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Granular Simulation of NEO AnchoringNASA is interested in designing a spacecraft capable of visiting a Near Earth Object (NEO), performing experiments, and then returning safely. Certain periods of this mission will require the spacecraft to remain stationary relative to the NEO. Such situations require an anchoring mechanism that is compact, easy to deploy and upon mission completion, easily removed. The design philosophy used in the project relies on the simulation capability of a multibody dynamics physics engine. On Earth it is difficult to create low gravity conditions and testing in low gravity environments, whether artificial or in space is costly and therefore not feasible. Through simulation, gravity can be controlled with great accuracy, making it ideally suited to analyze the problem at hand. Using Chrono::Engine [1], a simulation package capable of utilizing massively parallel GPU hardware, several validation experiments will be performed. Once there is sufficient confidence, modeling of the NEO regolith interaction will begin after which the anchor tests will be performed and analyzed. The outcome of this task is a study with an analysis of several different anchor designs, along with a recommendation on which anchor is better suited to the task of anchoring. With the anchors tested against a range of parameters relating to soil, environment and anchor penetration angles/velocities on a NEO.
Document ID
20150006109
Acquisition Source
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Document Type
Other
External Source(s)
Authors
Mazhar, Hammad
(Wisconsin Univ. Madison, WI, United States)
Date Acquired
April 22, 2015
Publication Date
August 1, 2011
Subject Category
Man/System Technology And Life Support
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other
Keywords
multibody dynamics
GPU hardware
granular media
collision detection
simulation

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