Advancements in Space Landing Technologies: NASA’s Efforts to Ensure Safer Landings on the Moon and Mars
The pursuit of innovative hazard detection and precision landing technologies is a pivotal area in the realm of space exploration. These advancements are crucial for ensuring the safety of future space missions, particularly those involving crewed landings on extraterrestrial surfaces. With this objective in mind, NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) is actively engaged in a series of flight tests across various platforms to accelerate the development of these critical systems for missions targeting the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
Dr. John M. Carson III, who manages technical integration for precision landing at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, emphasized the importance of these tests. "These flight tests directly address some of NASA’s highest-ranked technology needs or shortfalls, ranging from advanced guidance algorithms and terrain-relative navigation to lidar and optical-based hazard detection and mapping," he explained. This initiative reflects NASA’s commitment to bridging the gap between laboratory research and real-world mission application, thereby extending these capabilities beyond NASA and academia to the next generation of lunar and Martian landers.
Since the beginning of the year, four distinct precision landing and hazard detection technologies have undergone flight testing. These technologies, which hail from various sectors including NASA, academic institutions, and commercial industries, have been tested on a suborbital rocket system, a high-speed jet, a helicopter, and a rocket-powered lander testbed. This series of tests exemplifies the rapid pace at which NASA is advancing precision landing technologies.
Dr. Carson noted, "By flight testing these technologies on Earth in spaceflight-relevant trajectories and velocities, we’re demonstrating their capabilities and validating them with real data for transitioning technologies from the lab into mission applications." This approach not only demonstrates the readiness of these technologies but also signals to industry partners that these capabilities are primed for integration into forthcoming Moon and Mars landers.
Recent NASA-Supported Flight Tests
Between February and May, several NASA-supported flight tests were conducted, showcasing a diverse array of technologies designed to enhance the safety and precision of space landings.
Draper’s Multi-Environment Navigator (DMEN): This vision-based navigation and hazard detection technology is crafted to improve the safety and precision of lunar landings by identifying landmarks to calculate accurate navigation solutions. During a flight aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard reusable suborbital rocket system, DMEN collected real-world data to validate its algorithms. This test was part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative, which aims to facilitate lunar deliveries. On February 4, DMEN successfully conducted one of a series of tests under NASA’s Flight Opportunities program managed at Armstrong Flight Research Center in California. This test allowed DMEN to scan Earth’s surface at rocket speeds, identifying landmarks crucial for navigation accuracy, thereby advancing its application for terrain-relative navigation.
Psionic’s Space Navigation Doppler Lidar (PSNDL): This technology was put to the test through a series of dynamic maneuvers while collecting navigation data at various altitudes and speeds. Psionic has licensed NASA’s Navigation Doppler Lidar technology, created at Langley Research Center, and developed a miniaturized, rugged system suitable for spaceflight. In February, PSNDL was mounted on an F/A-18 Hornet aircraft for flight tests at NASA Armstrong. The aircraft executed a variety of flight paths over several days, including figure-eight loops and dynamic maneuvers over Death Valley, California. These flights demonstrated PSNDL’s accuracy and navigation precision, further preparing it for landing missions on the Moon and Mars.
Hazard Detection Lidar (HDL): Developed by researchers at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, this state-of-the-art sensor system is designed to rapidly map surfaces from a descending vehicle, identifying safe landing sites in challenging terrains. The HDL system generates three-dimensional digital elevation maps in real-time, processing approximately 15 million laser measurements in just two seconds. In mid-March, the HDL was tested from a helicopter at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center over a lunar-like test field, simulating various landing scenarios. Preliminary data reviews indicate excellent performance, validating the system’s capability as part of NASA’s Safe and Precise Landing – Integrated Capabilities Evolution (SPLICE) technology suite.
San Diego State University’s Powered-Descent Guidance Algorithms: These algorithms are aimed at enhancing autonomous spacecraft precision landing and hazard avoidance with minimal propellant use. During flight tests conducted in April and May, SDSU’s software was integrated into Astrobotic’s Xodiac suborbital rocket-powered lander. This integration was supported by NASA’s Flight Opportunities program and was part of the Nighttime Precision Landing Challenge under the NASA TechLeap Prize. The algorithms are designed to improve landing capabilities by enhancing flexibility, trajectory shaping, and propellant efficiency. These advancements hold potential for application in both human and robotic missions to the Moon and Mars.
Through the continuous advancement of these technologies, NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate is prioritizing the development of safe and successful landing systems for future space missions. The frequent flight tests underscore NASA’s dedication to overcoming the challenges posed by extraterrestrial environments, ensuring that upcoming missions can safely touch down on celestial bodies of scientific interest.
For those interested in learning more about NASA’s ongoing initiatives in space technology, further information can be found on the official NASA Space Technology Mission Directorate webpage.
This report highlights the strides NASA is making in space technology, reflecting its commitment to pioneering the next era of space exploration through innovative solutions and robust testing methodologies.
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