Date of Award

Spring 2013

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering

Program/Concentration

Aerospace Engineering

Committee Director

Robert Ash

Committee Member

Drew Landman

Committee Member

Brett Newman

Call Number for Print

Special Collections; LD4331.E56 T96 2013

Abstract

This thesis has investigated the feasibility of utilizing hydrogen-filled balloons as transport systems to accelerate robotic exploration of Mars. Assuming that a fixed robotic base is established at a Mars surface location that is accessible to water ice, electrolysis of in situ water to produce hydrogen is straight forward. A recent Master's thesis determined that global wind patterns at Mars were strong at most times of the year and predictable. On that basis, it was possible to investigate the feasibility of employing surface-launched, hydrogen-filled balloons to transport 100 kg payloads over great distances and to otherwise inaccessible locations throughout Mars. Polar transport of the primary atmospheric constituent, carbon dioxide, drives the planetary weather patterns, and nominal wind speeds are sufficiently high to facilitate planet-wide traverses. Seasonal variations cause changes in weather patterns in a predictable manner that can be exploited. These effects have been validated using numerical simulations of measured surface weather data starting with the Viking lander observations and subsequently from rover and orbital spacecraft measurements. This research has utilized the Mars-GRAM weather simulation program to explore wind conditions over candidate surface launch locations throughout the Martian year. The data collected provides insight on desirable base locations and nominal launch opportunities for serial robotic balloon missions. Using this research, it is possible to target a range of launch dates in order to reach selected downwind locations from an assumed fixed base corresponding with the Viking 2 Lander site. For an expedition launching in the northern hemisphere, the prevailing winds are from west to east over significant portions of the year. A five sol balloon mission is capable of circumnavigating the planet based on predicted wind speeds. However, near the summer solstice the prevailing winds flow from east to west for a short period, providing substantially different balloon flight trajectories. These seasonal characteristics provide a logical basis for navigation using atmospheric sounding techniques and buoyance control to effect navigation similar to sailing. Exploiting predictable weather variations simulated in this research can lead to exploration of very large areas of the planet or access to otherwise inaccessible locations.

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DOI

10.25777/wjj8-s904

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