Planetary Lander Testbed for Technology Demonstration

Abstract

Masten Space Systems has developed several Vertical-Takeoff-Vertical-Lander (VTVL) vehicles for suborbital research and as vertical landing technology demonstrators. Their Xombie vehicle competed in and won the Lunar Lander Challenge X-Prize in 2009. The Xogdor and Xaero VTVL single-engine vehicles are being developed for sub-orbital missions. These vehicles will be used for Masten participation in NASA’s Flight Opportunities Program, operated out of NASA Dryden. A technology demonstration program utilizing the Masten VTVL vehicles would be able to demonstrate the precision landing and hazard avoidance (PLH propulsion (e.g. green propellants, novel engine systems, and propellant slosh models); Lidar and synthetic aperture radar imaging sensors; distributed avionics and Integrated Vehicle Health Management (IVHM); relative navigation algorithms; autonomous flight operations; adaptive GNC smart landing gear algorithms; autonomous response for engine failure; and many more. The paper provides an overview of an approach to utilizing the Masten vehicles (Xaero, Xogdor and others) to develop and demonstrate these technologies in a vehicle-in-the-loop environment. 1 Systems Engineer, Boeing BDS, 5301 Bolsa Avenue, Huntington Beach, CA 92647/Mail Stop H017-D728, AIAA Member. 2 Flight Simulation Engineer, Boeing BDS, 5301 Bolsa Avenue, Huntington Beach, CA 92647/Mail Stop H022C328, AIAA Member. 3 Senior Manager, Flight Systems, Boeing BDS, 5301 Bolsa Avenue, Huntington Beach, CA 92647/Mail Stop H013-C328, AIAA Member. 4 Senior Engineer, Flight Systems, Boeing BDS, 5301 Bolsa Avenue, Huntington Beach, CA 92647/Mail Stop H017-D728, AIAA Member. 5 Director of Business Development, Masten Space Systems, 1570 Sabovich St., Mojave, CA 93501, AIAA Member 6 Chief Executive Officer, Masten Space Systems, 1570 Sabovich St., Mojave, CA 93501, AIAA Member