solar system exploration and research on icy moons at the...

Solar system exploration and research on icy moons

at the German Aerospace Center

Oliver FunkeDLR - German Aerospace Center

Space Administration | Navigation

> PPOSS 2017 > Funke > 23.01.2017DLR.de • Chart 1

Germany’s national aeronautics

and space research centre

aeronautics

space

energy

transport

security

DLR Space Administration (Bonn):

planning and implementation

of the German space programme

representation of Germany‘s

interests at ESA

research funding agency

Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs

and Energy

Sketch of DLR and given constraints


R&D

Sp

ace

Ad

min

istr

ati

on

DLR

BMWi

Funding of DLR R&D

not allowed !

DLR Space AdministrationDept. of Navigation: Overview


1. GNSS applications and new services (RTK receiver, RAIM technologies)

2. Space segment and payload (Galileo next generation technologies)

3. Innovative new technologies for navigation:

autonomous navigation (AI), sensor fusion, …

development of key technologies for navigation

required for future space missions:

inititation of projects (also on basis of own ideas)

at least 60% navigation context

up to 40% other required aspects

(e.g. adequate technology carrier, …)

generation of terrestrial spin off applications

DLR Space AdministrationDept. of Navigation: Programme lines


Jupiter‘s and Saturn‘s Icy Moons

• Jupiter‘s moon Europa:

global water ocean beneath thick

(up to several 10 km) layer of ice

• Technical challenge:

How to access and explore the ocean?

First approach suggestion by

Zimmerman et al. (NASA/JPL):

Cryobot: An Ice Penetrating Robotic

Vehicle for Mars and EuropaPublished in: Aerospace Conference, 2001, IEEE

Proceedings. (Volume:1)


Artists impression of Europa‘s ocean.

Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

Cryobot and Hydrobot


Artists impression of cryobot and hydrobot in Europa exploration scenario.

Credit: NASA/JPL

Prototype of the Cryobot

Credit: NASA/JPL

Two category IV future missions:

EurEx and EnEx

Feasibility analysis and first developments

initiated and funded by DLR Space Administration


EurEx – Europa ExplorerInitial project phase 2012 - 2015


Early stage EurEx mission concept.

Credit: DFKI

Legend to image on the right:

0 Melting Probe (MP) IceShuttle „Teredo“

1 Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) „Leng“

2 decend of AUV

3 acoustic navigation concept and exploration phase

of sea ground

4 ascending phase of AUV, returning to Teredo base

5 data communication to Teredo

GPHS RTG within surface lander,

energy to Teredo is transmitted

by cable connection

EurEx Status after initial phase

first prototypes of

Teredo and Leng

docking mechanism

acoustic navigation with

Microgliders

advances in autonomy

first mission analysis and

visualization by simulation tool

appropriate landing sites discussed

follow up phase „EurEx Phase 2“ planned:

further steps in navigation + autonomy

miniaturization of AUV and MP

proof of concept in Arctic field test


Credit: DFKI

EurExLanding sites

Thera Macula:

supposed subglacial lake on EuropaIvanov, M.; et al., Landforms of Europa and selection of landing sites,

Advances in Space Research: 661-677, 2011

Direct access to Europa‘s ocean not

envisaged due to technical limitations:

power supply transmittance

refreezing melting hole

cable connection got to be

implemented into MP strong

limitation for cable length!


Thera Macula

Credit: NASA

Cassini at Enceladus

2005: discovery of active cryovolcanism !

Ice particles blown into space several 100 km

Passing through ejected ice particles revealed

presence of organic compounds within!

Ice fountains originate from subglacial ocean

Thickness of surface ice crust up to 35 km


Saturn‘s moon Enceladus.

Credit: NASA/JPL/Space Science

Institute

Artists impression of Enceladus‘ ocean.

Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

EnEx – Enceladus ExplorerInitial project phase 2012 - 2015

Basic idea: sampling of upwelling water

in a cryovolcano feeding crevasse at a

depth of 100 to 200 m

Project tasks:

utilisation of a melting probe with

fully 3D maneuverability the

IceMole of FH Aachen

development of

3D navigation

in-situ decontamination

sampling ability

preliminary first mission design

field test validation in

terrestrial “Enceladus-similar”

environment


First prototype of the IceMole

Credit: FH Aachen

The Joint Project EnEx

Feb 2012 – Mar 2015

Partners:

• FH Aachen

• Universität der Bundeswehr München

• TU Braunschweig

• Universität Bremen

• RWTH Aachen

• Bergische Universität Wuppertal

Associated collaboration with MIDGE project (J. Mikucki, S. Tulaczyk):

Minimally Invasive Direct Glacial Exploration (NSF funded)

Successive field tests at Swiss Alps, 2013 first test on Canada glacier, Antarctica

Final field test in Antarctica Nov/Dec 2014


The EnEx-IceMole


Blood Falls, AntarcticaA terrestrial Enceladus like Scenario


Credit: NSF

Concept of Field TestBlood Falls at Taylor glacier, Antarctica


Dachwald et al. in Annals of Glaciology 2014 (modified slightly by Funke)

Clean SamplingPreparation of EnEx-IceMole in Lab before shipping to Antarctica


Photos courtesy of Ilya Digel, FH Aachen/Jülich

Green light for Blood Falls field test


S U C C E S SFirst ever extraction of samples from Blood Falls


Photos courtesy of EnEx field test team, FH / RWTH Aachen

Technical Conclusions and Continuation

EnEx-IceMole prooved basic mission

concept

Localization and navigation capability

successfully demonstrated

In-situ decontamination successful in

terrestrial field test

Continuance phase started in 2015 with

variety of single projects

Focus on

full autonomy of probe

enhanced sensor ranges

high level computer simulation

HW tests in vacuum

miniaturization of EnEx-IceMole


Photo courtesy of EnEx field test team, FH / RWTH Aachen

The „EnEx – Enceladus Explorer Initiative“

• Coordination and funding of the individual

projects by DLR Space Administration

• Close internal collaboration across

departments:

Navigation

Microgravity Research and Life Sciences

Human Spaceflight, ISS and Exploration

General Technologies and Robotics

www.dlr.de/rd/EnEx

Purpose:

Demonstrate technical feasibility and propose

EnEx and/or EurEx like missions to ESA

(time horizon for mission at target: 204x)


EurEx is part of the

EnEx Initiative

http://www.dlr.de/rd/EnEx

PPOSS relevant results and open questionsLessons learnt (+ positive / – negative)

(+) Project results indicate that collection of englacial samples for

microbiological analysis is feasible with melting probes.

(+) Successful retrieval of uncontaminated subglacial samples will provide an

important example for the clean exploration of icy environments on Earth and

their potential for the use of this technology for future icy body exploration

missions.

(-) The method of recovering microorganisms from different solid surfaces is

critical for reliability and objectivity of sampling and microbiological risk

assessment. Today, sampling by cotton or rayon swabs is undeservedly

considered the “gold standard”. In our study, traditional swab-based methods

were found to be inaccurate, time consuming and prone to significant

variations due to uncontrollable contribution from multiple factors, including (a)

operator qualification; (b) sampling room conditions; (c) swab material; (d)

microorganism’s type and (e) surface roughness. There is a necessity in

development of alternative sampling methods, corresponding fulfilling to the

current requirements to efficacy, accuracy and reproducibility.


(-) Even in the absence of viable microorganisms after microbiological

disinfection was done, some of their biochemical components persistently

remain on the treated surfaces. In particular, lipopolysaccharides (LPS)

represent an extremely problematic component of the remaining bioload.

Can the EnEx concept be expanded for implementation of GPHS-RTG power

supply unit into EnEx-IceMole?

Can be considered to implement GPHS-RTG into EurEx-AUV?

If so, safety requirements and other constraints have to be defined and

evaluated

PPOSS relevant results and open questionsLessons learnt (+ positive / – negative)


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