Smallsats to the Moon

The ‘picks and shovels’ presentation

Adam M. BakerAndy Phipps, Phil Davies, Xavier Alabart, Martin Sweeting

Overview

Background to SSTL, UK & international interests in the Moon

UK interests: Space Exploration Working Group

Economics

- Key UK stakeholder requirements,

SSTL’s recent study work: MoonLITE and MoonRaker- MoonLITE in some more detail

Potential commercial lunar services

Communications relay

Current UK & SSTL activities

Magnolia

Why are we going to the Moon?

Growing global interest in a sustainable return to the Moon, for exploration, science and exploitation

The UK wishes to play a key role in this international effort

SSTL has been studying how to apply its low cost approach to Lunar exploration for many years

The time for study is over

SSTL Heritage: Hardware

GIOVE-A

Advanced platformsTopSat

Beijing-1

• Science

• Navigation

• Communications

• Techdemo

Moving beyond LEO for

Advanced miniaturised avionicsAdvanced studies

Why is it worth doing this?

>12 lunar missions in 10 years, most landing on the surface

Missions have data relay & storage, navigation, health monitoring requirements

ESA: The Future of European Space ExplorationNation Mission Date Lander / orbiter Japan Selene 2007 Orbiter India Chandrayaan-1 2008 Orbiter US LRO (RLEP1) 2008 Orbiter US LCROSS 2008 Lander (impactor) China Change’e-1 2008 Orbiter Japan Lunar-A 2010 Lander (penetrators) US Lunar Precursor Robotic Pathfinder

(LPRP) 2010 Lander

US International Lunar Observatory 2010? Lander Germany Stuttgart IFR Lunar microsat 2010 Orbiter China Change’e-2 2013 Lander + Rover Japan Selene-2 2013 Lander + Rover + Impactor Russia LunaGlob 2013-2015 Landers ESA Aurora MSR precursor 2013+ Lander, possibly orbiter US Manned landings (several) 2018+ Landers

UK interests: SEWG

The UK Space Exploration Working Group, formed Nov 2006, to:

• Review current global plans for space exploration;

• Assess whether or not a rationale exists for UK participation;

• Provide advice to BNSC as to which areas the UK should focus on if it wishes to engage in such activities.

Crafting a comprehensive report due for publication shortly, covering:

• International efforts

• The science case for space exploration

• Technology & knowledge transfer benefits from space exploration

• Commercial considerations

• Outreach, education and societal impacts

Earlier this year…

March April

JOINT STATEMENT OF INTENT FOR COOPERATION IN THE FIELD OF SPACE EXPLORATION BY THE

UNITED STATES NASA AND THE UNITED KINGDOM BNSC

“…cooperative efforts may range from the exchange of information related to research and development to actual hardware contributions for particular missions…”

SSTL – recent study workLow cost lunar exploration options, carried out in 2006

MoonLITEPolar orbiter for communication, navigation orbital remote sensing

Multiple micro-impactors, deployed to far-side and near-side, conducting in-situ geophysics (heat flow, seismometry)

Launch in 2010/11

MoonRakerSmall soft lander for northern near-side geophysics & geochemistry (in situ dating)

Micro-rover for surface mobility (<1 km range) and multiple site sampling

Launch in 2013

MoonLITE Orbiter

Requirements• Low cost, heritage Launch Vehicle

ideally PSLV

• Payload 4 x UK Developed ImpactorsCommunications relay (IP option inc router) ,

navigation signal generator demo.

• Heritage baseline for mission assuranceSSTL GIOVE-A bus

OBC695 rad-tol. flight computer (NASA / Chandrayaan-1)

PA developed for 7yr+ commercial LEO missions

Structure 131.0Comms 8.4Power 28.7Solar Panels 15.5AOCS 44.1Propulsion 71.5OBDH 4.3Environmental 16.6Harness 30.0Payload 162.8System Margin (platform) 35.0Total (Dry) 547.9Propellant (Transfer,LOI,OM) 279.1AOCS Propellant 10Propellant (Total) 289.1Total (Launch) 837.0

Challenges to the low cost approach:>1kms-1 deltaV (LOI and stationkeeping)

(low cost bipropellant v. monopropellant hydrazine)

Lightweight, mass efficient structure

Straightforward Assembly and Integration

Requirement for Ranging transponders

LOI and Lunar orbit Operations in keeping with SSTL low cost automated approach

The economic factor

UK Space Strategy 2003-2006, strategic objectives

• Astronomy, planetary and environmental sciences• Increased productivity by using space in government,

science & commerce• Develop innovative space technologies & systems, to

improve the quality of life

∴ Economic return from any UK government investment is a REQUIREMENT

1. Collaboration2. Explore potential commercial returns 3. Enabling key science4. Team UK effort5. Education, outreach

So how do we justify exploration, and a UK mission?

Potential Services

Telecommunications Relay System

StorageSystem

Health MonitoringSystem Subsystems

Data relayMoon / Earth

Data relayMoon / Moon

EmergencyBackup

ExternalHardDisk

NavigationInformation

Spaceweatherwarning

‘Non-mission products’supply to 3rd party

OBC695 for NASA / Chandrayaan-1

Short Term (<10 yrs)

Habitat sub-

systems

Logistics resupply

(Lunar) in-orbit

servicing

New Materials

Propellant manufactureMining

Scientific instruments, value added

products

e.g. solar power

beaming

Inter-activity

Support Space

Tourism

HabitatIn Orbit ServicesExploitation

Delivery &

retrievalEnergyMedia

Long Term

*List of Services and Products not exhaustive, from NASA Vision commercialization opportunities and other studies available.

Mechanisms?

Landers will all require data relay:-Low rate 0.01 – 1.5Mbps links for critical data

High rate 100-150Mbps links, science data, HD video

No backup data relay on NASA missions (unlike Mars)

Geolocation of surface assets for tracking desirable

Revenue streams for‘Pay as you transmit’ : Backup data relay

Temporary data storage

UK licensing of the standardSale of services e.g. secure data links, navigation for

safety of life, broadcasting

Opportunity!

Bring commerce into the UK space (exploration) strategyBusiness conceivably offering smooth(ish) growthPotential for a consortium of companies to develop a service provider modelBroad (international) market: Agencies and non-govtExtensive UK experience in Public / Private Financing…and…Stimulate UK economic growth Enhance international cooperationGenerate scientific discoveriesDevelop the workforce of tomorrow

Backup for lunar orbiters and essential support for lunar landers, as well as future international lunar base

Communications relay

Current SSTL & UK activities

UK SEWG report to be published (September 2007)

⇓UK Space Strategy 2007-2010 (late 2007)

⇓UK lunar impactor / penetrator consortium

(4 impactors + EM by 2010)UK National lunar mission

(launch in 2011)

⇑SSTL currently working on

• MSR precursor mission design with ThalesAlenia Space• Mission elements for ESA exploration architecture

Magnolia

Magnolia

SSTL has been awarded a contract for the study phase of an international collaborative lunar orbiter mission, Magnolia.

The Magnolia contract is between Mississippi State University (MSU) and SSTL, under a NASA cooperative agreement.

The first contract phase will run for 9-months, culminating in a preliminary mission design.

• The contract includes a package of training by SSTL and the University of Surrey for MSU and NASA Stennis Space Center staff

…recap…

Background to SSTL and the UK interest in the Moon

UK interests and stakeholder requirements- Economics and Exploration

SSTL’s recent study work: MoonLITE and MoonRaker- MoonLITE in some more detail

Potential commercial lunar services

Commercial benefits of comm relay

Current UK & SSTL activities, inc. Magnolia

What about the ‘metric’ ?- Smallsats: 1 piece of a larger system- Cost effective way to support exploration

(the ‘techdemo’ argument)- Scientific, business case, educational value

Thank you…

For further information contactDr. Adam M. BakerSurrey Satellite Technology Ltd.Tycho House, Surrey Research

Park, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 7YE, United Kingdom

Tel: +44 1483 803803, Fax: +44 1483 803804

Email: a.baker@sstl.co.uk

Web: www.sstl.co.uk