Payload Operations The Google Lunar X PRIZE is a competition begun - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Payload Operations

• The Google Lunar X PRIZE is a competition begun in 2007. • The first privately funded team to send a robot to the Moon wins $20,000,000. 00 • In order to win the prize, teams must: • Successfully Launch • Land on the Moon • Rove 500 meters • Transmit back images and video This is not it

Payload Operations L.U.N.A.R. -Prize Landing Unique Navigable Astronaut-Driven Rovers

Payload Operations • What is payload? • Payload is anything launched inside the spacecraft • Astronauts • Food • Medical equipment • Science experiments • Electronics • The size and weight of payloads are limited by the lift capability of the rocket they are riding to space aboard.

Payload Operations • What do you need to protect your payload from? • Launch forces • Vibrations from flight • Pressure changes • High & low temperatures • Speed jumps / drops • Landing forces

Payload Operations • How can you protect payloads? • Reducing rocket speed • Reducing impact velocity • Changing angle of impact • Restraints • Cushioning • Crumple zones

Payload History Program: Mercury Rocket: Redstone & Atlas

Payload History

Payload History Program: Gemini Rocket: Titan II

Payload History

Payload History Program: Apollo Rocket: Saturn IB & Saturn V

Payload History Program: Space Transportation System [STS] Rocket: Space Shuttle

Payload History Program: Space Launch System [SLS] Rocket: Orion

Payload History Program: Mars Exploration Rovers [MER-A & MER-B] Rocket: Delta II Payload: Spirit & Opportunity (‘03-’10) (‘03-Current)

Payload History Program: Mars Science Laboratory [MSL] Rocket: Atlas V Payload: Curiosity (‘11-Current)

L.U.N.A.R. Eggs-Prize • What is your goal? • To land a rover as close as possible to a target landing zone without damage to the rover’s function. • How will you accomplish your goal? • Your team will split into two sub-teams. • Each sub-team will split into two design groups. • Design Group 1: Rover • Design Group 2: Lander

L.U.N.A.R. Eggs-Prize • How? • Each design group will have 100 credits to design and construct their component. • Credits MAY NOT be shared between design groups • Supplies MAY NOT be shared between design groups • Heads-Up: • Certain supplies are only available to one component group or the other.

L.U.N.A.R. Eggs-Prize • Details: • Your payload will be a raw egg in a Ziploc bag. • For the sake of the carpet, the egg should NEVER leave the bag! • The egg will be carried onboard the rover. • The rover (and egg) will be carried inside the lander.

L.U.N.A.R. Eggs-Prize • Challenge – Part 1: • The lander, with rover and egg inside will be dropped 15-25 feet [4.5-7.6 meters] onto a target zone. • If the egg dies … the rover doesn’t go anywhere. • Points will be deducted for each inch outside the landing zone.

L.U.N.A.R. Eggs-Prize • Challenge – Part 2: • The rover with egg inside will be removed AS IS from inside the lander. • The rover will be placed at the top of a ramp and released. • Points will be added for each inch away from the base of the ramp that the rover travels.

L.U.N.A.R. Eggs-Prize • Challenge – Scoring: • (+) Any unused credits • ( - ) For each inch outside of • the landing zone • (+) For each inch traveled from the • base of the ramp • [ ONLY if egg survived landing] • (+) Egg survival score • +200 = Egg unscathed • +100 = Cracked, but no leaks • +/-0 = Egg leaky / scrambled

L.U.N.A.R. Eggs-Prize L.U.N.A.R. -Prize Questions?