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Autonomous Surface Site Establishment to Ensure Safe Crew Arrival and Operations
Completed
TRL 2 (started at 2, targeting 2)
Description
Identify the surface assets and the autonomous operations necessary to provide an operational and safe destination that reduces risk for human Mars exploration. 1) Traditional Mars surface strategies have relied on crew availability to support system setup and repair 2)Safety first, then crew has been followed throughout history of human spaceflight (e.g. Apollo, crew to low Earth orbit)#Advances in autonomy and associated technologies on Earth are applicable to the deployment and operations of Mars surface infrastructure, leading to a safer destination when crew arrive.
Benefits
This work benefits human exploration for the moon and mars
Details
| Technology area | Exploration Destination Systems > Mission Operations and Safety > Integrated Flight Operations Systems |
| Program | Center Innovation Fund: LaRC CIF (LaRC CIF) |
| Lead organization | Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA |
| Start date | 2017-10-01 |
| End date | 2018-09-30 |
Project contacts
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How to get involved
This is early/mid-stage (TRL 2) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.
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