Search

Sky is the area above the Earth in which the clouds, the Moon, the Sun, and the stars can be seen. It means the region consists of the atmosphere and outer space seen from the Earth. In the ancient time, people only knew "sky" instead of "inner space" and "outer space", and they always dreamed travelling to the celestial object nearest to the Earth, the Moon. Traditionally, it is the same globally, the Chinese people respect the Earth, the Moon and the Sun with adorations. Therefore, there were many ancient Chinese legends about the sky and space. In this paper, five ancient Chinese legends related to the sky and space are described at first: the story of sky lantern (天燈), the story of Kuafu (夸父), the story of Chang E (嫦娥), the story of ancient Chinese astronaut Wan Fu (萬戶), and the story of Nüwa (女媧) who patched up the sky. Then, three contemporary arts and designs related to the current space explorations are introduced for comparisons: the Museum of the Moon, the worldwide tour of the Earth model Gaia, and the Chinese Suzhou embroideries of Sun spots and Horsehead nebula. Through the presentations, it is very interesting to see the addition to each other's splendour in the ancient mythologies and the modern space arts. • Five ancient Chinese legends related to the sky and space are studied. • Three modern arts and designs related to the current space explorations are investigated. • Obvious addition to each other's splendour in the ancient mythologies and the modern space arts. • The philosophies and possible complementarities behind need further exploration. • Hope that more space related arts and designs can be created to enrich human's life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The paper presents the results of a study performed during the Project Work Activity by students of the second edition of the International Master Course in SpacE Exploration and Development Systems (SEEDS). The study focused on the design of a Permanent Human mOon Exploration BasE (PHOEBE) located in the Moon South Pole region and its supporting infrastructures. Among all the Moon base building blocks identified and studied, the paper analyzes the impact of a greenhouse, denominated Food And Revitalization Module (FARM), over the feasibility of the human Moon settlement, considering PHOEBE lifetime of 20 years. The objective of the FARM project has been to design a plant growth chamber module to be integrated in a bio-regenerative life support system for PHOEBE and to evaluate the impact of various bio-regenerative system concepts with respect to a typical physico-chemical ECLS system. The design process began with a system analysis, essentially devoted to the study of the required functionalities of the system. A crop analysis has been performed to analyze the plant performances and from these results, different options of diet/crop combinations have been evaluated, starting from a greenhouse able to fulfill almost 100% of all the nutritional needs of the crew, and scaling down to less than 50% of the needs, with food integrations from Earth. The most impacting subsystems have been studied and a possible configuration (both internally and externally) has been designed. The results of the trade-off, based on an Equivalent System Mass approach, showed that after 11 years one greenhouse with cultivation area of 538m2 and cultivation volume of 222m3 was adequate for the diet of 18 astronauts on the permanent Moon base, based on 84% of vegetarian food produced on the base and a remaining 16% of food re-supplied from Earth. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In recent years an increasing interest in the Moon surface operations has been experienced. In the future robotic and manned missions of Moon surface exploration will be fundamental in order to lay the groundwork for more ambitious space exploration programs. Surface mobility systems will be the key elements to ensure an efficient and safe Moon exploration. Future lunar rovers are likely to be heavier and able to travel longer distances than the previously developed Moon rover systems. The Lunar Roving Vehicle (LRV) is the only manned rover, which has so far been launched and used on the Moon surface. Its mobility system included flexible wheels that cannot be scaled to the heavier and longer range vehicles. Thus the previously developed wheels are likely not to be suitable for the new larger vehicles. Taking all these considerations into account, on the basis of the system requirements and assumptions, several wheel concepts have been discussed and evaluated through a trade-off analysis. Semi-empirical equations have been utilized to predict the wheel geometrical characteristics, as well as to estimate the motion resistances and the ability of the system to generate thrust. A numerical model has also been implemented, in order to define more into the details the whole wheel design, in terms of wheel geometry and physical properties. As a result of the trade-off analysis, the ellipse wheel concept has shown the best behavior in terms of stiffness, mass budget and dynamic performance. The results presented in the paper have been obtained in cooperation with Thales Alenia Space-Italy and Sicme motori, in the framework of a regional program called STEPS 1 [1] STEPS–Sistemi e Tecnologie per l''EsPlorazione Spaziale is a research project co-financed by Piedmont Region and firms and universities of the Piedmont Aerospace District in the ambit of the P.O.R-F.E.S.R. 2007–2013 program. . [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Robotic reconnaissance (“recon”) has the potential to significantly improve scientific and technical return from lunar surface exploration. In particular, robotic recon can be used to improve traverse planning, reduce operational risk, and increase crew productivity. To study how robotic recon can benefit human exploration, we recently conducted a field experiment at Black Point Lava Flow (BPLF), Arizona. In our experiment, a simulated ground control team at NASA Ames teleoperated a planetary rover to scout geology traverses at BPLF. The recon data were then used to plan revised traverses. Two-man crews subsequently performed both types of traverses using the NASA “Lunar Electric Rover” (LER) and simulated extra-vehicular activity (EVA) suits. This paper describes the design of our experiment, presents our results, and discusses directions for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The Astronautics and Space Station Department of the Universitaet Stuttgart has developed a design environment for the conceptual design of manned space missions. With the assistance of the ESA European Space Operations Center this design environment has been extended to cover exploration missions involving the areas of the collinear Earth–Moon and Sun–Earth libration points, which are of interest as an alternative staging location to the low lunar orbit approach for lunar exploration and for satellite servicing missions, respectively. To allow for a reliable mission design, the transfer times, the and variations in the for transfers between the different locations in the Sun–Earth–Moon system must be known, especially taking the rendezvous constraints and safety issues for human spaceflight missions into account. The results of the investigations presented in this paper cover transfer trajectories from Earth to different types of orbits about the collinear Earth–Moon libration points 1 and 2 and further on to the Moon. For the Earth to Earth–Moon libration point transfer, direct trajectories, fly-bys at the Moon and trajectories via the weak stability boundary region of the Sun–Earth system are treated. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: When NASA''s Ares V cargo launch vehicle (Fig. 1) begins flying late next decade, its capabilities will significantly exceed the 1960s-era Saturn V. It will send more crew and cargo to more places on the lunar surface than Apollo and provide ongoing support to a permanent lunar outpost that will open the Moon to greater exploration, science and adventure than ever before. Moreover, it will restore the United States’ heavy-lift capability, which can support human and robotic exploration for decades to come. Ares V remains in a pre-design analysis cycle stage pending a planned Authority to Proceed (ATP) in late 2010. Ares V benefits from the decision to draw from heritage hardware and its commonality with the Ares I crew launch vehicle, which completed its preliminary design review (PDR) in September 2008. Most of the work on Ares V to date has been focused on refining the vehicle design through a variety of internal studies. This paper will provide background information on the Ares V evolution, emphasizing the vehicle configuration as it exists today. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The development of the Ares V launch vehicle will provide levels of performance unseen since the days of Apollo. This capability, like the Saturn V before it, is being developed primarily in support of lunar exploration missions. However, the tremendous jump in performance offered by the Ares V launch system has tremendous potential for the furtherance of robotic solar system exploration missions as well. Preliminary performance assessments indicate that Ares V could deliver 5 times the payload to Mars as compared to the most capable US expendable launch vehicle available today. Beyond Mars, the outer planets offer a number of high-priority investigations with compelling science. Presently, missions to these destinations are only achievable using indirect flights with gravity assist trajectories and, in many cases, suffer from long flight times. An Ares V with an upper stage could capture these missions using direct flights with shorter interplanetary transfer times that would enable extensive in situ investigations and possibly the return of samples to Earth. This paper lays out an estimate of Ares V performance for moderate and high C3 missions, and goes on to discuss a range of revolutionary mission concepts that could be enabled by this significant increase in launch capability. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]