Marstronauts!

Introduction

The NASA L'SPACE Program is an online, interactive experience open to undergraduate STEM students interested in pursuing a career with NASA or other space organizations. I participated in the Mission Concept Academy during the Spring 2024 semester. We were divided into teams of 12 members each and worked on a mission to develop a Martian Lander. The complete interactive experience required our team to go through the entire NASA mission development process. Starting from the Mission Concept Review, we developed all technical documents such as the System Requirements Review, Mission Definition Review, Preliminary Design Review, and finally, a Final Presentation in front of industry experts and L'Space Mentors.

Project Objectives and Science Mission

Our team, Marstronauts, developed a mission to deepen our understanding of Mars by analyzing its environmental and geological characteristics through the Mars Environmental Dynamics Analyzer (MEDA) and Alpha-Particle X-Ray Spectrometer (APXS). Our mission's primary goal is to investigate Martian weather patterns, soil composition, and potential habitability, thereby enhancing our comprehension of the Red Planet. 

SubTeams

 Our team was divided into three subteams: Science, Programmatic, and Engineering. I was elected as the project manager to lead all three subteams and communicate constantly with stakeholders such as L'Space Mentors and Student Success Advisors. Each subteam had one leader who was responsible for reporting to the Project Manager. 

Science Team

In this project, the Science Team handled tasks like Mission Location, Science Objectives, Science Traceability Matrix, and Scientific Instruments. The purpose of this Mission is to determine whether and if, Humans can live on Mars. The usage of the word: Live, in the statement above is more than just about survival - it is to underscore on Q10.1a from the Planetary Science Decadal Survey 2023-2032 on “What are the Environmental Characteristics required for Habitability?” For any life to sustain, it is vital to find the presence of Water, followed by the composition of organic materials within Martian Soil supporting potential plant-life and microbial growth. Team 5 has prioritized finding water-vapor concentration and organic material within a 50 x 50 km Martian region located with coordinates: 37.672°N, 307.578°E. The below table depicts how each respective instrument will collect data in order to determine the achievement of the Scientific  goal. Thus, helping Team 5 tread the Mission Objective articulately.

MEDA : Determining Average Surface Temperature, Wind-speeds at different altitudes, Average Solar Radiation Exposure, And most importantly, Water Vapor Concentration

APXS : Obtain a spectrum of organic materials present by analyzing the chemical composition in Martian Regolith.

Programmatic Team

The Programmatic Team handled the budget, scope, and timeline of the mission. This subteam also included Mission Assurance Specialists and EHS officers. We were given a budget constraint of $300 million to perform the entire mission. Other constraints mission included volume, mass, and time. During the halfway point of the semester and project development, our stakeholders gave an unexpected budget cut of $50M to mimic real-life scenarios. 

The Marstronauts team, primarily composed of Arizona State University students, had been using a compartmentalized management style to target mission deliverables. Most members were communicating in person, which had helped facilitate faster and more effective idea exchange. Remote members were joining via Discord or Zoom. The team consisted of 12 members, each with specific roles, and had used RACI charts and task spreadsheets to meet internal deadlines, ensuring projects were being completed ahead of schedule and allowing room for potential uncertainties and extra R&D.

After early membership changes, the team had restructured responsibilities, often assigning members two roles to keep up with deadlines, especially considering university breaks, mid-terms, and personal commitments. These challenges had led to discussions with mentor Jocelyn Durrano and student success advisor Leslie Thompson to improve communication and ensure deliverables were submitted on time. The team had concluded that clearer deadlines and more frequent check-ins were key to staying on track.

Focusing on Phases C through F, Team 5's mission plan included major milestones such as a Mission Assurance Analysis and Risk/Hazards Analysis by May 2024, followed by V&V plans by December 2024, and procedures for manufacturing by August 2025. Phase D was going to focus on integration, verification, and a launch scheduled for December 2026, with subsequent phases covering post-launch operations and mission completion by March 2029.

The mission budget had started at $300 million but was reduced to $250 million after an anomaly. Manufacturing, personnel, and travel costs were making up most of the expenses, with $88 million left for improvements.

Engineering Team

Lastly, the Engineering team had tasks to develop six subsystems: Mechanical, Power, Thermal, Payload, Command and Data Handling (CDH), Guidance and Navigation (GNC). More than one engineer was allocated to each subsystem. A detailed research and trade study took place for each and every component of each subsystem throughout all the deliverables and reviews. Alongside the project manager, I also helped in the development of the Thermal Subsystem. I documented all the system requirements, risks, budget, engineering drawings, and heat flow maps for the Thermal Subsystem.

A Brief Description of all the Subsystems has been given in the following section, Spacecraft Overview.

Spacecraft Overview

Team 5, the Marstronauts, had decided to pursue a Martian Mission after having longed to expand human civilization beyond horizons. To successfully establish this gateway, the team members had elected to operate a Static Rover with instrumentation mechanisms that were tending to the scientific goals of the mission.

As the team embarked on their journey to space, it was important to ensure that the spacecraft was equipped with the necessary subsystems for a successful mission. One of the most critical components had been the power system, which was being powered by a solar array designed similarly to the ROSA solar array. The mechanical subsystem was responsible for the landing system, using multiple motors and mechanical parts to deploy instruments and solar panels. Another key subsystem had been the command and data handling (CDH) system. The CDH subsystem had focused on methods of processing and compressing data from instruments and other subsystems, which was crucial for receiving accurate data and making informed decisions during the mission.

Due to the high thermal inertia at the landing site, the team had decided to use a passive thermal system, which would have been sufficient for the entire mission. Only MLI-blankets were being used as part of the thermal subsystem, helping regulate the temperature inside the spacecraft. Lastly, the guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) subsystem was responsible for the orientation of the spacecraft and its solar arrays. In conclusion, the various subsystems of the spacecraft had been crucial in ensuring that the mission was a success. Each subsystem had played its own unique role, and only through their collective efforts, the team had been able to achieve their goals.

Project Management and Leadership

As the Project Manager for the Marstronauts team, I held a pivotal role in managing communication between stakeholders and all team members. My primary responsibility was to ensure that all project deliverables were completed within the constraints of time, scope, and budget. This required a keen focus on risk management and aligning the team’s efforts with the project’s overall requirements and objectives.

To maintain a structured and organized workflow, I developed comprehensive Gantt charts that outlined the upcoming tasks and major milestones, providing a clear timeline for the team to follow. Additionally, I created RACI (Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, and Informed) charts to clearly define each team member's role for every task. These tools were critical in ensuring that everyone was aware of their responsibilities and that accountability was upheld throughout the project.

Beyond managing logistics and timelines, my most important role as a leader was to foster unity and effective communication within the team. I organized and led all team meetings and discussions, ensuring that every member had a voice in the decision-making process. Detailed meeting notes were taken to ensure clarity and follow-up on action items.

A particular challenge during the project was addressing inactive or disengaged team members. I made it a priority to communicate directly with those individuals, inquiring about their situation, understanding their concerns, and working to reintegrate them into the project’s workflow. By offering support and encouragement, I aimed to bring every member back on track, ensuring that the team operated as a cohesive unit.

Exposure and Skills Obtained

Apart from the team project, we also had the opportunity to be lectured and interact with extraordinary professionals in the industry. To name a few, Lucy Principal Investigator Hal Levison and Donya Douglas-Bradshaw, who serves as the Project Manager and Associate Director for the Mars Sample Return (MSR) Capture, Containment, and Return System at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Moreover, I earned all possible skill badges, including Siemens NX CAD, Project Management, Teaming, Heat Transfer, Requirements, Systems Engineering, and Risk Management. All of this is the closest a student can get to an actual industry experience, and I successfully completed it.

Conclusion

In conclusion, my participation in the NASA L'SPACE Mission Concept Academy provided an invaluable experience that closely mirrored real-world space mission development. Leading the Marstronauts team as Project Manager, I was responsible for managing multiple subteams, ensuring clear communication with stakeholders, and contributing to the Thermal Subsystem's design. The program enhanced my skills in project management, systems engineering, and technical development, while also offering the opportunity to learn from industry experts. Successfully completing this mission was a significant step toward my goal of pursuing a career in aerospace engineering.