Mission Engineering Project Report - Example
pdf
School
James Madison University *
*We aren’t endorsed by this school
Course
650
Subject
English
Date
Feb 20, 2024
Type
Pages
10
Uploaded by susmakh
Asteroid Mining with a Nuclear Propulsion System Name
email address
ENMA 650:
Mission Engineering and Analysis Dr. James Moreland December 6, 2021
2 Abstract The availability of precious metals and other minerals are becoming increasingly scarce on Earth, with current shortages likely to worsen in the future. In order to mitigate the catastrophic consequences associated with a world-wide metal and mineral shortage, the United States of America should explore the concept of asteroid mining in collaboration with a ship-
based nuclear reactor as an alternative method for metal and mineral resource collection. The School of Nuclear Science and Technology in Shanxi published an article in 2021 demonstrating the design of a 1kW free-piston Stirling engine for a space reactor power system. Their successful design, consisting of computational fluid dynamics and mathematical modeling, validates the possibility of integrating space nuclear reactor systems and mechanically driven machines for various applications. This project will expand on these concepts and explore the necessary interactions between current and future system-of-systems (SoS) to create a high-level mission design, in which a theoretical spaceship, the USS Independence, powered by a nuclear reactor, will travel through the depths of space to mine asteroids for precious metals. Thesis Statement An analysis of asteroid mining utilizing a nuclear propulsion system in hopes to develop a better understanding of the associated risks, requirements, and operational view, to identify an effects and kill chain framework and a possible path forward in the mostly-unexplored field of asteroid mining. Problem Statement Space exploration is one of the most incredible engineering feats accomplished by man. Traveling outside the boundaries of planet Earth requires immense planning and successful communication between numerous SoS. As technological advancements have made great strides over the last few decades, space exploration is now being considered for a number of strategic applications. Astronomers have analyzed the metallurgical contents of asteroids and determined that mining for resources and precious metals could be profitable; a seemingly untapped resource. Additionally, due to recent findings, a nuclear propulsion system is becoming increasingly possible, therefore addressing a primary concern related to the extensive power necessary for space mining operations. However, a nuclear propulsion system designed for space travel with the intent of asteroid mining represents an incredibly complex system of systems. The early project planning stages for this require an innovative approach to tackle a goal this big. Mission engineering principles can be applied to the decomposed aspects of all the integrated systems required for this mission. Using operational definitions an Operational View, OV-1, will be created to depict the high-level interactions between SoS for mission operation. Additionally, the Effects and Kill Chain framework will be used to create the mission thread. To accurately scope the work, specific requirements will need to be contractually identified. Aside from the construction aspect of this project, the actual execution of the mission will involve a great deal of human interaction and input with the complex systems. A risk analysis will be performed on some of the product pathways to ensure proper mitigating actions can be put in place for critical mission aspects. It is essential that every component communicates accurately and effectively to ensure the safety and success of the mission.
3 The Mission Operational View and Effects and Kill Chain
The High-Level Operational Concept Graph (OV-1), or Operational View, of the asteroid mining effort is illustrated in Figure 1. Figure 1
. The High-Level Operational Concept Graph (OV-1), Operational View, of the Asteroid Mining with a Nuclear Propulsion System onboard the USS Independence mission The operational mission begins with the Detection Radar and Exploration Probe, identifying a potential asteroid that meets the necessary requirements to begin the asteroid mining mission. The resulting data is disturbed to Houston, also known as the NASA Control Facility, where it is analyzed and the final determination to begin mission execution is determined. After the mission is cleared and approved for operation, Houston will begin the planning of a detailed methodology to conduct the mission and communicate it to the Space Station, where the necessary resources, ships, and personnel are stored. In support of this, Houston provides the necessary resources to the Space Station, launched via returnable spacecraft. The Space Station, NASA Control Facility, and Asteroid Operating Base together operate as the Control and Command voice, directly communicating with the individual mission
Your preview ends here
Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version
- Access to all documents
- Unlimited textbook solutions
- 24/7 expert homework help
4 personnel via the Communication Satellite. The Communication Satellite is responsible for distributing all forms of communication and data to the necessary SoS. Once the necessary resources are available, the USS Independence will transport the resources to the asteroid, where it will ‘dock’ in orbit and utilize the Asteroid Lander to transport the materials to the asteroid, and begin the construction of the Asteroid Operating Base, which will function as the Command and Control for primary asteroid functions. In parallel to construction and site setup, the Asteroid Rover will mark and confirm the anticipated mining locations and search for other viable areas. Once mining is able to be conducted, the Asteroid Mining Rigs and the Armadillo, powered via power banks energized by the Nuclear Reactor onboard the USS Independence and stored within the Asteroid Base, will drill into the surface of the asteroid for the desired metals and minerals. Once enough minerals have been mined, the Armadillo will transport them back to Asteroid Lander for transport to the Independence or to the Asteroid Operating Base for temporary storage. Ultimately, the minerals onboard the Independence will then be transported back to Earth immediately via the Landing Pad or to Space Station to await the next mineral-to-Earth transport. The mission is then ‘finished’ upon the transporting of the spacecraft and minerals back to Houston in preparation for the next mission and for the mineral processing. Utilizing this understanding of the Operational View of Asteroid Mining and the incorporation of a nuclear propulsion system in the USS Independence and Asteroid Operation Base, an Effects Kill Chain was developed that maps the actors to the functions in which they are expected to perform within the overall mission. The resulting Effects Kill Chain is illustrated in Figure 2. The Mission Thread follows the high-level description of the mission written above. Figure 2
. The Effects and Kill Chain and resulting Mission Thread of the Asteroid Mining with a Nuclear Propulsion System mission
5 Ship and Nuclear Reactor System Analysis The NASA Control Facility is an Earth-based facility that interfaces with the USS Independence to ensure operational success. While there is around-the-clock support available for technical issues, the mission is engineered to assume that all of the critical systems onboard the ship are operating properly together. To ensure adequate design resources are allocated for this interoperability requirement, the System of Interest diagram below (Figure 3) was constructed to show areas of concern regarding interoperability and integration. In conjunction, the Organizational Relationships diagram (Figure 4) builds the framework for understanding the flow of commands and operations. The basis of the operation starts with the nuclear reactor. Designed by NuScale, the 77-
Megawatt Small Modular Reactor (SMR) is the primary power source for the mission. The reactor is designed with a reactor protection system using neutron flux detectors that will safely shut the reactor down in the event of a casualty. The reactor compartment has a radiation monitoring system that will alarm the central controlling station (UNREP) and the rest of the ship in the event of a radiation release above the designed limit. The shielding system is designed to reduce the crew’s exposure to as low as reasonably achievable while minimizing weight. The Independence is equipped with an electrical distribution system that interfaces with the NuScale SMR. Two Westinghouse 30-Mwe turbine generators pull steam from the reactor and output 1500V AC to the electrical distribution switchboard. In the event of a reactor SCRAM, steam to the turbine generators will be lost and the units will trip offline. The emergency gas generator will auto-start and supply power to the switchboard. All non-vital loads will be shed to ensure critical ships systems maintain operability. The central controlling station is a critical load and controls the power to operate the Armadillo, so it will be maintained, however, the drilling operation which requires high voltage will not be sustained on the gas generator. D&K Engineering designed UNREP the central controlling station which interfaces with an Adaptable Navigation System (ANS) and a Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS). These critical ship systems will be maintained by the emergency gas generator in the event of a reactor SCRAM. The overall mission involves the drilling team. The Armadillo space mining drill and the Asteroid Mining Rigs use a Rotation Control Device (RCD3) designed by the drilling giant, Schlumberger. A material processing and storage system interfaces with the Armadillo for the last stage of the mission, storing the drilled material. The organization relationship diagram highlights three major organizations: Reactor Division, Electronic Controls, and Drill Squad. The Reactor Officer leads the Reactor Division with three main operators: The Reactor Operator, Generator Operator, and Switchgear Operator. The Reactor Operator maintains the primary plant. The Generator Operator ensures the turbine generators and emergency generators are operating as required. The Switchgear Operator aligns the electric plant to supply loads throughout the ship. The Electronic Controls Division is led by the Chief Electronics Technician who oversees the Navigation Engineer, Central Controller, and the Communications Officer. The Drill Squad Department Head is the Lead Mechanical Engineer. The operators in this division are the Drill Operator and the Process Engineer. Together, these three divisions work to ensure the reactor is online to supply power to the
6 electric plant which facilitates bringing the Armadillo and Mining Rig drills online to mine the asteroid surface for precious metals and minerals. Figure 3
. The System-of-Interest architecture for the relationships between the systems within the Nuclear Reactor Figure 4
. The framework of the flow of commands and operations for the Nuclear Reactor
Your preview ends here
Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version
- Access to all documents
- Unlimited textbook solutions
- 24/7 expert homework help
Requirement Generation To ensure the success of the mission, a bulleted list of a combination of technical necessities and high-level mission capability requirements have been identified with a concentration on the asteroid mining mission and Nuclear Reactor SoS. ●
Reactor Power Requirements for Mission Critical Systems
o
The Nuclear Reactor shall produce a 77-Mwe reactor power output to operate turbine
generators supplying 1500V to the Armadillo drilling vehicle and Asteroid Mining Rigs,
and 60V to the control power required to be supplied to the central control and
navigation/communication systems.
o
The Nuclear Reactor SoS shall contain a backup emergency generator to maintain control
power to UNREP central control station.
●
Radiation Shielding
o
The Nuclear Reactor SoS shall possess a shielded enclosure that limits the crew’s
radiation exposure limit to less than 5Rem/year.
●
Training Prototype System
o
The NASA Control Facility shall contain a physical and operational land-based training
prototype that implements the compartmentalized approach and interoperability for each
individual system of the Nuclear Reactor to provide training to the crew members.
●
Communication System
o
The Communication Satellite shall provide network coverage allowing all stakeholders to
communicate with one another, experiencing no more than 1 second of latency between
each entity.
●
Fuel Capacity
o
The USS Independence shall be equipped with 15 percent more pounds of fuel than the
calculated amount to accommodate the addition of reactor, drilling systems, and minerals
of interest.
●
Resource Transportation to-and-from USS Independence
o
The Asteroid Lander shall be able to complete one trip from the shuttle and the asteroid
once every 48 hours carrying a 500-pound payload capacity.
●
Asteroid Detection System for Asteroids of Interest
o
The Detection Radar shall be able to detect metallurgical properties of interest on
asteroids at the minimal distance of 600,000 nautical miles.
8 ●
Earth-Based Engineering Support Group
o
The NASA Control Facility shall contain an Earth-based engineering support group that
is available to communicate and support USS Independence Nuclear Reactor and
asteroid-based operations 24-hours, 7-days a week.
Risk Analysis The Small Modular Reactor onboard the USS Independence powers two turbine generators. One is for electrical distribution to the ship, the other for powering the operation of the asteroid drilling system. The logistics analysts have identified risks involved in the pre-commissioning test program. Figure 5
. The inherent risk rating of Risks 1 and 2 and their resulting reduction due to mitigation Risk #1: Non-Nuclear Testing Schedule being impacted by Nuclear Testing If the nuclear test program experiences delays, then the steam and electric plant and topside testing will be unable to progress, and the delivery milestone will not be met. Consequence if unrealized: Cost increase and unmet key events Mitigation Plan
:
Develop a shore steam facility to test turbine generators before reactor-powered steam is
available.
Implement two high voltage power connections to the ship to power subsystems before the
ship’s electrical generators are ready.
Identify long lead time nuclear material in the planning phase. Obtain a 500 million dollar
preliminary contract for material procurement.
Develop a nuclear testing and a non-nuclear testing team. One test manager and senior
system integration engineer
Extended bench testing for 12kV Automatic Voltage Regulator System to reduce repair cycle
time by 30%.
o
Planned closure date: December 2022
9 Risk #2: Drilling impacted by reactor shutdown If the reactor SCRAMS or shuts down, then the two turbine generators will not have a large enough heat sink to operate in parallel, leading to a 70% reduction in electrical power output and decreased ship capabilities. Consequence if unrealized: Safety/Schedule Mitigation Plan
:
Steam generator stop valves will be designed to shut in 10 seconds to reduce reactor
cooldown.
An emergency generator will be installed that is designed to auto-start in the event of a loss
of all AC power.
The electrical switchboards will shed non-vital loads to maintain mission-critical systems
available under reduced loading capacities.
Fast reactor startup testing completed.
Temporary power connection installed to test ABTs earlier in the test program
Awarded ships electrical power distribution contract.
o
Planned closure date: March 2023
Conclusion and Course of Action Asteroid Mining with or without a Nuclear Propulsion system is a significant Mission endeavor that is instrumental in securing the United States of America the leading position in precious metals attainment. Stephen Shaw states in the article, M-Type Asteroids,
that the amount of platinum, available on a 1km asteroid alone, is valued at 150 billion dollars, enough to essentially cripple the metal market of the world. Additionally, due to reoccurring global shortages of resources, as well as the consistent drain on the finite non-renewable resources on Earth, other means are necessary for the continued survival and thriving of the human race. If the United States of America is to ensure the safety of itself and its allies, it should allocate the necessary resources to pursue this mission endeavor.
The idea of space exploration using nuclear power has caught fire recently, with NASA issuing contracts to the Department of Energy (DOE) through the Idaho National Laboratory totaling over five million dollars. However, little has been done to explore the endless possibilities of the increased electrical capacity that nuclear power brings. It is critical that the United States provide the necessary resources and funding to take the lead in the new age space race. It is a matter of global economic competition and national security, and action must be taken to get these projects off the ground. Now that deeper space exploration is becoming more accessible, the untapped resources of the galaxy are being recognized for their value. While the compartmentalized technology exists, it has never been integrated on a scale such as the mission of asteroid mining. Aside from the construction, the greatest challenge will be to engineer the integration and interoperability of all the necessary SoS within the mission to ensure success. With the necessary resources, financed by the United States Government, this mission can begin to be further defined, understood, and developed as it is essential to providing a significant advantage to America and its allies.
Your preview ends here
Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version
- Access to all documents
- Unlimited textbook solutions
- 24/7 expert homework help
10 References Apollo Lunar Module
. (n.d.). Dreamstime. Retrieved December 5, 2021, from https://www.dreamstime.com/royalty-free-stock-images-apollo-lunar-module-isolated-
white-background-d-render-image39390659. Armageddon Armadillo Space Mining Vehicle
. (n.d.). Pinterest. Retrieved December 5, 2021, from https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/551128073128104147/. Communication Satellite
. (n.d.). Kind PNG. Retrieved December 5, 2021, from https://www.kindpng.com/free/satellite-images/. Cuadra, A., & Park, K. (2013). International Space Station
. The Washington Post. Retrieved December 5, 2021, from https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/national/nasa-
iss/. Dai, Zhiwen, Chenglong Wang, Dalin Zhang, Wenxi Tian, Suizheng Qiu, and G.H Su. "Design and Heat Transfer Optimization of a 1 kW Free-piston Stirling Engine for Space Reactor Power System." Nuclear Engineering and Technology 53.7 (2021): 2184-194. Web. Dedrick, T. (2019, October 29). Practical recommendations for better enterprise risk management
. ISACA. Retrieved December 5, 2021, from https://www.isaca.org/resources/news-and-trends/isaca-now-blog/2019/practical-
recommendations-for-better-enterprise-risk-management. Drill Rigs and Mast Attachments
. (n.d.). Mincon. Retrieved December 5, 2021, from https://www.mincon.com/rock-drill/. Endeavour in Orbit in 2008
. (n.d.). NASA. Retrieved December 5, 2021, from http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/shuttle/sts-123/html/iss016e032567.html. Frank, B. H. (2013). Spaceship Launch Pad
. NASA chooses SpaceX for launchpad lease, passing over Bezos-backed Blue Origin. Retrieved December 5, 2021, from https://www.geekwire.com/2013/blue-origin-loses-protest-nasa-launch-pad-contract/. Garner, R. (2017). Maven Spacecraft Digital Model
. NASA. Retrieved December 5, 2021, from https://www.nasa.gov/content/goddard/maven-spacecraft-digital-model-transparent-
background. Hardy. (2015). Space Village on Rocky Surface
. British Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved December 5, 2021, from https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20150712-should-we-build-a-
village-on-the-moon. Mars Exploration Rover Mars Science Laboratory Mars Rover Curiosity
. (n.d.). FAVPNG. Retrieved December 5, 2021, from https://favpng.com/png_view/mars-mars-exploration-
rover-mars-science-laboratory-mars-rover-curiosity-png/wkcPphDS. Parabolic Radar Dish
. (n.d.). PNG Egg. Retrieved December 5, 2021, from https://www.pngegg.com/en/png-zkbvi. Shaw, S. (2012, August 21). M-Type Asteroids
. Astronomy Source RSS. Retrieved December 5, 2021,fromhttps://web.archive.org/web/20181123200342/http://www.astronomysource.com
/tag/m-type-asteroids/. SpaceX. (2015). SpaceX Landing Pad
. flickr. Retrieved December 5, 2021, from https://www.flickr.com/photos/spacex/17127808431/. Wojcicki, A. (2021). Live Science. Retrieved December 5, 2021, from https://www.livescience.com/surprise-asteroid-flyby.