International Space Station:Investing in Humanity’s Future

Near Real-Time Near Real-Time Monitoring and Monitoring and Non-Destructive Non-Destructive

Testing & Evaluation Testing & Evaluation (NDT & E) of the (NDT & E) of the

ISS ExteriorISS Exterior

Andrew CharlesAndrew Charlesandytheresa@gmail.comandytheresa@gmail.com

ASTE 527ASTE 527

December 15, 2009December 15, 2009

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National Vision vs. International Cooperation

• U.S. decision to stop ISS funding in 2015 may have U.S. decision to stop ISS funding in 2015 may have reversed advances in international cooperationreversed advances in international cooperation– Roscosmos leadership are developing an all-Russian follow-Roscosmos leadership are developing an all-Russian follow-

on to the ISS, presumably to reduce reliance on the U.S.on to the ISS, presumably to reduce reliance on the U.S.– ESA is exploring follow-on options to demonstrate their ESA is exploring follow-on options to demonstrate their

scientific and engineering prowessscientific and engineering prowess

• Reinvesting in the ISS supports two goalsReinvesting in the ISS supports two goals– Space ExplorationSpace Exploration: Extending its life increases the time : Extending its life increases the time

available to conduct experiments on long-term life in spaceavailable to conduct experiments on long-term life in space– International CooperationInternational Cooperation: Other countries will see that : Other countries will see that

American concern for cooperation outweighs our dedication American concern for cooperation outweighs our dedication to a unilateral visionto a unilateral vision

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Capitalize on Current Momentum

• Five space organizations are currently supporting Five space organizations are currently supporting the goals and aspirations of the ISSthe goals and aspirations of the ISS

• Russia is aggressively looking at deep space Russia is aggressively looking at deep space explorationexploration

• China and India are pursuing human space flightChina and India are pursuing human space flight• The U.S., with more money budgeted than the other The U.S., with more money budgeted than the other

four combined, is at a crossroads…the American or four combined, is at a crossroads…the American or International goalInternational goal

Now is the time to show our interest in international Now is the time to show our interest in international cooperation and shepherd (vice “lead”) the effort by cooperation and shepherd (vice “lead”) the effort by

investing in the motivation of other countriesinvesting in the motivation of other countries

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NDT&E

Three Areas of Life Extension

NASA’s NDE WG• Evaluation of Internal ComponentsEvaluation of Internal Components

• Evaluation of External “Skin”Evaluation of External “Skin”

• Maintenance and RepairMaintenance and Repair

"I don't see any problems, with the exception of penetration of the "I don't see any problems, with the exception of penetration of the modules' skin by a meteoroid. [The vehicles] can fly 20 or 30 modules' skin by a meteoroid. [The vehicles] can fly 20 or 30

years and, if we don't have a direct hit, we can replace years and, if we don't have a direct hit, we can replace practically every internal component. We learned a lesson from practically every internal component. We learned a lesson from MirMir that anything that can fail in this period of time can be that anything that can fail in this period of time can be

replaced.“ replaced.“ - Senior Russian official at RKK Energia- Senior Russian official at RKK Energia

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Rationale for NDT&E?

• Kessler syndrome: Ever increasing threat Kessler syndrome: Ever increasing threat from orbital debrisfrom orbital debris– Increased space population and operationsIncreased space population and operations

– 2009 Iridium/Cosmos collision and 20072009 Iridium/Cosmos collision and 2007Chinese ASAT test has increased particlesChinese ASAT test has increased particles

– ZARYAZARYA module was noted to have a 1/2cm module was noted to have a 1/2cmhole during a space walk to install debris shieldshole during a space walk to install debris shields

– In 2002 the Hubble Telescope solar panels (only 100km higher than ISS) In 2002 the Hubble Telescope solar panels (only 100km higher than ISS) were hit over 725,000 timeswere hit over 725,000 times

• Additional dangers from damage aggregate of ion and free electron Additional dangers from damage aggregate of ion and free electron impactimpact– ISS resides in the F2 layer of the ionosphere, the densest region of eISS resides in the F2 layer of the ionosphere, the densest region of e - - andand

dominated by Odominated by O+ + (added oxidation threat)(added oxidation threat)

• Added benefit of testing NDT&E capabilities for harsher environmentsAdded benefit of testing NDT&E capabilities for harsher environments

Columbus Debris Shield © ESA

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Non-Destructive Testing & Evaluation

• Current assessment process involves manned EVA or waiting for a Current assessment process involves manned EVA or waiting for a manned craft to come into close proximitymanned craft to come into close proximity

• Near-Term: Surface “crawler” could conduct more frequent Near-Term: Surface “crawler” could conduct more frequent evaluations, providing more accurate “aging” estimates and failure evaluations, providing more accurate “aging” estimates and failure warningswarnings– Optical imager or laser profilometer for surface evaluationOptical imager or laser profilometer for surface evaluation– Electromagnetic acoustic transducers (EMAT) for wall thickness Electromagnetic acoustic transducers (EMAT) for wall thickness

measurementsmeasurements– Eddy current instruments for sub-surface evaluationEddy current instruments for sub-surface evaluation

• Long-Term: As NDT degradation due to lift-off isLong-Term: As NDT degradation due to lift-off isreduced, a two-tiered approach would allow evenreduced, a two-tiered approach would allow evenmore frequent re-visitationmore frequent re-visitation– ““Orbiting” scanner with change-detectionOrbiting” scanner with change-detection

software onboard the ISS for gross evaluationsoftware onboard the ISS for gross evaluation– Surface scanners for more detailed and penetrating inspectionsSurface scanners for more detailed and penetrating inspections

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Crawler Design

• Electric-powered crawler(s) can deliver precision Electric-powered crawler(s) can deliver precision sensors to areas of concern or can “continually” sensors to areas of concern or can “continually” roam the surface roam the surface

• Tracked vehicle can traverse ISS “terrain”Tracked vehicle can traverse ISS “terrain”– 4 low-thrust motors (milli- or micro-Newton) 4 low-thrust motors (milli- or micro-Newton)

aid in keeping the tracks on the ISSaid in keeping the tracks on the ISS

– Pressure sensors in the track identify when Pressure sensors in the track identify when the track is off the surfacethe track is off the surface

– Possibly tethered to the Mobile RemotePossibly tethered to the Mobile RemoteServicer Base System (MBS)Servicer Base System (MBS)

• Communications maintained with ISS for steering Communications maintained with ISS for steering and reportingand reporting

Electric Thrusters

EMATEddy Current

LASER profilometers

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NDT & E Future Studies

• Continue efforts of Aerospatiale – Matra, UCLA’s Continue efforts of Aerospatiale – Matra, UCLA’s Stebastian Breugnot, and NASA’s NDE Working Group in Stebastian Breugnot, and NASA’s NDE Working Group in exploring on-orbit NDT methodsexploring on-orbit NDT methods

• Seek methods to improve Seek methods to improve μm level NDT&E at extended μm level NDT&E at extended lift-off distanceslift-off distances

• Explore impact of Field Emission Electric Propulsion Explore impact of Field Emission Electric Propulsion (FEEP) and other thruster emissions on ISS components(FEEP) and other thruster emissions on ISS components

• Develop the ability for NDT tools to selectively penetrate Develop the ability for NDT tools to selectively penetrate layered material, e.g. the orbital debris shield, or to layered material, e.g. the orbital debris shield, or to monitor the surface beneath such layersmonitor the surface beneath such layers

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References

Breugnot, Sebastien, “Microwave Detection of Laser Ultrasonic for Non-Destructive Testing,” Proposal for NASA’s STTR 2006 Solicitation, http://sbir.nasa.gov/SBIR/abstracts/06/sttr/phase2/STTR-06-2-T7.01-9996.html (accessed November 7, 2009).

Council of the European Union, “Council Resolution Taking Forward the European Space Policy,” 2891st Competitiveness (Internal Market, Industry and Research) Council meeting, September 26, 2008, http://www.consilium.europa.eu/ueDocs/cms_Data/docs/pressData/en/intm/103050.pdf (accessed November 1, 2009).

Houston Chronicle, “International Space Station Construction Continues,” Chron.com, 2009, http://www.chron.com/mm/iss/ (accessed November 2, 2009).

Nanofocus, “μsurf Explorer,” http://www.nanofocus-us.com/fileadmin/user_upload/download/Produkte/NanoFocus-usurf_explore_.pdf (accessed November 7, 2009).

NDT Resource Center, “The Focal Point for NDT Education,” Center for Nondestructive Evaluation, Iowa State University, http://www.ndt-ed.org/index_flash.htm (accessed November 7, 2009).

Nicolini, Davide, Pierre-Etienne.Frigot, “ESA Designs Its Smallest Ever Space Engine to Push Back Against Sunshine,” ESA.com, March 10, 2009, http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMMY3XX3RF_index_0.html (accessed November 15, 2009).

Platts, Warren, “Kessler on the Kessler Syndrome,” Spaceflight.com, March 8, 2009, http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=16192.0 (accessed December 3, 2009).

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References

Simburg, Rand, “The Uncertain Future of the International Space Station: Analysis,” Popular Mechanics, July 29, 2008, http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/air_space/4275571.html (accessed November 1, 2009).

Simonet, D, G Ithurralde, JP Choffy, and JP Bonnafé, “Non Destructive Testing in Space Environment,” 15 th World Conference on Nondestructive Testing, Rome, Italy, October 15-21, 2000, http://www.ndt.net/article/wcndt00/papers/idn288/idn288.htm (accessed November 7, 2009).

Staff Writers, “European Ministers Prepare A Roadmap Towards A Common Vision,” Space Travel: Exploration and Tourism, October 16, 2009, http://www.space-travel.com/reports/European_Ministers_Prepare_A_Roadmap_Towards_A_Common_Vision_999.html (accessed November 1, 2009).

Unknown, “Cosmonauts Complete ISS Shield Work”, spacetoday.net, June 7, 2007, http://www.spacetoday.net/Summary/3791 (accessed November 15, 2009). 

Unknown, “Mitigation of Orbital Debris,” Secure World Foundation, http://www.secureworldfoundation.org/index.php?id=14&page=Mitigation_of_Orbital_Debris (accessed December 3, 2009).

Zak, Anatoly, “Russia 'to Save Its ISS Modules‘,” BBC News, May 22, 2009 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8064060.stm (accessed November 7, 2009).