http://www.spacedaily.com/news/lunar-04zk.html
Posted on 03/27/2006 12:40:16 PM PST by NormsRevenge
LOS ANGELES - NASA decided Monday to restart a mission to explore two of the solar system's largest asteroids, just weeks after the project was killed because of budget woes.
The space agency earlier this month scrapped the $446 million Dawn mission to orbit the asteroids Ceres and Vesta, nearly a half year after it was put on hold because of cost overruns and technical problems.
NASA decided to review the cancellation after the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, which managed the mission, made an appeal.
"Our review determined the project team has made substantive progress on many of this mission's technical issues, and, in the end, we have confidence the mission will succeed," NASA Associate Administrator Rex Geveden, who lead the review panel, said in a statement.
Powered by a xenon ion engine, Dawn would be the first spacecraft to circle Ceres and Vesta, which are in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.
Ceres and Vesta are believed to have formed in different parts of the solar system about 4.5 billion years ago, and studying them could provide clues to how the sun and planets formed.
Can you explain this for the blond among us.
It's really cool stuff. :-}
This is excellent news!
I'm sure it is. I'm very interested but not enough to look it up myself.
http://www.spacedaily.com/news/lunar-04zk.html
In October 2000, The Boeing Company acquired three units within Hughes Electronics Corporation: Hughes Space and Communications Company, Hughes Electron Dynamics, and Spectrolab, Inc., in addition to Hughes Electronics' interest in HRL, the company's primary research laboratory. The four are now part of Boeing's newest subsidiary, Boeing Satellite Development Center. 
With the delivery of the PAS-5 satellite to PanAmSat Corporation in 1997, Hughes Space and Communications Company launched a new era in satellite propulsion technology.
PAS-5 is the world's first commercial satellite to carry a revolutionary propulsion system which is 10 times more efficient than the systems currently in use: xenon ion propulsion. By the third quarter of 2000, 11 on-orbit satellites were using XIPS.
The xenon ion propulsion system, or XIPS (pronounced "zips"), is the culmination of nearly four decades of research into the use of electric propulsion as an alternative to conventional chemical propulsion. Available on the Boeing 601HP, or high power, and Boeing 702 satellite models, the increased efficiency possible with XIPS allows for a reduction in propellant mass of up to 90% for a satellite designed for 12 to 15 years operation. Less propellant results in reduced cost for launch, an increase in payload, or an increase in satellite lifetime, or any combination of the above.
Whatever the choice, the results are a sizable competitive margin.
The on-board XIPS system is used primarily for spacecraft stationkeeping. Small thrusts are required to correct for the tug of solar or lunar gravity and to reposition the satellite in its proper orbit and altitude. A satellite's lifetime as well as its launch weight is thus determined by the amount of fuel aboard for its thruster system.
While most current satellites use a chemical bipropellant propulsion system, a XIPS-equipped satellite instead uses the impulse generated by a thruster ejecting electrically charged particles at high velocities. XIPS requires only one propellant, xenon, and does its stationkeeping job using a fraction of that required by a chemical propellant system.
The heart of the XIPS is the ion thruster, measuring less than 10 inches across. Two other key units include a tank containing xenon gas and a power processor.
Thrust is created by accelerating the positive ions through a series of gridded electrodes at one end of the thrust chamber. The electrodes, known as an ion extraction assembly, create more than 3,000 tiny beams of thrust. The beams are prevented from being electrically attracted back to the thruster by an external electron-emitting device called a neutralizer.
Ions ejected by the Hughes-designed XIPS travel in an invisible stream at a speed of 30 kilometers per second (62,900 miles per hour), nearly 10 times that of its chemical counterpart. And, because ion thrusters operate at lower force levels, attitude disturbances during thruster operation are reduced, further simplifying the stationkeeping task.
Chemical thrusters in use today are limited by how much energy is released during the combustion process. Ion thrusters are dependent on the amount of electrical power available. More power means faster-moving ions and higher thrust. The Boeing 601HP XIPS uses 500 watts from the satellite's 8-kilowatt solar array. For the Boeing 702 model, XIPS uses 4,500 watts from the 10- to 15-kilowatt solar array. XIPS operations have no effect on broadcasting and telemetry operations.
A typical satellite will use up to four XIPS thrusters (two primary, two redundant) for stationkeeping, all connected to the same xenon supply. Each primary device will be switched on and off by a smart power unit that monitors and diagnoses operations automatically. In normal operation, each Boeing 601HP ion thruster will operate for approximately 5 hours per day. Each Boeing 702 ion thruster will operate for approximately 30 minutes per day.
The Boeing 601HP satellite uses the 13-centimeter XIPS to perform all north-south stationkeeping and spacecraft momentum control in two axes. The 13-centimeter thruster operates at a specific impulse rate (ISP) of 2568 seconds with 18 millinewtons (mN) of thrust. The satellite flies four 13-centimeter xenon thrusters and two power processor units. Orbit and momentum control are accomplished through a series of two burns on each day of the stationkeeping cycle. Only two of the four thrusters are required to perform a complete mission of on-orbit maneuvers.
The Boeing 702 uses its high-power capacity to take full advantage of XIPS technology with the previously developed higher-power 25-centimeter thrusters. The 25-centimeter thruster operates at an ISP of 3800 seconds with 165 mN of thrust. The satellite flies four 25-centimeter thrusters and two XIPS power processors. The HS 702 uses the XIPS to perform all stationkeeping and spacecraft momentum control. Like the HS 601HP, only two of the four thrusters are required to perform the entire on-orbit mission maneuvers. These functions are accomplished autonomously with a series of four daily burns providing precise orbit control. This strategy maintains a ±0.005 degree stationkeeping box, allowing for collocation of many satellites in a single orbital slot.
The Boeing 702 offers the additional option of XIPS orbit raising. Using XIPS to augment transfer orbit further reduces the amount of chemical propellant loaded. Larger payloads can thus be accommodated, with greater flexibility in the choice and use of a launch vehicle. Chemical propellant is used to place the satellite into a supersynchronous elliptical transfer orbit, and pre-programmed XIPS maneuvers are used to circularize the orbit and position the satellite in its final orbit.
Hughes has been investigating the use of ion propulsion since the early 1960s. Early research focused on the gas cesium, which was later discarded due to its corrosive nature. Mercury was then used, but was later rejected because of its environmental impacts.
In 1984, Hughes Research Laboratories, a unit of Hughes Electronics Corporation, began investigating the use of xenon and found that it offered the highest thrust of all the inert, non-reactive gases. And, because it is an inert gas, it is neither corrosive nor explosive, and therefore does not pose a risk to the life of the satellite or a safety hazard to personnel loading the xenon propellant tanks. Development units were constructed and evaluated at that time by Hughes Electron Dynamics Division, now Boeing Electron Dynamic Devices, Inc.
In 1992, Hughes Space and Communications Company committed to the XIPS technology, identifying it as the basis for next-generation satellites. The highly focused beam inherent in the system provides higher thrust efficiency and reduces the potential of spacecraft contamination from the beam.
The initial design work was done by Hughes Research Laboratories, and XIPS production is now performed at Boeing Electron Dynamic Devices, where competencies and facilities already exist due to the company's expertise in traveling wave tube design and construction techniques.
The first shipment of XIPS thrusters was the culmination of an extensive program of testing, performance documentation, and measurement. Hundreds of hours of burn-in testing were performed to assure that there would be no early wear-out problems. Vibration testing simulating the launch environment was conducted, followed by post-vibration testing and extensive thermal-vacuum testing, where the thruster was cycled many times from a very cold to an extremely hot temperature, simulating what will be encountered in space.
Five massive vacuum chambers, measuring 9 feet in diameter, are used to test XIPS thrusters. Three chambers are used for flight unit acceptance testing, and two chambers are committed to the on-going life testing of two 13 centimeter qualification units. In addition, Boeing Electron Dynamic Devices is currently building another vacuum chamber dedicated to qualification and lifetime testing of the Boeing 702 thruster. The new chamber weighs in at 180,000 pounds and measures 20 feet in diameter by 40 feet in length.
Two qualification thrusters are currently in life test, with the initial thruster qualification unit, which was built in 1995, having demonstrated more than 8,000 hours of lifetime testing. The second qualification unit, built in 1996, has demonstrated more than 4,000 hours of lifetime testing.
In addition to the XIPS thrusters being built for Boeing Satellite Development Center, Boeing Electron Dynamic Devices also has an $8.1 million contract from NASA to produce a 30-centimeter xenon ion engine for use on the New Millennium program's Deep Space 1 spacecraft. The initial contract, awarded in 1995, calls for delivery of one Pathfinder thruster, two flight thrusters, and associated power processor and digital control and interface units to NASA by the end of 1997. Deep Space 1 was launched on Oct. 24, 1998.
From the 1963 launch of Syncom, the world's first communications satellite, to the introduction of the 702 spacecraft model 32 years later, Hughes Space and Communications Company, now Boeing Satellite Development Center, has maintained its leadership position in satellite systems design and manufacturing. XIPS is likely to be the single most important technological contribution to customer value and success over the next decade of satellite communications.
Boeing Satellite Development Center is the world's leading manufacturer of commercial communications satellites, and is also a major supplier of spacecraft and equipment to the U.S. government, and builder of weather satellites for the United States and Japan.
http://www.boeing.com/defense-space/space/bss/factsheets/xips/xips.html
http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/PAO/images/fullsize/ipsdiag.jpg
Electric Propulsion uses an electric field (grid) to accelerate plasma to a very high velocity resulting in thrust. Often cesium or xenon is the element that is used to generate the plasma. These engines are usually of the ion variety. Deep Space 1, flown by JPL to an asteroid, used a xenon ion engine. (Bragging now) When I was in High School, I built a working copper ion rocket engine for a science fair project. All you need is an ion that can be electrically accelerated to produce thrust.
Unfortunately, electric propulsion produces an extremely low thrust compared to others. However, you can run it (accelerate) for a very long time, slowly increasing the velocity far beyond what a short burn chemical rocket can obtain. (The chemical rocket runs out of fuel rather rapidly compared to an ion engine)
The one possibility for profitable operation in space mining in the next century, without living off of gov't contracts, is the asteroid belt. They even have water comets in the asteroid belt. If the UN 1967 UN Outer Space Treaty were withdrawn from and if the Land Office allowed recording of mining claims in the asteroid belt, private enterprise would do all the prospecting that NASA and ESA ever thought of and more.
LOLOL.. just check back later on the thread. ;-)
This should get the serious Don't Care award. What matters is what minerals are present that might be mined profitably.
cool, thanks.
I feel we should shift our energy toward asteroids and comets. These are the gas stations and supply depots we will need to explore. Mars is a waste of money.
That's true. Mars should remain undeveloped for centuries after several profitable operations are already being run in the asteroid belt. The belt has water, too, in case anybody wants to go out there in person.
LOL, now why doesn't that surprise me.
Learning about asteroids is important. If anyone disagrees, your wrong. Consider this scenario.....
Hey, you can never predict where raw science will lead.
The NASA Search For Life is also an incorrect program. These are not reasons for exploring space.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.