CURRENT PROJECTS
Autonomous Aerobraking Technology Development
Sponsor: NASA JPL, University of Illinois
Aerobraking uses drag generated over many passes through the upper atmosphere of a planet to reduce orbital energy and reduce propellant needs. Although performed successfully by recent Mars missions (MRO, Odyssey, MGS), aerobraking campaigns remain operationally intensive and require 24-7 monitoring by ground teams to ensure mission success. The goal of this project is to develop technology, based on recent advances in machine learning techniques, to automate mission planning and operations for aerobraking at the campaign level. This technology will enable detailed mission design studies of aerobraking campaign options and potentially reduce the operational cost and time required to successfully execute aerobraking campaigns.
Deep Space Navigation using X-ray Pulsars
Sponsor: NASA Johnson Space Center, University of Illinois
Current deep space missions are dependent on Earth-based ground stations for navigation state estimates. Pulsars emit stable, predictable X-ray signals that may be used in lieu of ground stations to update spacecraft position and velocity estimates. However, current concept still require initial state knowledge to effectively use the X-ray data. This effort is focused on developing position and velocity state estimates usingĀ X-ray navigation without initial states from the ground, also known as the “cold start” or “lost in space” problem. The ability to solve the cold start problem onboard a spacecraft will improve spacecraft autonomy, reduce mission risk, and help to unload the already oversubscribed Deep Space Network.
Linear Covariance Analysis for Estimating Sensor- and Trajectory-Dependent Navigation Error
Sponsor: Sandia National Laboratory
Linear Covariance Analysis Capability Development for Guided Entry Systems
Partner: NASA Johnson Space Center
Current uncertainty analysis for guided entry systems often use Monte Carlo methods, which can be computationally expensive, especially in early-mission phases. An alternative uncertainty analysis method with heritage in many other phases of spaceflight is linear covariance analysis, which can provide similar statistical information as Monte Carlo methods with a single trajectory integration. This project is focused on extending linear covariance analysis capability to six-degree-of-freedom guided entry systems to complement Monte Carlo methods for early-mission uncertainty analysis. Using linear covariance analysis in this way will also enable a deeper understanding of the performance of guidance algorithms through direct uncertainty analysis of guidance-internal parameters.
Utilization of Magnetohydrodynamics for Trajectory Control to Land High-Mass Payloads on Mars
Sponsor: NASA Space Technology Mission Directorate
As Mars mission goals develop, larger payloads must be landed on the surface with high precision. Recent advancements in electromagnets have made leveraging magnetohydrodynamic effects a possibility for planetary entry. A magnetic field can interact with the ionized flow to reduce heating, shorten the blackout period, and develop force. This project explores how magnetohydrodynamic forces can be utilized as a control mechanism to enable landing larger payloads and/or increase landing precision.
One-Size-Fits-Most Space Propulsion
Sponsor: DARPA
An Approach for Assessing the Entry Performance of Different Direct Force Control Vehicle Configurations During Mars Entry
Sponsor: NASA Space Technology Mission Directorate
This project is investigating the use of direct force control (DFC) to enhance hypersonic and supersonic entry control for Mars entry vehicles. A framework will be developed to realistically assess the entry performance of different configurations of DFC vehicles, by performing medium- to high-fidelity trajectory simulations. Real-time guidance and control algorithms will be developed to enable better assessment of likely flight performance. Vehicle configurations will be assessed based on their precision landing capability, ability to provide mass savings, flight dynamics characteristics, and potential to provide a wider flight envelope.
PAST PROJECTS
Utilization of Self-Healing Materials in Thermal Protection System Applications
2016-2021
Sponsor: NASA Space Technology Mission Directorate
Current technology for repairing thermal protection systems from micrometeor and orbital debris impact damage has a low Technology Readiness Level (TRL) and there are no repair materials currently available for use. The proposed plan for advancing self-healing TPS consists of four stages: manufacturing, thermal testing, self-healing testing, and thermal testing of healed samples. Placing the material in arc jets with relevant reentry environments will test the thermal response of the material. Impacting or damaging the integrated material will test self-healing properties. After performing this research, self-healing TPS will be ready for testing in relevant space environments by measuring material responses in vacuum and at extreme varying temperatures.
Student Aerothermal Spectrometer Satellite of Illinois and Indiana (SASSI²)
2016-2019
Sponsor: NASA Science Mission Directorate
Partner: Purdue University
SASSI2 will characterize the flow field and radiation generated by the diffuse bow shock formed during high-speed flight through the upper atmosphere. Optical spectrographic measurements of the radiation will provide benchmark data for fundamental flow, radiation, and materials modeling, resulting in improved prediction of the aerothermodynamic environment encountered by bodies entering the atmosphere, including entry vehicles, meteors, and large impactor ejecta. Novel MEMS-based pressure and temperature sensors will characterize the free-stream and help interpret spectrometer data; successful flight of these sensors will space-qualify them for future picosat missions. The goal of this project is to develop industry-critical skills in undergraduate students while pursuing a meaningful science investigation. The undergraduate student team has responsibility for all project roles, with multiple faculty members at each participating university providing mentoring, guidance, and training.
Chariot to the Moons of Mars
2017
Sponsor: NASA Science Mission Directorate
Partners: Purdue University, Arizona State University, Tyvak Inc., JPL Team Xc
Chariot to the Moons of Mars is a science-driven planetary small satellite mission concept study led by Prof. David Minton, a planetary scientist at Purdue University. Chariot will investigate the origins of Mars’s moons Phobos and Deimos. Chariot will utilize drag-modulated aerocapture for orbit insertion at Mars and electric propulsion to visit both moons in a single mission. The Putnam Research group will lead the mission and trajectory design for the complete mission and the design and development of the cruise/aerocapture flight system.
Strategies for Landing High Ballistic Coefficient Vehicles on Mars
2015-2017
Sponsor: NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Landing more capable vehicles at Mars requires the development of systems to land higher masses on the surface. Supersonic retropropulsion is a promising technology development that will likely be required to land larger robotic and human class payloads at Mars. In collaboration with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, hypersonic control strategies are being developed to enable the landing of high mass vehicles that use supersonic retropropulsion for terminal descent.
Hypersonic Trajectory Control via Moving-Mass Actuation
2015-2016
Sponsor: University of Illinois