@inproceedings{DachwaldSeboldtLoebetal.2007, author = {Dachwald, Bernd and Seboldt, Wolfgang and Loeb, Horst W. and Schartner, Karl-Heinz}, title = {A comparison of SEP and NEP for a main belt asteroid sample return mission}, series = {7th International Symposium on Launcher Technologies, Barcelona, Spain, 02-05 April 2007}, booktitle = {7th International Symposium on Launcher Technologies, Barcelona, Spain, 02-05 April 2007}, pages = {1 -- 10}, year = {2007}, abstract = {Innovative interplanetary deep space missions, like a main belt asteroid sample return mission, require ever larger velocity increments (∆V s) and thus ever more demanding propulsion capabilities. Providing much larger exhaust velocities than chemical high-thrust systems, electric low-thrust space-propulsion systems can significantly enhance or even enable such high-energy missions. In 1995, a European-Russian Joint Study Group (JSG) presented a study report on "Advanced Interplanetary Missions Using Nuclear-Electric Propulsion" (NEP). One of the investigated reference missions was a sample return (SR) from the main belt asteroid (19) Fortuna. The envisaged nuclear power plant, Topaz-25, however, could not be realized and also the worldwide developments in space reactor hardware stalled. In this paper, we investigate, whether such a mission is also feasible using a solar electric propulsion (SEP) system and compare our SEP results to corresponding NEP results.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{LoebSchartnerDachwaldetal.2011, author = {Loeb, Horst W. and Schartner, Karl-Heinz and Dachwald, Bernd and Ohndorf, Andreas and Seboldt, Wolfgang}, title = {An Interstellar - Heliopause mission using a combination of solar/radioisotope electric propulsion}, series = {Presented at the 32nd International Electric Propulsion Conference}, booktitle = {Presented at the 32nd International Electric Propulsion Conference}, pages = {1 -- 7}, year = {2011}, abstract = {There is common agreement within the scientific community that in order to understand our local galactic environment it will be necessary to send a spacecraft into the region beyond the solar wind termination shock. Considering distances of 200 AU for a new mission, one needs a spacecraft travelling at a speed of close to 10 AU/yr in order to keep the mission duration in the range of less than 25 yrs, a transfer time postulated by ESA.Two propulsion options for the mission have been proposed and discussed so far: the solar sail propulsion and the ballistic/radioisotope electric propulsion. As a further alternative, we here investigate a combination of solar-electric propulsion and radioisotope-electric propulsion. The solar-electric propulsion stage consists of six 22 cm diameter "RIT-22"ion thrusters working with a high specific impulse of 7377 s corresponding to a positive grid voltage of 5 kV. Solar power of 53 kW BOM is provided by a light-weight solar array. The REP-stage consists of four space-proven 10 cm diameter "RIT-10" ion thrusters that will be operating one after the other for 9 yrs in total. Four advanced radioisotope generators provide 648 W at BOM. The scientific instrument package is oriented at earlier studies. For its mass and electric power requirement 35 kg and 35 W are assessed, respectively. Optimized trajectory calculations, treated in a separate contribution, are based on our "InTrance" method.The program yields a burn out of the REP stage in a distance of 79.6 AU for a usage of 154 kg of Xe propellant. With a C3 = 45,1 (km/s)2 a heliocentric probe velocity of 10 AU/yr is reached at this distance, provided a close Jupiter gravity assist adds a velocity increment of 2.7 AU/yr. A transfer time of 23.8 yrs results for this scenario requiring about 450 kg Xe for the SEP stage, jettisoned at 3 AU. We interpret the SEP/REP propulsion as a competing alternative to solar sail and ballistic/REP propulsion. Omiting a Jupiter fly-by even allows more launch flexibility, leaving the mission duration in the range of the ESA specification.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{GehlerOberBloebaumDachwald2009, author = {Gehler, M. and Ober-Bl{\"o}baum, S. and Dachwald, Bernd}, title = {Application of discrete mechanics and optimal control to spacecraft in non-keplerian motion around small solar system bodies}, series = {Procceedings of the 60th International Astronautical Congress}, booktitle = {Procceedings of the 60th International Astronautical Congress}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, isbn = {978-161567908-9}, pages = {1360 -- 1371}, year = {2009}, abstract = {Prolonged operations close to small solar system bodies require a sophisticated control logic to minimize propellant mass and maximize operational efficiency. A control logic based on Discrete Mechanics and Optimal Control (DMOC) is proposed and applied to both conventionally propelled and solar sail spacecraft operating at an arbitrarily shaped asteroid in the class of Itokawa. As an example, stand-off inertial hovering is considered, recently identified as a challenging part of the Marco Polo mission. The approach is easily extended to stand-off orbits. We show that DMOC is applicable to spacecraft control at small objects, in particular with regard to the fact that the changes in gravity are exploited by the algorithm to optimally control the spacecraft position. Furthermore, we provide some remarks on promising developments.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{PirovanoSeefeldtDachwaldetal.2015, author = {Pirovano, Laura and Seefeldt, Patric and Dachwald, Bernd and Noomen, Ron}, title = {Attitude and Orbital Dynamics Modeling for an Uncontrolled Solar-Sail Experiment in Low-Earth Orbit}, series = {25th International Symposium on Spaceflight Dynamics, 2015, Munich, Germany}, booktitle = {25th International Symposium on Spaceflight Dynamics, 2015, Munich, Germany}, pages = {15 S.}, year = {2015}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{PirovanoSeefeldtDachwaldetal.2015, author = {Pirovano, Laura and Seefeldt, Patric and Dachwald, Bernd and Noomen, Ron}, title = {Attitude and orbital modeling of an uncontrolled solar-sail experiment in low-Earth orbit}, series = {25th International Symposium on Space Flight Dynamics ISSFD}, booktitle = {25th International Symposium on Space Flight Dynamics ISSFD}, pages = {1 -- 15}, year = {2015}, abstract = {Gossamer-1 is the first project of the three-step Gossamer roadmap, the purpose of which is to develop, prove and demonstrate that solar-sail technology is a safe and reliable propulsion technique for long-lasting and high-energy missions. This paper firstly presents the structural analysis performed on the sail to understand its elastic behavior. The results are then used in attitude and orbital simulations. The model considers the main forces and torques that a satellite experiences in low-Earth orbit coupled with the sail deformation. Doing the simulations for varying initial conditions in attitude and rotation rate, the results show initial states to avoid and maximum rotation rates reached for correct and faulty deployment of the sail. Lastly comparisons with the classic flat sail model are carried out to test the hypothesis that the elastic behavior does play a role in the attitude and orbital behavior of the sail}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{DachwaldWurm2009, author = {Dachwald, Bernd and Wurm, P.}, title = {Design concept and modeling of an advanced solar photon thruster}, series = {Advances in the Astronautical Sciences}, booktitle = {Advances in the Astronautical Sciences}, publisher = {American Astronautical Society}, address = {San Diego, Calif.}, isbn = {978-087703554-1}, issn = {00653438}, pages = {723 -- 740}, year = {2009}, abstract = {The so-called "compound solar sail", also known as "Solar Photon Thruster" (SPT), holds the potential of providing significant performance advantages over the flat solar sail. Previous SPT design concepts, however, do not consider shadowing effects and multiple reflections of highly concentrated solar radiation that would inevitably destroy the gossamer sail film. In this paper, we propose a novel advanced SPT (ASPT) design concept that does not suffer from these oversimplifications. We present the equations that describe the thrust force acting on such a sail system and compare its performance with respect to the conventional flat solar sail.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{GrundmannBauerBieleetal.2018, author = {Grundmann, Jan Thimo and Bauer, Waldemar and Biele, Jens and Boden, Ralf and Ceriotti, Matteo and Cordero, Federico and Dachwald, Bernd and Dumont, Etienne and Grimm, Christian and Herč{\´i}k, David and Herique, Alain and Ho, Tra-Mi and Jahnke, Rico and Koch, Aaron and Kofman, Wlodek and Koncz, Alexander and Krause, Christian and Lange, Caroline and Lichtenheldt, Roy and Maiwald, Volker and Mikschl, Tobias and Mikulz, Eugen and Montenegro, Sergio and Pelivan, Ivanka and Peloni, Alessandro and Plettemeier, Dirk and Quantius, Dominik and Reershemius, Siebo and Renger, Thomas and Riemann, Johannes and Ruffer, Michael and Sasaki, Kaname and Schmitz, Nicole and Seboldt, Wolfgang and Seefeldt, Patric and Spietz, Peter and Spr{\"o}witz, Tom and Sznajder, Maciej and Tardivel, Simon and Toth, Norbert and Wejmo, Elisabet and Wolff, Friederike and Ziach, Christian}, title = {Efficient massively parallel prospection for ISRU by multiple near-earth asteroid rendezvous using near-term solar sails and'now-term'small spacecraft solutions}, series = {2nd Asteroid Science Intersections with In-Space Mine Engineering - ASIME 2018}, booktitle = {2nd Asteroid Science Intersections with In-Space Mine Engineering - ASIME 2018}, pages = {1 -- 33}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Physical interaction with small solar system bodies (SSSB) is key for in-situ resource utilization (ISRU). The design of mining missions requires good understanding of SSSB properties, including composition, surface and interior structure, and thermal environment. But as the saying goes "If you've seen one asteroid, you've seen one Asteroid": Although some patterns may begin to appear, a stable and reliable scheme of SSSB classification still has to be evolved. Identified commonalities would enable generic ISRU technology and spacecraft design approaches with a high degree of re-use. Strategic approaches require much broader in-depth characterization of the SSSB populations of interest to the ISRU community. The DLR-ESTEC GOSSAMER Roadmap Science Working Groups identified target-flexible Multiple Near-Earth asteroid (NEA) Rendezvous (MNR) as one of the missions only feasible with solar sail propulsion, showed the ability to access any inclination and a wide range of heliocentric distances as well as continuous operation close to Earth's orbit where low delta-v objects reside.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{KonstantinidisDachwaldOhndorfetal.2013, author = {Konstantinidis, K. and Dachwald, Bernd and Ohndorf, A. and Dykta, P. and Voigt, K. and F{\"o}rstner, R.}, title = {Enceladus explorer (ENEX): A lander mission to probe subglacial water pockets on Saturn's moon enceladus for life}, series = {64th International Astronautical Congress 2013 (IAC 2013) : Beijing, China, 23 - 27 September 2013. (Proceedings of the International Astronautical Congress, IAC ; 2)}, booktitle = {64th International Astronautical Congress 2013 (IAC 2013) : Beijing, China, 23 - 27 September 2013. (Proceedings of the International Astronautical Congress, IAC ; 2)}, publisher = {Curran}, address = {Red Hook, NY}, organization = {International Astronautical Congress <64, 2013, Beijing>}, isbn = {978-1-62993-909-4}, pages = {1340 -- 1350}, year = {2013}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{DachwaldFeldmannEspeetal.2012, author = {Dachwald, Bernd and Feldmann, Marco and Espe, Clemens and Plescher, Engelbert and Konstantinidis, K. and Forstner, R.}, title = {Enceladus explorer - A maneuverable subsurface probe for autonomous navigation through deep ice}, series = {63rd International Astronautical Congress 2012, IAC 2012; Naples; Italy; 1 October 2012 through 5 October 2012. (Proceedings of the International Astronautical Congress, IAC ; 3)}, booktitle = {63rd International Astronautical Congress 2012, IAC 2012; Naples; Italy; 1 October 2012 through 5 October 2012. (Proceedings of the International Astronautical Congress, IAC ; 3)}, publisher = {Curran}, address = {Red Hook, NY}, organization = {International Astronautical Congress <63, 2012, Napoli>}, isbn = {978-1-62276-979-7}, pages = {1756 -- 1766}, year = {2012}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{OhndorfDachwaldSeboldtetal.2011, author = {Ohndorf, Andreas and Dachwald, Bernd and Seboldt, Wolfgang and Schartner, Karl-Heinz}, title = {Flight times to the heliopause using a combination of solar and radioisotope electric propulsion}, series = {32nd International Electric Propulsion Conference}, booktitle = {32nd International Electric Propulsion Conference}, pages = {1 -- 12}, year = {2011}, abstract = {We investigate the interplanetary flight of a low-thrust space probe to the heliopause,located at a distance of about 200 AU from the Sun. Our goal was to reach this distance within the 25 years postulated by ESA for such a mission (which is less ambitious than the 15-year goal set by NASA). Contrary to solar sail concepts and combinations of allistic and electrically propelled flight legs, we have investigated whether the set flight time limit could also be kept with a combination of solar-electric propulsion and a second, RTG-powered upper stage. The used ion engine type was the RIT-22 for the first stage and the RIT-10 for the second stage. Trajectory optimization was carried out with the low-thrust optimization program InTrance, which implements the method of Evolutionary Neurocontrol,using Artificial Neural Networks for spacecraft steering and Evolutionary Algorithms to optimize the Neural Networks' parameter set. Based on a parameter space study, in which the number of thrust units, the unit's specific impulse, and the relative size of the solar power generator were varied, we have chosen one configuration as reference. The transfer time of this reference configuration was 29.6 years and the fastest one, which is technically more challenging, still required 28.3 years. As all flight times of this parameter study were longer than 25 years, we further shortened the transfer time by applying a launcher-provided hyperbolic excess energy up to 49 km2/s2. The resulting minimal flight time for the reference configuration was then 27.8 years. The following, more precise optimization to a launch with the European Ariane 5 ECA rocket reduced the transfer time to 27.5 years. This is the fastest mission design of our study that is flexible enough to allow a launch every year. The inclusion of a fly-by at Jupiter finally resulted in a flight time of 23.8 years,which is below the set transfer-time limit. However, compared to the 27.5-year transfer,this mission design has a significantly reduced launch window and mission flexibility if the escape direction is restricted to the heliosphere's "nose".}, language = {en} }