Raumfahrttechnik und Extraterrestrik
Advances in Space Technology and Exploration
ISSN 2747-9374
ISSN 2747-9374
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5
Dieser Kurzbericht beleuchtet die Einsatzmöglichkeiten von Kleinsatelliten in der extraterrestrischen Forschung und zeigt auf welche technologischen Herausforderungen sich bei ihrem Einsatz ergeben. Die präsentierten Ergebnisse sind Teil der SATEX Untersuchung (FKZ 50OO2222). In diesem Dokument werden zunächst die allgemeinen Einsatzmöglichkeiten von Kleinsatelliten in der Extraterrestrik anhand ausgewählter Beispielmissionen beleuchtet. Daraufhin erfolgt die Erörterung spezifischer technischer Herausforderungen und Umweltbedingungen bei cislunaren und interplanetaren Kleinsatellitenmissionen, gefolgt von einer kurzen Präsentation von Nutzerwünsche aus Deutschland für Missionen zur Erforschung des Weltraums. Zum Abschluss werden zehn konkrete, im Rahmen der Untersuchung ermittelte, Missionsideen vorgestellt und bewertet. Schließlich erfolgt die Zusammenfassung der wichtigsten Erkenntnisse und Empfehlungen.
3
Lightning has fascinated humanity since the beginning of our existence. Different types of lightning like sprites and blue jets were discovered, and many more are theorized. However, it is very likely that these phenomena are not exclusive to our home planet. Venus’s dense and active atmosphere is a place where lightning is to be expected. Missions like Venera, Pioneer, and Galileo have carried instruments to measure electromagnetic activity. These measurements have indeed delivered results. However, these results are not clear. They could be explained by other effects like cosmic rays, plasma noise, or spacecraft noise. Furthermore, these lightning seem different from those we know from our home planet. In order to tackle these issues, a different approach to measurement is proposed. When multiple devices in different spacecraft or locations can measure the same atmospheric discharge, most other explanations become increasingly less likely. Thus, the suggested instrument and method of VELEX incorporates multiple spacecraft. With this approach, the question about the existence of lightning on Venus could be settled.
2
The first step towards aerial planetary exploration has been made. Ingenuity shows extremely promising results, and new missions are already underway. Rotorcraft are capable of flight. This capability could be utilized to support the last stages of Entry, Descent, and Landing. Thus, mass and complexity could be scaled down.
Autorotation is one method of descent. It describes unpowered descent and landing, typically performed by helicopters in case of an engine failure. MAPLE is suggested to test these procedures and understand autorotation on other planets. In this series of experiments, the Ingenuity helicopter is utilized. Ingenuity would autorotate a ”mid-air-landing” before continuing with normal flight. Ultimately, the collected data shall help to understand autorotation on Mars and its utilization for interplanetary exploration.