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Throughout the last decade a renewed interest for lunar space exploration has been expressed through the announcements of many ambitious missions such as Artemis. Annually the Space Station Design Workshop (SSDW) tasks students and young professionals to design a space station concept in a con-current engineering environment. In line with the elevated interest on the Moon this year's SSDW was centred around a self-sustainable lunar habitat. This paper presents the conceptual design of Team Blue at the SSDW 2021. Advanced Moon Operations and Resource Extraction (AMORE) is conceptu-alized as a public-private cooperation for the creation of a lunar platform that acts as an outpost for human exploration and robotic In-situ Resources Utilization (ISRU). AMORE’s proposed location is near the rim of Shackleton Crater at the Lunar South Pole. This location provides opportunities in science and ISRU and favourable sun coverage and thermal conditions. The terrain offers a natural shield for debris and storage advantages for ISRU. The mission architecture allows for incremental crew size increase through a modular dome structure, an initial prioritization of ISRU and a sustainable resource management strategy. Based on the identified system requirements, the initial configuration envisions one core module and two modular structures that would serve as greenhouses or living spaces. The phasing of the base assembly is designed to allow for adequate conditions of an increasing crew size capacity. The greenhouse modules are designed to provide all required oxygen and most required food supply. The modules are constructed using lightweight inflatable structures, while a regolith shell will provide radiation as well as thermal and micrometeorite protection. For reliable communication, a cus-tom relay network named Lunar Earth Telecommand Telemetry Relay (LETTER) is proposed. The mis-sion architecture analysis includes several methods to financially utilize the mission. These include

The low representation of women (~33%) in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) careers is extremely concerning and cultivates male-dominant cultures across a variety of academic and professional disciplines. In Spain, only 39% of national projects are led by women, thus evidencing the so-called “leaking pipeline”, that is, the tendency of women and other underrepresented groups to eventually abandon STEM-related fields. This social disequilibrium is particularly strong in the international space sector, where women represent less than ~20% of the workforce. The Hypatia I mission —a multi-generational and multi-disciplinary crew of 9 female scientists— seeks to help address this problem. In April 2023, the Hypatia I crew will participate in a two-week Martian analog mission at the Mars Desert Research Station (Utah, United States) with the goal of (i) performing high-quality space-related research in a simulation environment, (ii) conducting outreach and science communication activities, and most importantly, (iii) promoting female role models in STEM-related fields and inspiring future generations of scientists, particularly young girls interested in space careers

Certain unexplored zones along the moon surface present a great chance for mankind to find frozen water outside the Earth, which would represent a huge discovery in the field of space exploration. Although recent efforts have been mainly put on the martian surface and its own mysteries, it is a matter of time for new missions to be launched again to the Moon’s most important geographical landmarks. Thus, in order to learn about how a project like this is set out, and after choosing a particular mission area and studying its characteristics, a lightweight rover will be designed by taking everything into account: materials, dimensions, features and a mobility system’s adaptability. The rover will be capable of carrying out several missions autonomously, and will extract valuable information and data of its surroundings thanks to the meticulously selected devices that will be implemented in it.

En el presente Trabajo de Fin de Grado se expone el estudio de un róver con suspensión rocker-bogie para misiones en Marte. Pero, y por qué Marte? Primero, porque es el planeta más cercano a la Tierra y guardan infinitas coincidencias, hasta el punto de que se piensa que Marte pudo tener océanos y vida como en el planeta azul. Y segundo, porque tiene una serie de paisajes, relieves e incluso volcanes y cráteres que lo hacen especial y que llama la atención para poder ser estudiados. He aquí donde sale la curiosidad de este estudio, conocer Marte y conocer cómo este se puede estudiar de primera mano, es decir, desde la propia superficie. De esta manera, se pretende estudiar no solo Marte y su superficie, sino también las diferentes posibilidades de suspensiones que se pueden albergar en un róver, sus componentes esenciales con sus respectivos materiales para poder entender el mecanismo de funcionamiento y qué le hace especial al tipo rocker-bogie frente a los demás, además de diseñarlo en función de la región del planeta elegido en este estudio, para que sea capaz de adaptarse al terreno y superar los obstáculos de la mejor manera. Finalmente, se crea un prototipo final de manera virtual del róver para poder mostrar el resultado y objetivo del estudio, a parte de intentar inspirar a la sociedad y a la próxima generación de jóvenes estudiantes de desarrollar la exploración espacial y de intentar, por qué no, en unos años, el primer asentamiento humano en Marte

When an aircraft performs parabolic maneuvers, the crew is subject to reduced gravity or microgravity. Taking this into account, the objective of the device that is proposed in this study is to generate during three parabolas a downward force that simulates the effect of gravity and makes the device remain motionless in the presence of weightlessness. In other three parabolas, the expectation is to generate an upward force so that the device moves in the opposite direction to microgravity. The methodology used for force generation is in line with Lorentz's law, according to which a current carrying conductor cable generates a force vector when coming under a magnetic field. In both cases, the upward and downward forces will be measured by load cells located at the top and bottom of two magnets. The results of this device are important for space exploration, since this principle would be applicable to the creation of "artificial gravity" when using this system in a space suit, as well as in applications on earth related to the principle of magnetic levitation. The results obtained during the flight, collected by the load cells, and stored in a memory, show the presence of upward and downward forces in a microgravity environment., Lorsqu'un aéronef effectue des manœuvres paraboliques, l'équipage est soumis à une gravité réduite ou microgravité. L'objectif du dispositif proposé ici prétend qu’au cours de trois paraboles, une force descendante puisse être générée pour simuler un effet de gravité rendant le dispositif immobile en apesanteur. Lors de trois autres paraboles, il faudra générer une force ascendante pour que le dispositif se déplace en direction opposée à la microgravité. La méthodologie utilisée pour la génération des forces est conforme à la loi de Lorentz, selon laquelle un conducteur de courant, soumis à un champ magnétique, génère un vecteur de force. Dans les deux cas, les forces ascendantes et descendantes seront mesurées par des cellules de charge situées aux extrémités de deux aimants. Les résultats de ce dispositif sont importants pour l'exploration spatiale, puisque ce principe serait applicable à la création de «gravité artificielle» utilisable dans une combinaison spatiale ou dans le cadre d’applications au sol liées au principe de lévitation magnétique. Les résultats obtenus pendant le vol, qui sont collectés par les cellules de charge et stockés dans une mémoire dédiée, montrent la présence de forces ascendantes et descendantes dans un environnement de microgravité., Quando um avião realiza manobras parabólicas, a tripulação é submetida a uma redução da gravidade ou microgravidade. Levando isso em consideração, o objetivo do dispositivo aqui proposto é que, durante três parábolas, possa ser gerada uma força descendente que simule o efeito da gravidade e faça com que o dispositivo permaneça imóvel na presença da gravidade zero. Em três outras parábolas, espera-se gerar uma força ascendente com a finalidade de que o dispositivo se mova na direção oposta à microgravidade. A metodologia utilizada para geração de forças atende à lei de Lorentz, da qual um cabo condutor de corrente, ao estar submetido a um campo magnético, gera um vetor de força. Em ambos os casos, as forças ascendentes e descendentes serão medidas por células de carga localizadas na parte superior e inferior de dois ímãs. Os resultados deste dispositivo são importantes para a exploração espacial, já que este princípio seria aplicável à criação de "gravidade artificial" ao utilizar este sistema em uma roupa espacial, bem como em aplicações na terra relacionadas com o princípio da levitação magnética. Os resultados obtidos durante o voo, coletados pelas células de carga e armazenados em uma memória, mostram a presença de forças ascendentes e descendentes em um ambiente de microgravidade., Cuando un avión realiza maniobras parabólicas, la tripulación está sometida a gravedad reducida o microgravedad. Teniendo en cuenta esto, el objetivo del dispositivo aquí propuesto es que, durante tres parábolas, se pueda generar una fuerza descendente que simule el efecto de la gravedad y haga que el dispositivo permanezca inmóvil ante la presencia de ingravidez. En otras tres parábolas se espera generar una fuerza ascendente con el fin de que el dispositivo se desplace en dirección opuesta a la microgravedad. La metodología utilizada para la generación de fuerzas cumple la ley Lorentz, según la cual un cable conductor que transporta corriente, al estar sometido a un campo magnético, genera un vector de fuerza. En los dos casos, las fuerzas ascendentes y descendentes se medirán por celdas de carga ubicadas en la parte superior e inferior de dos imanes. Los resultados de este dispositivo son importantes para la exploración espacial, ya que este principio sería aplicable a la creación de «gravedad artificial» al usar este sistema en un traje espacial, así como en aplicaciones en la tierra relacionadas con el principio de levitación magnética. Los resultados obtenidos durante el vuelo, recopilados por las celdas de carga y almacenados en una memoria, muestran la presencia de fuerzas ascendentes y descendentes en un entorno de microgravedad.

Dawn mission represents a revolutionary achievement in space research due to the fact that it was the first spacecraft to orbit two different extraterrestrial bodies, the asteroids Vesta and Ceres. It was managed by NASA’s JPL since its design, its launch in 2007 until its end in November 2018. Its objective was accomplished thanks to its Ion Propulsion System (IPS), which made possible the required manoeuvres and trajectories required to fulfil the mission’s objectives. This thesis focuses on the study of this innovative IPS, specifically on how it works during the mission and trying to understand why it operates in one way or another. Specially, the thesis centres in the most characteristic manoeuvre of the entire Dawn mission, the escape trajectory from Vesta to begin cruise to Ceres. In order to do this, the JPL’s SPICE library and toolkit is employed during the whole computations due to its high reliable source of data. From this information provided by SPICE, some calculations are performed regarding the Dawn IPS such as its trajectory, thrust force and even though its input power given by the spacecraft’s solar arrays. One of this thesis’s goals is to prove the reliability of this SPICE given data as well as its programming tools, which is confirmed after analysing the extracted results and comparing them to corroborated information. Furthermore, together with the SPICE computations, the same IPS parameters are estimated employing some theoretical models related to space manoeuvres similar to the ones performed by Dawn. The feasibility of the application of these established procedures is also wanted to be demonstrated in the case of each determined value. After the calculations, it is found out that these methodologies are validated due to the absolute similarity to the results obtained with SPICE. The estimated low thrust climb trajectory results in a truly approximate escape trajectory, and the thrust force value provided by a low thrust escape is incredib

Postprint (author's final draft)

Postprint (author's final draft)

Postprint (author's final draft)

Postprint (author's final draft)

The challenges and successes of the Hubble Telescope are explained through an interview with Eric P. Smith.

Postprint (author's final draft)

From 1957 to 1966, Life magazine had significantly more advertisements with space imagery than Ladies Home Journal, Reader’s Digest, or Popular Science magazines. These advertisements were placed in Life magazine instead of others because Henry Luce, creator and editor, used his magazine to support the Cold War. Luce’s adamant views inspired NASA to promote the space program in Life’s pages, which in turn, stirred public support for governmental officials who supported the space program, all of which convinced advertisers that Life magazine was the most effective medium for the placement of advertisements that used space imagery. The data was collected by looking at all issues of Life, Ladies Home Journal, Reader’s Digest, and Popular Science from 1957 through 1966.

Postprint (author's final draft)

Postprint (author's final draft)

The United states having developed powered flight, gone to the North Pole, and made the first wireless broadcasts looks towards further achievements. Uncle Sam points a telescope at Mars.