National Aeronautics and Space Administration

NASA

fact

s

Analog Missions and Field Tests NASA is actively planning to expand the frontier of human space exploration beyond low Earth orbit to destinations farther into the solar system than humans have ever gone before

The Space Launch System and the OrionMulti-Purpose Crew Vehicle will transport humans to these deep-space destinations To reduce risk to astronauts and prepare themfor work once they reach their destinationtechnologies and concepts must be developedand tested here on Earth

One of the ways NASA tests mission concepts and technologies is by conducting analogmissions on Earth Analog missions are field tests conducted in locations that are identified based on their physical similarities to theextreme space environments of a targetmission NASA engineers and scientists work

with representatives from other governmentagencies academia and industry to gatherrequirements and develop the technologiesnecessary to ensure an efficient effective and sustainable future for human spaceexploration

NASArsquos Apollo program successfully conducted analog missions to develop mission activitiessurface transportation and science operationsToday analog missions are conducted to validate architecture concepts demonstratetechnologies and gain a deeper understandingof system-wide technical and operationalchallenges These analog missions test robotics vehicles habitats communication systems in-situ resource utilization (ISRU)and human performance as it relates to humanspace exploration

Extreme Environments NASA has not yet confirmed the technologies extreme environments on Earth and the that will be used in future space exploration International Space Station humans move onemissions but with the successful testing of step closer to a sustainable human presence insystems and procedures in simulated and space

Research and Technology Studies (RATS)Environment Desert amp Virtual Simulation Faciliites

RATS 2012 crew member Trevor Graff pilots the prototype second-generation

space exploration vehicle integrated with the Virtual Reality Laboratory

NASArsquos Research and Technology Studies(RATS) team evaluatestechnology human-robotic systemsand extravehicular equipment Prototypehardware and systemsprovide a knowledgebase that helps scientistsand engineers designbuild and operate betterequipment and establish

requirements for human spaceflight operations andprocedures

Some examples of technologies the RATS team hasevaluated include space-suit equipment robots habitationmodules exploration vehicles surface mapping andnavigation techniques and power and communicationsystems NASA has conducted RATS testing in ArizonaCalifornia Washington and in the Space Vehicle MockupFacility and other laboratories at the agencyrsquos JohnsonSpace Center in Houston

NASArsquos Extreme Environment Mission Operations (NEEMO) Environment Ocean

Two astronauts simulate installation of a geophysicial array on an asteroid with one secured to a portable foot restraint

carried by a mini sub and the other wearing a jetpack

One of the most extreme environments on Earth is the ocean The NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operationsproject known asNEEMO sends groupsof astronauts engineersand scientists to live in the worldrsquos only undersealaboratory the NationalOceanic and AtmosphericAdministrationrsquos (NOAA)Aquarius Reef Base

located 63 feet beneath the oceanrsquos surface in the Florida Keys

Similar in size to the International Space Stationrsquos livingquarters Aquarius provides NEEMO crew members calledaquanauts with an experience that has many parallels tothe challenges of living in space Aquanauts are exposedto real hazards including isolation cramped living quarterscommunication delays and weightlessness during undersealdquospacewalksrdquo

Two-week missions provide aquanauts an opportunityto simulate living in a spacecraft while testing advancednavigation and communication equipment robotics andvehicles These tests cultivate an astronautrsquos understandingof daily mission operations and create realistic scenarios forcrews to make real-time decisions

In-situ Resource Utilization Demonstrations (ISRU) Environment Volcanic

NASA and its international partners test equipment on a cold remote volcano dur -

ing field tests in Hawaii

The rock distribution and soil compositionof Hawaiirsquos volcanic deposits provide anideal terrain for testingISRU hardware and operations ISRU is aprocess that harnesseslocal resources for use

in human and robotic exploration

NASA conducts this analog mission in collaboration with partners including thePacific International Space Center for Exploration Systemsand the Canadian Space Agency Together they demonstrateISRU hardware that characterizes and extracts compounds likewater and carbon dioxide from the volcanic remains The same technology could be used to look for water ice in lunar or otherplanetary environments

International Space Station Testbed for Analog Research (ISTAR) Environment Low Earth Orbit

Assembly of the International Space Sta -tion was complete in 2011 It has been

continuously inhabited for more than 10 years and is the cornerstone of future

human space exploration

The International SpaceStation (ISS) offers aunique platform to testfuture exploration systemsand operations because itprovides a long-durationzero-gravity spaceenvironment and the opportunity to evaluatemany factors not availablein other analog missions

NASA will use the ISS as a test site for long-duration

missions to identify the risks and challenges to astronaut healthand safety prepare for crew autonomous operations neededfor handling communication time delays exercise groundelements training and technology development and evaluatenew exploration systems and capabilities as they becomeavailable

ISTAR will challenge the astronauts to work progressivelylonger periods unassisted by mission controlndashjust as wouldbe expected on a mission to Mars or a near Earth asteroidFuture ISTAR missions could last as long as six months andwould use ISS confinement and zero-gravity to simulate crewactivities during long-duration flights and crew arrival at anexploration destination

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Lyndon B Johnson Space CenterHouston Texas 77058 wwwnasagov

FS-2012-08-028-JSC

Research and Technology Studies (RATS)Environment Desert amp Virtual Simulation Faciliites

RATS 2012 crew member Trevor Graff pilots the prototype second-generation

space exploration vehicle integrated with the Virtual Reality Laboratory

NASArsquos Research and Technology Studies(RATS) team evaluatestechnology human-robotic systemsand extravehicular equipment Prototypehardware and systemsprovide a knowledgebase that helps scientistsand engineers designbuild and operate betterequipment and establish

requirements for human spaceflight operations andprocedures

Some examples of technologies the RATS team hasevaluated include space-suit equipment robots habitationmodules exploration vehicles surface mapping andnavigation techniques and power and communicationsystems NASA has conducted RATS testing in ArizonaCalifornia Washington and in the Space Vehicle MockupFacility and other laboratories at the agencyrsquos JohnsonSpace Center in Houston

NASArsquos Extreme Environment Mission Operations (NEEMO) Environment Ocean

Two astronauts simulate installation of a geophysicial array on an asteroid with one secured to a portable foot restraint

carried by a mini sub and the other wearing a jetpack

One of the most extreme environments on Earth is the ocean The NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operationsproject known asNEEMO sends groupsof astronauts engineersand scientists to live in the worldrsquos only undersealaboratory the NationalOceanic and AtmosphericAdministrationrsquos (NOAA)Aquarius Reef Base

located 63 feet beneath the oceanrsquos surface in the Florida Keys

Similar in size to the International Space Stationrsquos livingquarters Aquarius provides NEEMO crew members calledaquanauts with an experience that has many parallels tothe challenges of living in space Aquanauts are exposedto real hazards including isolation cramped living quarterscommunication delays and weightlessness during undersealdquospacewalksrdquo

Two-week missions provide aquanauts an opportunityto simulate living in a spacecraft while testing advancednavigation and communication equipment robotics andvehicles These tests cultivate an astronautrsquos understandingof daily mission operations and create realistic scenarios forcrews to make real-time decisions

In-situ Resource Utilization Demonstrations (ISRU) Environment Volcanic

NASA and its international partners test equipment on a cold remote volcano dur -

ing field tests in Hawaii

The rock distribution and soil compositionof Hawaiirsquos volcanic deposits provide anideal terrain for testingISRU hardware and operations ISRU is aprocess that harnesseslocal resources for use

in human and robotic exploration

NASA conducts this analog mission in collaboration with partners including thePacific International Space Center for Exploration Systemsand the Canadian Space Agency Together they demonstrateISRU hardware that characterizes and extracts compounds likewater and carbon dioxide from the volcanic remains The same technology could be used to look for water ice in lunar or otherplanetary environments

International Space Station Testbed for Analog Research (ISTAR) Environment Low Earth Orbit

Assembly of the International Space Sta -tion was complete in 2011 It has been

continuously inhabited for more than 10 years and is the cornerstone of future

human space exploration

The International SpaceStation (ISS) offers aunique platform to testfuture exploration systemsand operations because itprovides a long-durationzero-gravity spaceenvironment and the opportunity to evaluatemany factors not availablein other analog missions

NASA will use the ISS as a test site for long-duration

missions to identify the risks and challenges to astronaut healthand safety prepare for crew autonomous operations neededfor handling communication time delays exercise groundelements training and technology development and evaluatenew exploration systems and capabilities as they becomeavailable

ISTAR will challenge the astronauts to work progressivelylonger periods unassisted by mission controlndashjust as wouldbe expected on a mission to Mars or a near Earth asteroidFuture ISTAR missions could last as long as six months andwould use ISS confinement and zero-gravity to simulate crewactivities during long-duration flights and crew arrival at anexploration destination

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Lyndon B Johnson Space CenterHouston Texas 77058 wwwnasagov

FS-2012-08-028-JSC