Grant Anderson

Feasibility analysis for a manned mars free-return mission in 2018

In 1998 Patel et al searched for Earth-Mars free-return trajectories that leave Earth, fly by Mars, and return to Earth without any deterministic maneuvers after Trans-Mars Injection. They found fast trajectory opportunities occurring two times every 15 years with a 1.4-year duration, significantly less than most Mars free return trajectories, which take up to 3.5 years. This paper investigates these fast trajectories. It also determines the launch and life support feasibility of flying such a mission using hardware expected to be available in time for an optimized fast trajectory opportunity in January, 2018.

Demonstration of Metabolic Heat Regenerated Temperature Swing Adsorption Technology

Patent-pending Metabolic heat regenerated Temperature Swing Adsorption (MTSA) technology is currently being investigated for removal and rejection of CO2 and heat from a Portable Life Support System (PLSS) to a Martian environment. The metabolically-produced CO2 present in the vent loop gas is collected using a CO2 selective adsorbent that has been cooled via a heat exchanger to near CO2 sublimation temperatures (approx.195K) with liquid CO2 obtained from Martian resources. Once the adsorbent is fully loaded, fresh warm, moist vent loop (approx.300K) is used to heat the adsorbent via another heat exchanger. The adsorbent will then reject the collected CO2 to the Martian ambient. Two beds are used to achieve continuous CO2 removal by cycling between the cold and warm conditions for adsorbent loading and regeneration, respectively. Small experiments have already been completed to show that an adsorbent can be cycled between these PLSS operating conditions to provide adequate conditions for CO2 removal from a simulated vent loop. One of the remaining technical challenges is extracting enough heat from the vent loop to warm the adsorbent in an appreciable time frame to meet the required adsorb/desorb cycle. The other key technical aspect of the technology is employing liquid CO2 to achieve the appropriate cooling. A technology demonstrator has been designed, built and tested to investigate the feasibility of 1) warming the adsorbent using the moist vent loop, 2) cooling the adsorbent using liquid CO2, and 3) using these two methods in conjunction to successfully remove CO2 from a vent loop and reject it to Mars ambient. Both analytical and numerical methods were used to perform design calculations and trades. The demonstrator was built and tested. The design analysis and testing results are presented along with recommendations for future development required to increase the maturity of the technology.

The ABS (Autonomous Biological System): Spaceflight Results from a Bioregenerative Closed Life Support System

Materially-closed aquatic life support systems containing vascular plants, invertebrate animals, algae and microbes were tested in three space flight experiments with ground controls. Termed Autonomous Biological Systems (ABS), the 0.9 liter systems were completely isolated from spacecraft life support systems and cabin atmosphere contaminants, and needed minimal intervention from astronauts. The first experiment, aboard the Space Shuttle in 1996 for 10 days, was the first time that aquatic angiosperms were successfully grown in space. The second and third experiments aboard the Mir space station had 4-month durations, in 1996-97 and 1997-98, and were the first time that higher organisms (aquatic invertebrate animals) completed their life cycles in space. Compared to the ground control ABS, the flight units showed clearer water and slightly higher total organic carbon and soluble free amino acids. ABS units from all 3 flights returned as diverse and complex ecosystems. The ABS are the first completely bioregenerative, closed ecological life support systems to thrive in space, demonstrating their efficacy for research in space biology and gravitational ecology.

Paragon's experience in successful technology development and infusion within the SBIR program

Paragon Space Development Corporation (Paragon) has been honored by NASA as a “Hallmark Success Story” due to our ability to incorporate radiator development technology into the Orion Program winning bid by Lockheed Martin. The Paragon Dive System™ used for contaminated-water diving, currently being manufactured for the Navy, was also named one of the “Top 10 Inventions” of the year by Popular Science magazine (June 2008). Both of these technology development efforts found their root in the Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) program. Paragon has had an almost unparalleled success in SBIR technology development with a “win rate” of almost 80% and a continuation of Phase I efforts to Phase II for all but one SBIRs through eight years of effort. We attribute this performance to a number of factors: 1) A corporate culture that encourages and awards innovation, 2) Efforts to understand the customers ultimate needs and constraints and to incorporate that knowledge into the proposal stage, as well as during the development effort, 3) A very structured process of SBIR proposal development including an emphasis on technical objectives and outcomes of each task, 4) Disciplined execution of programs to cost and budget, 5) Strong internal investment and commitment to success in higher risk programs, and 6) Rigorous exercise and protection of the garnered SBIR data rights. Each one of these elements are expanded upon and explained in more detail within this paper with clear actions that the reader can take to focus their efforts on the successful development and infusion of technology with an emphasis on the NASA SBIR process and outcomes. In addition, some suggestions will be made as to policies that could be changed by government agencies to improve the process and remove obstacles. These will include timely funding and contract negotiations, agency broadcasting of technology needs and desires, and increased emphasis on demonstrations that will speak directly to the “Technology Readiness Level”.

The design and operation of a lunar dust seal testing system

Depending on your perspective, the need to accommodate shaft seals to mitigate lunar dust hazards is either an interesting mechanical engineering problem or a highly critical technology not yet proven. Due to the unique environment and the inability to test “true” solutions on Earth, the authors consider the solutions to critical seal design and testing as an ‘unproven’ technology hurdle that can result in years of delay and significant cost risk. Apollo attempted to mitigate dust effect…and did not succeed. Working with University of Arizona students, Paragon has specified, design and initially tested a “lunar dust seals test apparatus” that allows for the testing of multiple seals under simulated vacuum conditions using lunar dust simulant. This apparatus is being used to test sealing solution innovations conceived by Paragon engineers. However, it is true that NO testing apparatus on Earth can test seals in a true “lunar” environment and, ultimately, testing will need to be done. 12

Activity-based habitable volume estimating for human spaceflight vehicles

Accurate estimation of required working volumes is a vital aspect of the design process for any vehicle involving humans. This is all the more important when such a vehicle must serve as the crews sole habitable volume during a mission of any duration in the harsh environment of space.

Autonomous biological system—an unique method of conducting long duration space flight experiments for pharmaceutical and gravitational biology research

Paragon Space Development Corporation (SDC) has developed an Autonomous Biological System (ABS) that can be flown in space to provide for long term growth and breeding of aquatic plants, animals, microbes and algae. The system functions autonomously and in isolation from the spacecraft life support systems and with no mandatory crew time required for function or observation. The ABS can also be used for long term plant and animal life support and breeding on a free flyer space craft. The ABS units are a research tool for both pharmaceutical and basic space biological sciences. Development flights in May of 1996 and September, 1996 through January, 1997 were largely successful, showing both that the hardware and life systems are performing with beneficial results, though some surprises were still found. The two space flights, plus the current flight now on Mir, are expected to result in both a scientific and commercially usable system for breeding and propagation of animals and plants in space.