The role of the living with a star program in enhancing the capbility of the space intrastructure
Abstract
The increased reliance of society on space infrastructure has heightened the need for scientific understanding of the natural space environment, its solar induced variability (i.e., space weather), and the response of technological systems exposed to the space environment. Our capability in space is enhanced by the insertion of enabling technologies into systems. Due the trend to use technologies that are not designed for the space environment and the rapid turnover of technology generations, the space environment and its effects pose difficult challenges for designers and operators of space systems. To achieve reliable systems, they must take into account environment interactions with spacecraft systems and instruments. The effects of the interactions include degradation of materials, thermal changes, contamination, excitation, spacecraft glow, charging, communication and navigation errors and dropouts, radiation damage and induced background interference. Most existing models of the space environment and its interactions with spacecraft and instruments are inaccurate and are not designed to meet current requirements because our scientific understanding of these phenomena has not kept pace with technology changes. Ideally, the accommodation of space environment effects is accomplished in the design phase of system development. However, in an increasing number of cases, the effects can be minimized but not completely eliminated, and the mission must assume a level of risk. Risk is managed by understanding space environment variations and by developing "space weather" guidelines that are used during the operation of the spacecraft to prevent deleterious effects. Also, spacecraft can perform unexpectedly during operations, i.e., experience an "anomaly". The anomaly must be resolved so that appropriate changes can be made to operational guidelines. Whether in the design, anomaly resolution, or operational phase of a mission, accurate information about the space environment and effects is needed, and each type of environment effect, system impact, and mission phase has unique requirements. Traditional science research programs are not designed to provide space environment data and models that meet requirements imposed by the need for increased capability in our space infrastructure. Also, opportunities to investigate the interaction of the space environment with spacecraft and instrument components are extremely limited. The lack of low cost access to space for research on understanding the mechanisms of environment damage, degradation, and interference severely hampers our ability to utilize enabling technologies in space systems. The NASA Living with a Star (LWS) Program offers a unique opportunity to achieve seamless transition of scientific understanding to applications. (The LWS Program will be discussed in detail in the Joint COSPAR/IAC Session EO.3.) The role of the Space Environment Testbed (SET) element of the LWS Program is to define the response of spacecraft and instrument components to the space environment thereby providing understanding of the mechanisms of degradation, damage, and interference on enabling technologies and validating space weather models. The final paper and presentation will describe technology issues that drive requirements for space environment models and will describe the role of the LWS/SET in understanding and mitigating space environment effects.
- Publication:
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34th COSPAR Scientific Assembly
- Pub Date:
- 2002
- Bibcode:
- 2002cosp...34E3148B