Irving:2006abstr

Copyright © 2006 by Bruce Irving, Andrew McSorley, Mark Paton, and Grant Bonin. All rights reserved. Published by The Mars Society with permission.

VIRTUAL PROTOTYPING OF HUMAN MARS MISSIONS WITH THE ORBITER SPACE FLIGHT SIMULATOR

Bruce Irving1, Andrew McSorley2, Mark Paton3, and Grant Bonin4

1 West Boylston, MA, USA, bruce.irving@marsdrive.com, http://flyingsinger.blogspot.com. 2 Chelmsford, Essex, UK, amcsorley@dsl.pipex.com, http://www.virtualspaceflight.com. 3 Open University, Milton Keynes, Bucks, UK, mdp_843@hotmail.com, http://www.freewebs.com/markpaton/ 4 Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada, grant.bonin@marsdrive.com, http://www.marsdrive.com.

Abstract

Although there are various tools and approaches for evaluating proposed human missions to Mars, virtual prototyping with a suitable space flight simulator offers a number of benefits and advantages. These include the ability to experiment with interrelated system-level configurations and to explore alternate propulsion options. An ability to record the simulated missions for later presentation allows analysis and feedback from other interested parties. The Orbiter space flight simulator is a free Windows-based software tool that offers these capabilities and other advantages. It is a closed-source but easily extensible program with accurate modeling of orbital mechanics and spacecraft dynamics, and reasonably accurate modeling of atmospheric flight phases. It allows relatively easy construction of proposed spacecraft and launch vehicles based on 3D models, with vehicle performance defined through configuration files or custom-programmed code modules. The general availability of Orbiter and the ease of defining such models makes such virtual prototyping feasible even at the preliminary analysis stage of mission planning. As an example of the possibilities of this approach, the authors have used Orbiter to create and investigate a virtual prototype of the design reference mission known as Mars for Less. This DRM is a variation of the well-known Mars Direct approach, but with modular components designed for easy LEO assembly, and sized for launch on existing medium lift launch vehicles. The interactive virtual prototype illustrates the scope and details of this proposed mission in visually compelling and technically accurate form. It also allows investigation of possible problems and alternative configurations through virtual flight testing and recording of flight data.