Inflatable composite habitat structures for lunar and mars exploration

Recent advances in materials technology have improved the performance capabilities of inflatable, flexible composite structures, which have increased their potential for use in numerous space applications. Space suits, which are comprised of flexible composite components, are a good example of the successful use of inflatable composite structures in space. Space suits employ inflatables technology to provide a stand alone spacecraft for astronauts during extra-vehicular activity. A natural extension of this application of inflatables technology is in orbital or planetary habitat structures. NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) is currently investigating flexible composite structures deployed via inflation for use as habitats, transfer vehicles and depots for continued exploration of the Moon and Mars.

Inflatable composite structures are being investigated because they offer significant benefits over conventional structures for aerospace applications. Inflatable structures are flexible and can be packaged in smaller and more complex shaped volumes, which result in the selection of smaller launch vehicles which dramatically reduce launch costs. Inflatable composite structures are typically manufactured from materials that have higher strength to weight ratios than conventional systems and are therefore lower in mass. Mass reductions are further realized because of the tailorability of inflatable composite structures, which allow the strength of the system to be concentrated where needed. Flexible composite structures also tend to be more damage tolerant due to their “forgiveness” as compared to rigid mechanical systems. In addition, inflatables have consistently proven to be lower in both development and manufacturing costs.

Several inflatable habitat development programs are discussed with their increasing maturation toward use on a flight mission. Selected development programs being discussed include several NASA Langley Research Center habitat programs that were conducted in the 1960s, the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory inflatable space station study, the NASA JSC deployable inflatable Lunar habitat study, and the inflatable Mars TransHab study and test program currently ongoing at NASA JSC. Relevant technology developments made by ILC Dover are also presented.     

Intersatellite laser crosslinks

Intersatellite laser crosslinks (ISL) provide a method of communication that has significantly increased the data throughput that can be managed over typical RF communication systems, and has significant growth potential. Optical communications offer very wide bandwidths which can be effectively utilized with wavelength division multiplexing techniques. The data rate growth potential is well beyond the few gigabit per second range of RF technology. The use of lasers in transmitting optical data takes advantage of its small wavelength and low beam divergence to send highly directed signals over significant distances with controlled losses in intensity. The high directivity of the laser aids in resistance to jamming communications between satellites, or between satellites and ground stations. Various intersatellite laser optical crosslink system are discussed including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Laser Intersatellite Transmission Experiment (LITE), the McDonnell Douglas Electronic Systems Company Laser Crosslink System, and The Ball Aerospace Optical Intersatellite Link,in order to display the various subsystem and their implementations. Link budget calculations are performed on the most commonly used modulation formats to determine system parameters necessary to close the crosslink. Background is provided on primal system architectures and methods of laser communication, as well as presently implemented systems. The authors provide some insights on where ISL systems have opportunity to increase their data throughput and reduce acquisition time     

Specifying an IVI class for digital test instrumentation

This paper presents an overview of work being done by Teradyne in conjunction with the IVI Foundation to specify an IVI class for digital instrumentation. The Interchangeable Virtual Instruments (IVI) Foundation was formed in August 1997 to define standard specifications for programming common test instrument capabilities. The paper will present the major architectural aspects of digital test instrumentation and how those features can be grouped into classes for the purpose of writing an instrument independent driver. Topics discussed will include derivation of capability classes, class extensions, simulation, and range checking. Examples of how the IVI digital class would apply to the Teradyne M9-Series Digital Test Instrument will be included. Conclusions will summarize the unique attributes of digital test instrumentation, the benefits which can be achieved through standardization, and the tradeoffs associated with utilizing class extensions