There is always Space for Quality

Dr Mark English

Space and Software

Cassini / Huygens the plan

3.5 Billion kms

Cassini/Huygens
Mariner MKII spacecraft

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Source: NASA

Cassini
Mariner MKII spacecraft

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Source: NASA

Cassini/Huygens Flight Model

Mariner MKII spacecraft

The Surface Science Package

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Source: John Zarnecki, PSSRI, Open University, UK

Cassini / Huygens the plan

3.5 Billion kms

Titan
Titans vital statistics:
Diameter 5150km; Orbital/rotational period 15.95 days

Only planetary satellite with atmosphere

Column mass ~ 10 x value for Earth

Atmospheric Composition
Nitrogen and rich array of hydrocarbons and nitriles

Hidden Surface
Obscured by photochemical haze Indirect evidence for surface seas/lakes

Model for early Earth?

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Overall model of Titan

Source: R. Lorenz

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Considerations
Delivery mechanisms Target environment Transition environment Duration of operation Nature of operation Sound familiar?
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Design and Build

Look at key facts with tolerance Temperature Vacuum Radiation Time Chemistry Zero gravity
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The Mission

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Survival
Launch shaking (a lot) Cruise radiation & vacuum Cruise thermal control Cruise temperature cycling Trajectory and SOI accuracy Entry & Surface mission - cold

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Launch

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Getting through Launch

Make it ... then shake it

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Cruise

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The flight plan

VVEJGA

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Source: NASA

The flight plan

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Source: BBC

Temperature Control
Gets cold out there No solar panels for electric heating
Too far, sun too weak Too much dust

Use RTGs for power Use RHUs for on-platform heat

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Keeping warm

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Keeping warm

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Radiation
Sources
Natural (Sun, Cosmic) RTGs RHUs

Total dose to outside of shield

24.15 kRads

Qual level ... double it

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Proven technology
No Moving parts
No lubricant Solid actuators

No normal solder
Crystallisation

Outgassed plastics
No nasty condensation

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Proven technology
Radhard ICs Care with Digital and analogue lines Waiver and qualification for E2PROMS

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You can never go back Dorothy

Once it is launched there is no maintenance ... It has to work first time, the first time... How do you get to this level of quality?

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Systems engineering
Developed through Minuteman, Used on Apollo Working to interfaces, and specifications Big design, modular breakdown
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Modules
See this in Software ... Code libraries (NAG) Component based development

Requires very strict library management and definition

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Libraries
Numerical Algorithms Group

http://www.nag.co.uk/
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Libraries
Not enough to know what things do How were they tested? What tolerances were on that data? What operational environment? What Units?

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Failures
Mars has swallowed 12 missions Mars observer 1993 Mars global surveyor 1996 Mars climate orbiter 1999 Ariane 5 1996

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Caveat
Any well meaning highly skilled operator can try and do something and screw it up like any of us You get this in all industries.

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Cassini / Huygens the plan

3.5 Billion kms

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SOI

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Arriving at Saturn
Saturn Orbit Insertion Turned spacecraft round Fired motors for 96 Minutes

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Source: Huygens Mission Operations Plan

Arriving at Saturn

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Source: Huygens Mission Operations Plan

Ejection

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How Cassini supports Huygens

Radio uplink during mission using HGA

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Source: NASA

Atmospheric Entry and Surface Mission

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Any other risks?

Hm......

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Atmospheric Models

Yelle et al. 1997

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Huygens descent timelines

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Source: John Zarnecki, PSSRI, Open University, UK / ESA

Parachute Test
A test drop was done on Earth

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Source: ESA

SSP
Measure:
Temperature Speed of sound Acceleration Refractive properties Liquid Density Thermal Properties Electrical Properties Angle of tilt

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Source: PSSRI

SSP
Measure:
Temperature Speed of sound Acceleration Refractive properties Liquid Density Thermal Properties Electrical Properties Angle of tilt

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Source: PSSRI

Shake and Bake (!)

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Source: John Zarnecki, PSSRI, Open University, UK

Prepare the spacecraft

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Cassini
Mariner MKII spacecraft

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Source: NASA

Design Constraints
Survive Launch
Very high G shock

Radiation proof (Rad hard)

Solar radiation RHUs and RTGs

Reliable over 7 years cruise

Vacuum Zero gravity

Reliable during 69 orbits Surface mission

Atmospheric entry Cryogenic cooling (-200 degC) Dunking into Liquid Ethane/Methane mix

Manufactured in 1994

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Qualification
Launch
Calculate the resonant frequencies Shake it on a test bed

Radiation proof (Rad hard)

Irradiate all components

Reliable over 7 years cruise

Bake out all volatiles

Reliable during 69 orbits (!) Surface mission

Cryogenic cooling (-200 degC) Dunking into Liquid Ethane/Methane mix
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Project Management

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Documentation
ISO 9000, BS5750 Fully documented

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Documentation
ISO 9000, BS5750 Each operation mapped out

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The results

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The Landing Site

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Source: ESA

Descent to Titan - Surface mode

Dull thud
Major Instruments:
SSP DISR

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Surface View
Titan surface

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Credits: ESA/NASA/JPL/University of Arizona

DISR Panorama

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Summary
Exploration
A lot of engineering A lot of planning A lot of people

Science objectives, Risk driven development

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61
Source: NASA

Acknowledgements
PSSRI of the Open University, UK
Access to Huygens datastore Mark Leese, SSP programme manager

NASA ESA Proxima Ltd. Ralph Lorenz, LPL, Univ. Arizona

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Resources
European Space Agency
http://sci.esa.int/Huygens

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov

Planetary and Space Science Research Institute

http://pssri.open.ac.uk/missions/mis-casa.htm

Zen, and the art of motorcycle maintenance, Robert Pirsig The New Solar System, J. Kelly Beatty and Andrew Chaikin (eds), Sky Publications. Software Engineering Standards, Mazza et. al., Prentice Hall
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