Virtual Meteorological Towers and Optical Air Data Systems for Mars Exploration and Colonization

Wind lidars have reached a stage of technological maturity that they are implemented at many major airports for safety of operations involving microbursts, gust fronts, and wake vortices. DARPA is currently performing research into ultra-low-SWAP wind lidars for use in Earth's upper altitude. The NASA SBIR program has supported research into 2 different technological approaches to OADS avionics that are progressing under industrial funding. The European Space Agency, through their support of the Aladin Doppler wind lidar system for the Aeolus satellite, appear to have resolved the issue of ultraviolet laser operations in space. With all of these technologies reaching these new levels of TRL, it is expected that the proposed trade study will successfully identify a technology path to pursue to meet the sensor needs to enable landing precision within 50m.\n\n Who Cares\n Developing Entry, Descent, and Landing (EDL) capabilities with sensors and GNC to deliver payloads with an accuracy and precision of 50m or better is a critical need for LaRC STIP Grand Challenge 5 Innovative Concepts for landing 20 mt on Mars.\n\nImpact/Metrics\n The effort will evaluate what surface infrastructure and/or flight avionics are required to meet the 50m accuracy goal of LaRC STIP Grand Challenge #5 and perform a trade study of the technological readiness of 2 leading technology approaches.\n A literature survey is needed to evaluate the current understanding of the distribution of aerosols in the Martian atmosphere. If this information has not been published yet, it will be necessary to work with the science teams of the existing Martian orbital wind lidars to develop an engineering design database. If that information is not available, a first-principals analysis of the Martian atmosphere will be developed from the open literature. The payoff will be the availability of this lidar engineering design database for future efforts.\n\nMidterm progress: Engineering database for wind lidar and OADS analysis developed for Martian atmosphere and development of surface-based numerical lidar and OADS models initiated.\n Final: Initial surface-based numerical lidar and OADS models developed and initial trade study complete. Initial entry and descent numerical lidar and OADS models developed and initial trade study in progress with emphasis on altitude limit for flight support. Progress report submitted.

Achieving the goal of consistent delivery of payloads to the surface of Mars requires high spatial and temporal resolution of wind field and atmospheric conditions for those ground exploration and colonization sites. These atmospheric measurements can be achieved using surface-based virtual meteorological towers (VMT). In addition, achieving this level of surface accuracy may require active controlled entry through the atmosphere. These active controlled entry may take the form of either lifting bodies (shuttle like) or steerable parachute systems. These active controlled systems require appropriate air data systems. The leading candidates for both the VMT configuration and for the active controlled entry system are (1) wind lidars together with in-situ measurement of temperature and pressure at the base unit or (2) optical air data systems (OADS) that would remotely measure the winds, temperature, and pressure. OADS are direct Doppler wind lidars operating in the ultraviolet. This effort will perform an initial trade study to identify the functionality and limitations of wind lidars and OADS in the Martian atmosphere.\n\nCurrent Martian wind studies are being done from orbit with measurements made by wind lidars. These wind field measurements lack the temporal and spatial resolution to enable consistent delivery of payloads to the Martian surface with a precision of 1km. Wind lidars have reached a stage of technological maturity that they are implemented at many major airports for safety of operations involving microbursts, gust fronts, and wake vortices. DARPA is currently performing research into ultra-low-SWAP wind lidars for use in Earth’s upper altitude. The NASA SBIR program has supported research into 2 different technological approaches to OADS avionics that are progressing under industrial funding. The European Space Agency, through their support of the Aladin Doppler wind lidar system for the Aeolus satellite, appears to have resolved the issue of ultraviolet laser operations in space. With all of these technologies reaching these new levels of TRL, it is expected that the proposed trade study will successfully identify a technology path to pursue to meet the sensor needs to enable landing within 50 m.

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