Space applications MARS mission

As mentioned earlier, analytical separation devices based on GC instrumentation have already been used in various space applications such as atmospheric probes and surface landers. Table 17.1 contains a summary of planetary exploration missions by NASA (both atmospheric probes and landers) where GC instrumentation has been used. The Viking mission to Mars contained two landers equipped with various scientific instruments for in situ analysis of the Martian atmosphere and soU. One of the analytical devices utiUzed a GC with one packed column equipped with a TCD to analyze the gases released by the soil (the Gas Exchange experiment GEX) after digestion of a nutrient liquid. The... 

Another special application of adsorption in space is presented by Grover et al. (1998). The University of Washington has designed an in situ resource utilization system to provide water to the life-support system in the laboratory module of the NASA Mars Reference Mission, a piloted mission to Mars. In this system, the Water Vapor Adsorption Reactor (WAVAR) extracts water vapor from the Martian atmosphere by adsorption in a bed of type 3A zeolite molecular1 sieve. Using ambient winds and fan power to move atmosphere, the WAVAR adsorbs the water vapor until the zeolite 3A bed is nearly saturated, and then heats the bed within a sealed chamber by microwave radiation to drive off water for collection. Tire water vapor flows to a condenser where it freezes and is later liquefied for use in tire life-support system. 

The composition of the Phobos and Deimos surfaces are of interest to astronomers at least partly because they provide additional information about the nature of the solar system. Some individuals go further and anticipate that the information may someday have some important practical application. Those who are thinking about human travel to Mars suggest that the two moons may contain materials that can be converted into fuels for space travel and thus play an important role in future trips back and forth between Earth and Mars. The practicality of this suggestion is at question, however, since no missions to or flybys of the moons are currently scheduled. 

Abstract NASA has used aerogel in several space exploration missions over the last two decades. Aerogel has been used as a hypervelocity particle capture medium (Stardust) and as thermal insulation for the Mars Pathfinder, Mars Exploration Rovers, and Mars Science Lander. Future applications of aerogel are also discussed and include the proposed use of aerogel as a sample collection medium to return upper atmosphere particles from Mars to earth and as thermal insulation in thermal-to-electric generators for future space missions and terrestrial waste-heat recovery technology. 

The thin, shiny insulation material used extensively in the Mars rover missions—a strong lightweight plastic, vacuum-metallized film that minimizes weight impact on vehicle payload while also protecting spacecraft, equipment, and personnel from the extreme temperature fluctuations of space— is found in applications ranging from reflective thermal blankets to party balloons. 

Specific future applications of space stations are difficult to predict. They may someday be used as educational institutions, vacation getaways, or way stations between Earth and other spacecraft, or they may remain as they are while other space missions attempt to fly to and from Mars and beyond. Because of the expenses involved in building and maintaining... 

Currently, Yardney is in continuous production of secondary lithium-ion batteries, primary and secondary silver-zinc batteries and primary reserve silver-zinc batteries used on various Department of Defense applications. The primary battery applications include the Navy s Trident IID5 Fleet Ballistic Missile program, the Minuteman III ICBM, and primary power for the MK 21 re-entry vehicle. In 2012, the Trident II missile has achieved 143 successful test launches since 1989—a record unmatched by any other large ballistic missile or space launch vehicle. The most prominent Li-ion batteries made by Yardney have powered the Mars Explorer Rover missions (Spirit, Opportunity, and Curiosity), the USAF B-2 Bomber and Global Hawk aircraft, and the US Navy Advanced SEAL Delivery System (ASDS). One of the future applications for Yardney s Li-ion batteries is NASA s Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV). 

A 16 ampere-hour (Ah) Ni-Hj battery composed of 11 CPV cells has been used in LEO satellites as well as in the Hubble Space Telescope. These batteries are operating continuously with no compromise in electrical performance and reliability. The Ni-Hj batteries have been used in several planetary missions, especially to Mars, and have demonstrated reliable performance under harsh space environments. The battery s deployment in terrestrial applications is limited, however, because of the high initial cost of such batteries as well as additional drawbacks discussed in the next paragraph. 

---