NASA Space Technology Roadmaps and Priorities Restoring NASA's Technological Edge and Paving the Way for a New Era in Space (2012) / Chapter Skim
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Appendix K: TA08 Science Instruments, Observatories, and Sensor Systems
Appendix K: TA08 Science Instruments, Observatories, and Sensor Systems
Pages 230-243
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From page 230... ...
Development of advanced approaches to high-dynamic-range imaging would be a game-changing technology to support exoplanet imaging, which is a priority initiative in the Astro2010 decadal survey for astronomy and astrophysics (NRC, 1 The draft space technology roadmaps are available at http://www.nasa.gov/offices/oct/strategic_integration/technology_roadmap.html.
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TOP TECHNICAL CHALLENGES The panel identified the following list of six top technical challenges that help provide an organizing frame work for setting priorities. Two pertain to crosscutting technologies, and the other four relate to specific important scientific goals.
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Determine if synthesis of organic matter may exist today, whether there is evidence that life ever emerged, and whether there are habitats with the necessary conditions to sustain life on other planetary bodies, by developing improved sensors for planetary sample returns and in situ analysis. The needed technologies include integrated and miniaturized sensor suites, sub-surface sample gathering and handling, unconsolidated-material handling in microgravity, temperature control of frozen samples, portable geochronology, and instrument operations and sample handling in extreme environments.
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Enable the active measurement from space of planetary surfaces and of solid-Earth and cryosphere surface deformation and monitoring of natural hazards by developing an affordable, lightweight, deployable synthetic aperture radar antenna. Synthetic aperture radar can provide unique information having both scientific and beneficial applications value regarding earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides, ground subsidence, floods, glacier surges, and ice sheet/shelf collapse.
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Technology 8.2.4, High-Contrast Imaging and Spectroscopic Technologies Development of these technologies would enhance high-dynamic-range imaging and support the 2010 astron omy and astrophysics decadal survey priority initiative for exoplanet imaging. There is a strong linkage between this technology and making progress on the top technical challenge to enable discovery of habitable planets, facilitate advances in solar physics, and enable the study of faint structures around bright objects.
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Wireless Systems: that life ever emerged, the study of faint time scales by investing in searches for the first measurement from space Enhance effectiveness of structures around bright and whether there are a range of technologies stars, galaxies, and black of solid-Earth and spacecraft design, habitats with the objects by developing that have been taken to holes, and advance cryosphere surface testing, and operations, high-contrast imaging and necessary conditions to sufficiently high TRLs and understanding of the deformation and and reduce spacecraft sustain life on other spectroscopic that cover a broad class fundamental physics of monitoring of natural schedule risk and mass, planetary bodies, by technologies to provide the universe by of applications so that hazards by developing an by incorporating wireless unprecedented sensitivity, developing improved developing a new they can be utilized on affordable, lightweight, systems technology into sensors for planetary field of view, and small (e.g. Explorer and generation of lower-cost, deployable synthetic spacecraft avionics and sample returns and in-situ spectroscopy of faint higher-performance Discovery-class)
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Active wavefront control aligns closely with NASA's need to develop the next generation of large-aperture astronomical telescopes, lightweight laser communication systems, and high-performance orbiting observatories for planetary missions. NASA has built capabilities and expertise in this technology by a long history of space-borne electro-optical sensors.
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While access to the ISS is not required, testing of new wireless sensors and systems on the ISS would greatly benefit their development. The panel overrode the QFD score for this technology to designate it as a high-priority technology because it directly relates to meeting the top technical challenge to enhance effectiveness of spacecraft design, testing, and operations, and reduce spacecraft schedule risk and mass, by incorporating wireless systems architecture into spacecraft avionics and instrumentation.
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The panel overrode the QFD score for this technology to designate it as a high-priority technology because the QFD scores did not capture the value of this technology in terms of its broad applicability to many categories of NASA missions, commercial imaging, NOAA missions, and the national security space communities. There is a strong linkage between these technologies and making progress on the top technical challenge regarding develop ment and maturation of technologies for small missions in short time scales, and the technologies will be valuable in facilitating progress in all of the top technical challenges.
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was added because atomic interference of laser-cooled atoms has enabled fundamental physics laboratory experiments (at TRL 4) including gravitational measurements of greatly improved precision, and this technology could potentially lead to extremely sensitive space detectors of acceleration and thus of gravity waves.
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In reference to specific technology priorities, he suggested that wavefront control via active mirrors should have an increasing role as systems get larger and less rigid, but actu ated mechanisms are an anathema for managers of many space observatory programs. He believes that adaptive mirrors that use wavefront sensing and control is a game-changing technology for large aperture systems.
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. He thinks that most of the technology advancements will come with increasing array size with the current size of LTD arrays doubling about every 20 months.
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They noted that affordability is a fundamental factor given the recent descopes suggested by the Planetary Decadal Survey and NASA's Earth Science budget proposal. Panel Discussion 6: In Situ Surface Physical, Chemical, and Biological Sensors The final session covered interactive measurements of non-Earth bodies within the solar system and was moderated by Daniel Winterhalter (JPL)
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as game-changing. Public Comment Session and General Discussion The day concluded with a public comment session moderated by Robert Hanisch.
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