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Space Missions
GER Panel 3: Near-Term Implementation Ideas, Strategies and Plans
Space Robotics and the GER:
An Industrial Perspective
Christian Sallaberger Vice-President & Director, Space Exploration
MDA
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GER – Opening Observations
• Good foundation, but urgently need meaningful 1st step
• Missions are too few pre-2020 – Key decision points for architecture
– Key for capability continuity
• Economic challenges will persist – Strategy of prudence – focus on near-term achievability
• Strong suite of Key Enabling Capabilities exist today – First precursor steps achievable with current robotic capabilities
• Global leverage will take effort but will be key – Focusing of national efforts; international access
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Feeding Robotics Lessons Learned into GER
• Robotics: a proven Key Enabling Capability
– 30 yrs building, servicing & upgrading space infrastructure
• Robotics: central architectural element
– Flexibility & unplanned capability, contingency, upgradability, interoperability
– e.g. Shuttle Robotics were used for unplanned ops on 50% of their missions
• Transferable capability
– Shuttle à ISS à Next-gen orbital servicing à Planetary exploration
– Large & small programs, manned & unmanned
• Human-robotic balance within architecture is a programmatic question
– Robotic capability rarely the problem, esp. vs the cost of human element
– Current ongoing assessment of tele-presence & autonomy within GER
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Implementation
• Imperatives – Identify minimum key missions needed to advance GER (“decision makers”)
• e.g. lunar & asteroid surface precursors, tech demos
– Mount these soon enough for capability continuity
– 1-2 modest missions today are critical to a viable architecture tomorrow
• Architecture Figures of Merit: some industrial suggestions – Capacity impact – near-term impact for current human & robotic capabilities
– Stability – balance between orbital & surface portfolio + near-term “decision” missions
– Readiness – addressable with current robotics, e.g. servicing, assembly, flexibility
– Sustainability – transferable / evolvable capability, Moon-Mars-Asteroid-DSH transfer
– Commercialization – healthy level of commercial / non-govt space opportunities
– National themes – sufficient socioeconomic impact, public & political resonance
– Terrestrial potential – tangible space-terrestrial tech transfer opportunities (non-trivial)
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Near-term Steps: LEO / ISS
Key Near-Term GER Step • L1 Outpost
– Plus associated ISS Tech Demonstrations
Key Enabling Capabilities
• Servicing robotics • Rendezvous & Docking • Telepresence
Current Activities
• ISS robotics • Next-Gen Canadarm Program
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Near-Term Steps: Moon
Key Near-Term GER Step • Mid-decade Lunar Robotic Precursor Mission
– Science (ice) / Prospecting / ISRU tech-demo
Key Enabling Capabilities
• Surface mobility • Autonomy & Advanced Vision • Dust-tolerant surface & subsurface robotics • Lunar-night Power & Thermal
Current Activities
• CSA Lunar rover vehicle prototypes (2012) • Lunar science instruments • Critical lunar technology developments • International analogue missions
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Near-Term Steps: Asteroid
Key Near-Term GER Step • Asteroid Robotic Precursor Mission
Key Enabling Capabilities • Autonomous Rendezvous • Surface & subsurface robotics • Power & Thermal
Current Activities
• New Frontiers OSIRIS-REX Lidar • Next Generation Canadarm Program • CSA Science instrument prototypes
7 Image credit: University of Arizona / Lockheed Martin
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Near-Term Steps: Mars
Key Near-Term GER Step • Pre-2020 International Mars surface mission
– Preparation for Mars Sample Return
Key Enabling Capabilities
• Robotic surface mobility • Long-range navigation • Surface & subsurface robotics
Current Activities
• CSA Mars Rover Vehicle Prototypes • Robotics & science instruments on MER, Phoenix & MSL • ExoMars & Mars Sample Return development activities • International Analogue Missions
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