4/3/2015
Space in the News: Revolutionary Engine Could
Fuel Human Life on Mars
Today’s Class: Preparing for Human Exploration of Mars
April 3, 2015
Presenter: Jose (Pepe) Feu Vidal
Homework:
1. Reading: The Planet Mercury at
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury_%28planet%29
The Leidenfrost effect occurs when a liquid
comes into near contact with a surface much
hotter than its boiling point.
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Astronomy 2020 – Space Astronomy & Exploration
Astronomy 2020 – Space Astronomy & Exploration
Last Class
Clicker Question: Where is most of the
water on Mars?
Comparison of the Terrestrial Planets
Impact Craters & Wind Erosion on Mars
Role of the distance from the Sun
Geological processes that shaped Mars
– Volcanism
– Erosion
– Water
A) in its clouds
B) in its polar caps and subsurface ground ice
C) frozen on the peaks of its tall volcanoes
D) in deep underground deposits
E) distributed evenly throughout its atmosphere
• Polar Ice Caps
Astronomy 2020 – Space Astronomy & Exploration
Astronomy 2020 – Space Astronomy & Exploration
Clicker Question: Where is most of the
water on Mars?
Today’s Class
A) in its clouds
B) in its polar caps and subsurface ground ice
C) frozen on the peaks of its tall volcanoes
D) in deep underground deposits
E) distributed evenly throughout its atmosphere
Astronomy 2020 – Space Astronomy & Exploration
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The Vision for a Mars mission
The Global Exploration Roadmap
NASA’s path forward
Evolutionary capabilities
Private trips to Mars?
Astronomy 2020 – Space Astronomy & Exploration
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4/3/2015
Global Exploration Roadmap
Vision Basis for Cross Cutting Mars Exploration
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video
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MARS IS HARD
THERE & BACK
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The ability to launch a very powerful rocket
High-reliability spacecraft systems
Size requirements of crew capsule
Validation of performance of SLS and Orion in
the deep space environment
(hotter, colder, radiation)
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Deep space navigation
Rendezvous and docking
Life support systems
High speed re-entry
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Bone loss
Radiation
Ocular degeneration
Hygiene
HAPPY & HEALTHY
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Air, water, food
Waste containment
Psychological impact
Low- / no-gravity
Medical emergencies
WELL EQUIPPED & PRODUCTIVE
‒ Sample handling
‒ Advanced training
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Situational awareness
‒ Microgravity operations
‒ Space suits
and tools
‒ Mission planning
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and decision making
Crew relationships
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4/3/2015
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Mars 2020
Collaboration Among SMD, HEOMD and STMD
Mars 2020 will seek signs of past life on Mars, collect and store a
set of soil and rock samples that could be returned to Earth in
the future, and test new technology to benefit future robotic and
human exploration of Mars.
HEOMD / SMD / STMD are jointly sponsoring investigations to
address high priority strategic knowledge gaps and technology
development objectives for Human Exploration
• Mars Entry, Descent and Landing Instrumentation (MEDLI) to
refine atmospheric entry models to inform future landing
system design
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• Exploration technology payloads that make significant progress
towards filling at least one major Strategic Knowledge Gap.
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What about the costs of a Human mission
to Mars?
• $1.5 trillion?!
Astronomy 2020 – Space Astronomy & Exploration
Private Trips to Mars?
Mars One
SpaceX
Dragon
Astronomy 2020 – Space Astronomy & Exploration
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