Operations, and Component Level:

• Reduce – Design systems and optimize operations to minimize resources• Reuse – Use for the original purpose multiple times• Re-purpose – Use for a different purpose without significant modification• Recycle – Use for a different purpose with significant modification• Commonality – Uniform, common systems & components• Interoperability – Joint standards, open/evolutionary architectures

• In addition to resource conservation, some of the objectives of the Human Space Exploration Architecture are the following:

• Provide technologies and systems that improve life on Earth• Enhance sustainability, affordability, robustness, and reliability• Minimize the impact to the both the Earth’s and space environment

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Exploration Benefits our Economy, Energy, Environment, Healthcare & Education

Architecture Game-Changing Technologies (Spin-in) & Architecture Required Technologies with Large impact on Terrestrial Applications (Spin-off)

Game-Changing Technology: Stellar Opportunities & Energy Example

Transformational technologies -- System level technologies that cause major changes in the accepted way of doing things causing a fundamental change in the way a technology solution is approached– Require a system change– Example: Change power systems from energy storage to

power beaming

• Revolutionary technologies -- Component level technologies with highly improved performance or capability, which eventually replace currently dominant technologies– Require significant modifications at the component level– Example: Change from batteries to fuel cells

Rapidly-evolving technologies -- Technologies with rapid incremental improvements in performance of established products– The technology is the same but will have far superior

performance to current technologies– Example: Solar cells with increased efficiency

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Emerging technology area, if infused into exploration architecture, would provide benefits that ripple beyond its adopted system area. These technologies benefit architecture elements beyond their own, and foster NASA's leadership in innovative technology use/application.

Space Exploration Innovation & Evolution Solutions

Technology Development / Maturation• Advanced Batteries & Energy Storage• Advanced Flywheels• Regenerative Fuel Cells• Hydrogen Storage• Thermal Energy Storage• Fission Power Systems• Stirling Power Converters• High Efficiency Photovoltaics• Advanced Solar Power Generation• Intelligent Power Management & Distribution• Wireless Power Transmission• Space Solar Power Systems• Embedded Power Technologies• Electric Vehicles for Surface Mobility

Terrestrial Applications• Electric vehicles• Green buildings• Facility backup power systems• Compact power sources for

consumer electronics• Solar power generation• Power generation from waste heat• Smart power grid• Small nuclear power systems

Enabling Human Missions

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Putting it All Together for Continual Refinement:Innovation in the Development of the Exploration Architecture

Exploration POD Architecture

Partnerships• Internationals• Commercial• Other government

agencies

DIO Technology Review Panel

• Integrated Architecture needs/technology list (ETDP and HRP)

• Customer agreements• Technology white papers

Innovations and Concept Validation

• Innovations (BAAs, Blue Sky, Concept Tiger Team)

• Concept Validation (Lunar Surface Ops Sim, Analog missions & field Tests)

Science Surface Scenarios• Outpost operations• Local site operations• Extend range

operations

Key Strategic Analysis Areas Integrated Exploration Architecture

Science Surface Scenarios

Partnerships

DIO Technology Review Panel

Innovations and Concept

Validation

Exploration POD

Architecture

Refinement of Exploration Point of Departure Architecture to Increase Satisfaction of Space Exploration Policy Objectives

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Exploration Innovation Summary

• Innovation across all NASA exploration elements will enable a more sustainable, yet aggressive future mission portfolio while addressing broader national needs in health, energy and climate, national security, STEM education

• Real exploration constraints, challenges, and opportunities are driving vital innovation for sustainability, affordability, reliability, recyclability/repurposing, commonality, and interoperability

• A bold space exploration future must realize and leverage key innovation opportunities in the near term and going forward

• Innovation is a fundamental element in the development of the Exploration Architecture and will continue to expand.

• ESMD is committed to “institutionalizing innovation” – a culture to invite, capture, implement, recognize and reward employees for innovative solutions – both the successes and smart failures.

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Questions?

www.nasa.gov/exploration