Norwich Inflatable Mars Solar Array NIMSA March 6

Norwich Inflatable Mars Solar Array (NIMSA) March 6 th, 2018 Tyler Azure, ME Nicole Goebel, ME Charlene Huyler, ECE Laurie King, ME Braeden Ostepchuk, ME Major Brian S. Bradke, Ph. D, USAF Stephen Fitzhugh, Ph. D

Presentation Overview ▪ Introduction ▪ System Architecture ▪ Conceptual Operations ▪ Performance ▪ Conclusions ▪ Questions Slide 2

Introduction

Slide 4

NASA BIG Idea Competition ▪ Key Criteria: ▪ Large array compacted into small launch volume ▪ Autonomous deployment and operation ▪ Dust abatement Slide 5

Functional Block Diagram 1. 0 - Launch the system 2. 0 - Withstand travel to Mars 3. 0 – Autonomous deployment 4. 0 - Create and store energy 5. 0 - Survive on Mars Slide 6

System Architecture

Central Housing ▪ Rectangular structure at center of array ▪ Made of carbon fiber ▪ Secured to lander ▪ Houses key components Slide 8

Inflatable Structure ▪ Consists of 10 double-chambered air channels ▪ Made of Vectran 52 m 26 m 20. 38 m Central Housing Location Slide 9

Inflatable Structure ▪ Vertical and horizontal channel dimensioning Slide 10

Vectran ▪ Multifilament yarn spun from liquid crystal polymer ▪ Thermal cycling: -150°C to 100°C ▪ Five times stronger than steel per mass ▪ Almost twice as strong as Kevlar per mass ▪ Used in Mars Exploration Rover and Mars Pathfinder Slide 11

Vaisala BAROCAP® Sensor ▪ Silicon-based micromechanical pressure sensors ▪ Used on NASA’s Mars Curiosity Rover ▪ Key properties: ▪ Good elasticity ▪ Low hysteresis ▪ Excellent repeatability ▪ Low temperature dependence ▪ Superior long-term stability Used with written permission from Vaisala Slide 12

Ne. Xt Triple Junction (XTJ) Prime Solar Cells ▪ Ga. As – very resistant to radiation damage ▪ Solar efficiency of 30. 7% ▪ Thickness of 80 µm ▪ Mass of 50 mg/cm 2 ▪ Flexible mesh backing composed of fiberglass Slide 13

Inflation System ▪ Redundant Compressors ▪ 2 compressors per air channel ▪ Utilizes Mars atmosphere ▪ Operate via control system From JPL Photo. Journal Slide 14

Air Squared, Inc. MOXIE CO 2 Compressors ▪ Designed for NASA 2020 Mission ▪ Matches atmospheric pressure on Mars to that on Earth ▪ Lightweight, durable, reliable Used with written permission from Air Squared Slide 15

Dust Mitigation Electrodynamic dust shield (EDS) ▪ Sending voltage through PET and ITO film for 2 minutes every sol to repel charged dust particles Slide 16

Electrodynamic Dust Shield ▪ Transparent ▪ Flexible shield placed over PV cells ▪ Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET)/Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) ▪ Temperature resistance up to 120 deg. C Slide 17

Anchoring ▪ NIMSA Central Housing secured integration with Lander Slide 18

Pathfinder Lander ▪ Previously used on the Mars Rover Expedition ▪ Composed of composite materials ▪ Design will be modified to house the NIMSA ▪ Consists of a base and three sides in the shape of a tetrahedron Slide 19

Conceptual Operations

Launch Configuration ▪ Volume < 10 m 3 ▪ Mass < 700 kg ▪ Inflatable and PV cells rolled up above Central Housing Slide 21

Lander Integration ▪ Pathfinder Lander ▪ Attached to one petal of Lander ▪ Deploys on top of the open lander ▪ Regardless of landing, NIMSA will be upright for deployment Slide 22

Deployment ▪ Clamping mechanism releases ▪ Gravity naturally begins unraveling process Slide 23

Deployment ▪ Compressors initialize ▪ Compressed air begins inflation Slide 24

Deployment ▪ NIMSA unfolds to reveal all PV cells ▪ Compressors operate until fully inflated Slide 25

Operating State ▪ Bang-Bang control system ▪ Used to maintain uniformity of inflation Slide 26

Operating State Slide 27

Enviromental Considerations ▪ Materials and technology designed for: ▪ Thermal cycling ▪ UV degradation ▪ Strong winds ▪ Dust accumulation ▪ Damage from debris, storms Slide 28

Performance

Power Output Table 1. Average solar radiation per sol for each location. Table 2. Annual energy output for each location Table 3. Energy output per sol day for each location Slide 30

Power Usage ▪ Inflation of NIMSA estimated to occur in less than 5 hours ▪ MOXIE CO 2 Compressor ▪ Operates between 0. 105 - 0. 160 k. W per hour ▪ Total power consumption: 1. 46 k. Wh ▪ Electrodynamic Dust Shield ▪ Area = 31. 2 m 2 ▪ Operates 2 minutes ▪ Power requirement 10 W/m 2 ▪ Total power consumption: 0. 0103 k. Wh Slide 31

UV Degradation ▪ 5. 25 s. V radiation exposure over 10 years ▪ 89. 56 s. V: Radiation exposure that Vectran can endure Slide 32

Conclusions

System Requirements Criteria: How criteria was met: ▪ Large array area ▪ Inflatable structure ▪ Compacted volume ▪ Flexible PV cells ▪ Durable ▪ Vectran, single-fault tolerant ▪ Simple ▪ Few components and moving parts ▪ Low mass ▪ Lander integration, use of Martian environment, and lightweight components Slide 34

System Requirements Criteria: How criteria was met: ▪ Dust abatement ▪ Mesh gaps, Martian environment, and EDS ▪ Power output ▪ Autonomous ▪ Space grade solar cells, produces over 40 k. Wh per sol day ▪ Pressure sensors inside air channels Slide 35

Summary Slide 36

Questions?

References ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ https: //quotefancy. com/quote/947650/Buzz-Aldrin-Mars-is-there-waiting-to-be-reached “NASA. ” NASA, www. nasa. gov/. Web. 2 Oct. 2017. Technology. N. p. , n. d. Web. 2 Oct. 2017. “Competition Basics. ” Big Idea, NASA, bigidea. nianet. org/competition-basics/. Web. 25 Sep. 2017. "Vectran™ - Kuraray America", Kuraray America, 2017. [Online]. Available: http: //www. kuraray. us. com/products/fibers/vectran/. [Accessed: 05 - Oct 2017]. "Spectrolab : : The World's leading provider of compound semiconductor and lighting products", Spectrolab. com, 2017. [Online]. Available: http: //www. spectrolab. com/solarcells. htm. [Accessed: 30 - Oct- 2017]. Mazumder, M. , Sharma, R. , Biris, A. , Zhang, J. , Calle, C. and Zahn, M. (2007). Self-Cleaning Transparent Dust Shields for Protecting Solar Panels and Other Devices. Particulate Science and Technology, 25(1), pp. 5 -20. "Air Squared Awarded Contract to Develop Scroll Compressor in NASA MOXIE Demonstration Unit for Mars 2020 Mission | Air Squared Scroll Technology", Air Squared Scroll Technology, 2017. [Online]. Available: https: //airsquared. com/news/scroll-compressor-jpl-mars-2020/. [Accessed: 26 - Sep- 2017]. B. Ratnakumar, M. Smart, L. Whitcanack, R. Ewell and S. Surampudi, "Li-Ion Rechargeable Batteries on Mars Exploration Rovers", Trs. jpl. nasa. gov, 2017. [Online]. Available: https: //trs. jpl. nasa. gov/bitstream/handle/2014/38400/05 -3884. pdf? sequence=1&is. Allowed=y. [Accessed: 04 - Nov- 2017]. "Program Cost Estimates", Hq. nasa. gov, 2017. [Online]. Available: https: //www. hq. nasa. gov/office/codeb/budget/LIFCY 982. htm#MARS 98. [Accessed: 02 - Dec- 2017]. https: //www. vaisala. com/en/press-releases/2012 -08/mars-rover-curiosity-equipped-vaisalas-pressure-and-humidity-sensors https: //www. vaisala. com/sites/default/files/documents/CEN-TIA-BAROCAP-Technology-description-B 210845 EN-B. pdf Kirk Shaffer email https: //photojournal. jpl. nasa. gov/catalog/PIA 16460 newcoman, V. (2018). Electrodynamic Experiences. [online] Team NEWco. Me. R of Epic Challenge Joensuu. Available at: https: //newcomerweb. wordpress. com/2017/01/28/electrodynamic-experiences/ [Accessed 19 Feb. 2018]. https: //www. popsci. com/we-finally-know-what-happened-to-most-mars-missing-atmosphere http: //www. alphabetics. info/international/tag/dta-gview-software/ https: //spinoff. nasa. gov/Spinoff 2009/ps_5. html Slide 38