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Apollo 17 astronaut Harrison
Schmidt taking measurements on the lunar surface. |
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Polar rover concept used
to explore lunar craters in search of water/ice. |
The Exploration
Technology Development Program (ETDP) serves as the hub for development
and a point of transition for maturing high priority exploration technologies
to NASA's flight exploration programs. NASA’s Glenn Research
Center is supporting ETDP in a lead role for many projects, including “green
propulsion” (hydrogen and methane cryogenic fuels), cryo fluid
management, energy storage (batteries and fuel cells), nuclear fission
power, fire protection, and control of lunar dust. Glenn also provides
support for many other advanced technology projects as well as future
lunar and Mars architecture/concept studies. Preparation for humans
to return to the moon includes initial robotic missions, which Glenn
is also supporting.
Background
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2006 Exploration Systems
Architecture Study (ESAS) final report cover. |
NASA has engaged its workforce to enable the safe and reliable
transport of humans to the International Space Station, moon and
Mars. Based on the results of NASA’s 2006 Exploration Systems
Architecture Study (ESAS), the ETDP was established. Glenn’s
Advanced Capabilities Project Office supports NASA’s
ETDP, which is managed by Langley Research Center.
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Notional Lunar Lander
concept developed by ESAS. |
ETDP consists of high-priority, requirements-driven projects that
support exploration technology gaps identified and prioritized by
the Constellation flight program and lunar and Mars architecture
assessments. The ETDP portfolio is reassessed on an annual basis
to assure relevance and alignment of the funding to the most critical, “enabling” technologies.
The ETDP budget is also committed to conducting system assessments
such as the Lunar Architecture Team Study published in December
2006.
Nominally, the technologies within the ETDP will be matured until
a demonstration of the design concept in a relevant environment
is completed. At that point, they will be transitioned to the Constellation
Flight Program (e.g. Lunar Lander). ETDP projects also work with
the Lunar Precursor Robotic Program to provide spacecraft design
input and/or to validate technologies for flight prior to the human
application (e.g. validate a fuel cell first on a robotic mission
to the moon). Finally, as resources allow, ETDP provides support
to analog demonstrations of future vehicle and surface systems (e.g.
Desert Research and Technology Systems (D-RATS)).
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Desert RATS conducts lunar
mission scenarios with crewed and uncrewed systems in at Meteor
Crater, Arizona. |
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Artist concept of Advanced
Communications Technology Satellite (ACTS) in Orbit. |
Glenn has a rich history in the space flight program and has effectively
developed and tested technologies for the following areas: Launch
Vehicles, Spacecraft and Communications (including the Advanced
Communications Technology Satellite (ACTS) satellite), International
Space Station Power Systems, Microgravity Science Payloads and Technology
Flight Projects. Glenn was selected to play an important role in
ETDP technology development activities because of the center’s
capabilities in power and propulsion, and successful technology
infusion into flight projects.
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Notional lunar processing
plant to general oxygen and other resources from the regolith. |
Technology Portfolio
Glenn’s current ETDP technology portfolio includes 16 different
projects, which are listed below. The first six projects are led
by Glenn’s Advanced Capabilities Project Office. The remaining
technology areas are managed by teams consisting of members from
Glenn, other NASA centers, academia and industry. Click on the name
of each project for more information.
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Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne
Common Extensible Cryogenic Engine (CECE). |
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Drawing of the LRO Traveling
Wave Tube Amplifier. |
Glenn’s Advanced Capabilities Office managed one flight project
for the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) Mission: Traveling Wave
Tube Amplifier (TWTA). This project provided the primary communication
from the LRO Spacecraft to the Earth. The TWTA is a high power (40
W), high efficiency Ka band communication systems operating at 25.65
GHz. Glenn is working with L3 Communications on this effort. The
TWTA has been working flawless on the LRO since it's launch in June
2009.
NASA Glenn ETDP Projects also leverages and incorporates the capabilities
of NASA’s Innovative Partnership
Program (IPP) to enhance technology efforts through Small Business
Innovative Research (SBIR), Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR),
and the IPP Seed Fund Program.
Contact at NASA Glenn Research Center
Acting Chief, Advanced
Capabilities Project Office: John
K. Lytle
Space Flight Systems Directorate
/ Advanced Flight Projects Office
216-433-3213
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