The Space Resource Newsletter - October 2020
The OSIRIS-REx sample collector secured in the return capsule, which will prevent any more Bennu samples from escaping. Credit: NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona/Lockheed Martin.
Welcome to The Space Resource monthly newsletter for October 2020. Both NASA and ESA are pushing for more space resource missions, samples collected from Bennu, new lunar water studies, and the ISS gets a new titanium toilet.
In a talk at the IAC CyberSpace conference, Tory Bruno, CEO of ULA, laid out a vision for a Strategic Propellant Reserve in cislunar space. Such a vision aligns closely with many of the NASA Tipping Point awards, which focus on in-orbit cryogenic fluid management technologies. Whether propellant is produced from terrestrial, lunar, or asteroid materials, in-orbit fuel transfers will involve moving cryogenic liquids from one tank to another. Ultimately, these systems will act as the bridge between the supply and demand of in-orbit propellant, therefore it is good to see interest in these concepts.
ESA proposed the establishment of a Space Resources Utilization Program to build ESA’s capabilities and demonstrate the key technologies required for space resource utilization. Such a program would be fantastic for both Europe and the space resources field, as there are so many opportunities yet to be explored.
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Asteroids
Novel asteroid sample collection system tested on New Shepard suborbital flight. Called the Clockwork Starfish, this concept uses magnetic forces to attract metallic asteroid samples onto its extended panels, which are closed towards one another, creating a secure cavity that retains the samples until return to Earth. The system is designed to collect up to 50% of its own mass in regolith. The New Shepard suborbital flight was important for verifying how asteroid simulants would interact with the system in microgravity. This passive sampling system has the potential to collect samples from dozens of sites while reducing risk of a single deployer failure. See a video of the system in action here.
OSIRIS-REx collects a sample of asteroid Bennu. The sample collection process went almost too well, with the sample container sinking almost 19 inches into Bennu’s surface and collecting far more material than planned for. So much material was collected that the one-way valve restricting material flow had been stuck open. Only putting the container within the return capsule prevented more material from floating away. OSIRIS-REx will remain in the vicinity of Bennu until March, when it will start its return journey back to Earth, arriving in 2023. The carbonaceous material from Bennu will provide invaluable data on C-type asteroids, which can contain trace amounts of water bearing materials.
MarS
The NASA InSight ‘Mole’ is now fully covered. After an unexpected pop-out last year, the Heat Flow and Physical Properties Package (HP3) will soon be able to start subsurface thermal measurements. The heat probe is able to pile drive itself down into the soil, however, this requires loose material to fully surround it. The soil where InSight landed remained stuck in place instead of collapsing around the probe. The robotic arm was therefore used to assist the probe as it pounded its way down. The team will spend the next few mounts covering and compacting soil around the probe to aid the probe reach further depths. In a way, this is one of the first construction activities done on Mars! Link.
Elon Musk interviewed at 2020 Mars Society virtual convention. Watch the full recording here.
Perseverance rover halfway to Mars. The NASA Mars 2020 rover has already spent three months in space, and is 26.6 million miles (42.7 million kilometers) away from Earth. It is still in good health and will land on Mars on February 18, 2021. Link.
NASA sample return system to be included on JAXA’s upcoming Phobos mission. Developed by Altadena and Honeybee Robotics, the PlanetVac system is a pneumatic based system that only uses compressed gas to blow material into a collection container. The specific system to be included on JAXA’s Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) mission will be called P Sampler. Before launching aboard MMX in 2024 towards Mars’ moon Phobos, the PlanetVac concept will be tested on the Moon in 2023 as a CLPS payload. Systems like this will simplify the way samples are collected on other worlds, hopefully making sample return missions to bodies around the Solar System more common-place. Link.
Moon
Eight countries sign the Artemis Accords. This international agreement establishes principles that each signature country must follow in regard to a sustainable presence on the Moon. NASA has stated that the accords reinforce and implement the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, including rendering assistance to each other in an emergency and preserving the heritage of outer space. Additional items include transparent exploration, hardware systems operable to every member nation, and safe disposal of space debris. The eight countries include Australia, Britain, Canada, Italy, Luxembourg, Japan, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States. Notable countries missing include Russia, China, and India. Link.
Water molecules discovered in a sunlit area of the Moon. This water was observed in the Clavius Crater, one of the largest lunar craters visible from Earth. While the actual concentration of water observed is between 100 to 412 parts per million (about 100 times less than that found in the Sahara desert), the presence alone provokes many questions. How are these water molecules able to survive the extreme lunar temperatures. How were the water molecules delivered to the Moon’s surface. Most importantly for space resources is whether this water can feasibly and economically be used for ISRU activities, despite being at extremely low concentrations. Link.
Study finds that robots can drive into many lunar cold traps. It is expected that these cold traps contain water ice that condensed over millions of years. Previously, it was thought that nearly all of these cold traps were in terrain too steep for robots to traverse. However, the study authors, Cannon and Britt, determined that most of the cold traps evaluated could be driven in and out of without exceeding a 25 degree slope. These locations will provide invaluable information to future lunar exploration mission planners, who can use this to plan both the system design and operational activities. DOI: 10.1029/2020EA001291.
There may be substantially more lunar cold traps than previously thought, too. This study used theoretical models and data from the NASA Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter to estimate that approximately 10 to 20% of total cold trap water is found in micro cold traps, which include areas as small as 1 cm. If proven with in-situ observations, this concept of micro cold traps would require substantially different architectures for lunar ice mining. Instead of systems that focus on a single large, relatively high ice concentration area, systems would need to scour larger areas, seeking small pockets of water ice. DOI: 10.1038/s41550-020-1198-9.
Nokia Bell Labs to build a 4G communication system for lunar deployment. Through $14.1 million funding from NASA, this communication system will include space hardened base stations, antennas, and software to run it all. The goal is to provide communication capabilities to astronauts, rovers, and landers, allowing real-time navigation, high definition video streaming, and remote control capabilities to rovers. A partnership with Intuitive Machines, who is being funded to develop a small lunar lander, will help Nokia with this process.
ESA agrees to develop modules for NASA’s lunar outpost, in exchange for rides for European astronauts. The modules include the main habitat for astronauts and a communications and refueling module. ESA will have three flight opportunities for their astronauts to travel and work at the outpost, called Gateway.
Intuitive Machines selected by NASA to deliver ice drill to the lunar surface by 2022. The Polar Resources Ice Mining Experiment (PRIME-1) drill will collect subsurface regolith and use a mass spectrometer to measure how much ice is sublimated when exposed to surface conditions. This 88 pound payload will land on the Moon’s south pole before the NASA VIPER arrives, allowing the VIPER team to better prepare for their more in depth water search. Link.
Lunar Outpost unveils next gen compact lunar rover. The Mobile Autonomous Prospecting Platform (MAPP) is a compact 10 kg rover with multiple refinements from their first generation rover (also called MAPP). This system is specifically designed for resource prospecting on the Moon, yet can also host third party payloads that require mobility. See MAPP in action here.
NASA Lunar Deep Freeze Challenge open until Nov 12. This public challenge allows teams to submit methods in which lunar regolith samples collected by Artemis astronauts can be kept cryogenic for two weeks as they make a return trip to Earth. If you think you have an innovative idea to solve this, submit your idea before November 12. The prize pool is $40,000! Link.
Terrestrial
New titanium space toilet is no laughing matter. Launched aboard the Northrop Grumman Antares rocket on October 3, the Universal Waste Management System (UWMS) is the first toilet launched to the ISS since the early 1990s. Utilizing advanced manufacturing technologies, such as titanium 3D printing, the new toilet is 65% small and 40% lighter than the current system on the ISS. In addition to the strength of titanium, it is also able to resist the acidic nature of urine. Most importantly, the new model will be easier to use and operate. As Melissa McKinley, NASA project manager for UWMS, mentioned, the system has a redesigned funnel to help female astronauts defecate and urinate at the same time, something not possible before. Once proven on the ISS, the UWMS model will be used aboard the Orion capsule for trips to the Moon. While often an afterthought, many conveniences we know and expect on Earth will need to be redesigned for use in space, providing future astronauts with safe, sanitary, and efficient facilities. Link.
NASA funding researcher to fly on Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwo. Dr. Alan Stern, a planetary scientist and associate vice president of Southwest Research Institute’s Science and Engineering division, will use this upcoming suborbital mission to study how well a former space shuttle low light camera can be used for space based astronomical observations. Being able to tend missions in person provides researchers flexibility in handling unexpected experiment changes. The use of more affordable suborbital flights by NASA is a game changer from how things have previously been done.
SpaceX Starlink opens public beta testing of broadband internet service. Utilizing its fleet of over 800 small satellites in low-Earth orbit (LEO), Starlink currently provides data speeds between 50 Mbps and 150 Mbps with latencies from 20 ms to 40 ms. These values should improve as more satellites join the constellation. The service requires a $499 user terminal and a $99 monthly fee. For some users with no existing ground internet option, this may still be their best option for internet access. Starlink should provide SpaceX with another source of funding that can be used to advance Musk’s goals of settling people on Mars. SpaceX also received a $149 million contract from the US DoD to develop a missile detection satellite constellation that would be based on Starlink’s design. Link.
Momentus announces merger with Stable Road Capital. In-space transportation company Momentus will go public via a merger with the special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) Stable Road. Merging with a SPAC is often done to bring a company public quicker than a traditional initial public offering (IPO), while also benefiting companies deemed riskier. The merger values Momentus at $1.2 billion and will raise a large amount of capital. Momentous is seeking to grow their in-orbit servicing business quickly. Stable Road is listed under the ticker SRAC, and once the merger is complete, Momentus will trade under the ticker MNTS. Link.
Space debris firm Astroscale raises $51 million in Series E funding. This round brings Astroscale’s total valuation to $191 million. Astroscale originally focused on orbital debris migration services, however, they recently expressed interest in expanding to in-orbit servicing. With the success of Northrop Grumman’s MEV-1 and Momentus’ massive valuation, this appears to be a good business move. Link.
Holding company Redwire acquires space hardware company Roccor. Roccor will join previous Redwire acquisitions Deep Space Systems, Adcole Space, and Made In Space. Roccorr has extensive experience developing deployable spacecraft structures, including booms, hinges, solar arrays, and antennas, having technology on 75 space missions. Redwire, managed by AE Industrial Partners, is expanding its portfolio of space based infrastructure development capabilities. Link.
Chinese entity applying for spectrum for 13k satellite constellation. Little is known about what entity actually applied to the ITU for spectrum allocation. This constellation would join SpaceX, Amazon, and OneWeb in attempts to make a LEO mega constellation. At these scales, orbital traffic management will be a key concern. Link.
