MarsFlyer Potential Precursor Mission

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MarsFlyer Potential Precursor Mission John S. Langford, Ph.D May 2013 jsl@aurora.

1 MarsFlyer Potential Precursor Mission John S. Langford, Ph.D May 2013 / Aurora Flight Sciences Corporation 9950 Wakeman Drive Manassas, VA (703) AURORA PROPRIETARY

2 Why use airplanes for planetary research? Airplanes will play the same role in planetary exploration that they have played in terrestrial exploration: Surveillance & reconnaissance Remote sensing In situ sampling Payload delivery When temporal and spatial precision matter Solar system bodies with potential for near-term dynamic flight: Mars Venus Titan 2

3 Unique Mars Airplane Design Challenges Low Atmospheric Density Low dynamic pressure requires low wing loading (aided by lower gravity) Low flight Reynolds number degrades aerodynamic performance Little freestream mass flow available for propulsion system cooling or generating thrust Atmospheric Composition (mainly CO 2 ) Lack of O 2 leads to non-air-breathing propulsion Lower speed of sound introduces compressibility effects at lower flight speeds Transit to Mars Launch and entry vehicles place strict geometric constraints on airplane Additional thermal and acceleration loads not normally considered for airplanes Transition from ballistic entry capsule to flying airplane is a critical design point 3

4 Brief history of Mars airplane research NASA-Dryden Mini Sniffer Developmental Sciences Aurora Jason concept at first Discovery Workshop NASA Mars Airplane Project (MAP) NASA Langley ARES Mars Scout I Mission in 2001 Successful deployment demonstration from 103,000 on September 19, 2002 Selected for Phase A in December 2002 Phoenix Lander ultimately selected NASA Langley ARES proposed for Mars Scout II MAVEN orbiter ultimately selected 4

5 The Mars Airplane Project (1999) NASA considered celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Wright Brother s by flying an aircraft on another planet A major competition was held in the Fall of 1999 Orbital, Aurora, Draper, and SAIC teamed Lockheed/AeroVironment also bid Langley was the lead NASA center NASA canceled the project on November 5 in order to free up funds for replacement to Mars Climate Orbiter Before a winner was announced 5

6 Unique Science that Complements and Extends the Core Mars Program Extends Viking, MGS, Odyssey, Mars Express and potential MRO discoveries Bridges the scale and resolution measurement gaps between orbiters and landers Survey of scientifically compelling terrain, inaccessible from the surface

7 ARES Mission Overview Transfer Spacecraft to Mars Mars Insertion Interplanetary Trajectory Aircraft Release and Deployment Launch Sept/Oct 07 Aboard Delta II 2925 Mars Flight Nov 18, minute duration 750km range 7

8 ARES What Was Proposed Complementary science payload to address Near-Surface Atmospheric Chemistry and Crustal Magnetism themes Video Camera Mass Spectrometer Magnetometer (2) Context Camera Point Spectrometer Single large airplane outfitted with heritage subsystems Dedicated communications asset via a flyby spacecraft to provide continuous data return during the airplane flight

9 ARES The Science Mission

10 ARES Risk Area - Deployment and Pullout 3 1 2

Deployments complete x 10 4 3.25 3.2 3.15 Altitude loss: 3% error 3.

11 Successful Deployment and Pullout Performance in Mars Relevant Conditions Tail Deployment Left wing deployment Right wing deployment Deployments complete x Altitude loss: 3% error 3.1 Altitude (m) Time (s) 11

12 A Uniquely Cross-Enterprise Endeavor Mars Exploration Atmospheric Chemistry, Crustal Magnetism, Mineralogy & Geology The search for life Aeronautical Technology High Mach, low Reynolds number Atmospheric entry, deployment, transition to winged flight Earth Science Regional-scale stratospheric measurements Vertical profiles Education & Public Outreach STEM One NASA at its best 12

13 Forward from Here The first airplane to fly above another planet will be an event of historic proportions On par with Montgolfier, Wrights, Lindbergh, Vostok 1, Apollo 11 To date, perceived as too risky for the science mission directorate and too much of a science mission by the aeronautics directorate An affordable precursor mission that will capture the public imagination and demonstrate vision and leadership 13

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