Desert Research and Technology Studies (D-RATS) 2022 Quicklook Report

This report summarizes the Desert Research and Technology Studies (D-RATS) 2022 analog tests.

BACKGROUND
- Artemis Challenges – NASA’s concept of operations (ConOps) for the Artemis mission architecture brings new challenges for human exploration of the lunar surface, including: (1) Low-angle, natural lighting at lunar poles; and (2) Exploration sites that challenge communication with Earth.

- International Partner Involvement – NASA is working with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) to scope mission & functional requirements for an Artemis Pressurized Rover (PR), which JAXA may provide.

- Charter – HQ Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate (ESDMD) Moon to Mars Architecture Development Office (M2MADO) Strategy and Architectures (SA) chartered the Human-in-the-Loop (HITL) test team to investigate Artemis architectural questions related to pressurized rover ConOps.

- Rationale – to inform the NASA/JAXA pressurized rover study-agreement.

PLAN
- Objectives – Analog tests conducted in October 2022 by the D-RATS team addressed three high-level objectives:
1. Investigate pressurized rover (PR) ConOps and capabilities for Artemis exploration
2. Integrate with JAXA engineers & astronauts and incorporate JAXA PR design elements into testing.
3. Re-establish analog field-testing skills & capabilities with rovers to investigate Artemis architecture ConOps.
- Secondary Objectives – Work with other groups to leverage D-RATS field test for additional objectives.
4. Work with the Public Affairs Office (PAO) to perform D-RATS public outreach activities.
5. Coordinate with the Human Physiology Performance Protection & Operations (H-3PO) team to facilitate in-field evaluation of human health and performance (HHP) objectives.
6. Share D-RATS field-site and assets with Lunar LTE Studies (Lunar LiTES) team, to aid their study of the use of 4G/LTE communication protocols and devices for astronauts and robotic nodes on the lunar surface.
- Team – Fully integrated test team comprised of members from 5 NASA centers, JAXA, and the United States
Geological Survey (USGS)
- Location – Black Point Lava Flow, ~40 miles north of Flagstaff, AZ

HIGH-LEVEL OBJECTIVES ACCOMPLISHED
- Investigated Pressurized Rover ConOps & Capabilities for Artemis Exploration (Objective 1)
- Completed testing with 4 crew pairs, each spending 3 days and 2 nights in the rover conducting Artemis PR dayin-the-life activities (2 JAXA astronauts, 2 JAXA engineers, 1 NASA astronaut, 3 NASA engineers).
- Collected detailed objective & subjective data supporting 10 strategic questions related to Artemis PR operations.
- Field geologists present in field observed rover operations & EVAs.
- Science team in Houston MCC communicated directly with crew.
- Demonstrated crew-led and MCC-led PR teleoperation use cases during EVAs.
- Integrated with JAXA Engineers & Astronauts and Incorporated JAXA PR Design Elements
into Testing (Objective 2)
- NASA & JAXA engineers, flight controllers, scientists, roboticists, and astronauts directly participated in and/or observed testing both in field and in MCC-Houston.
- Incorporated JAXA PR design elements into both integrated and standalone testing at JSC and in the field.
- Re-established Analog Field-Testing Skills & Capabilities with Rovers to Investigate Artemis
Architecture ConOps (Objective 3)
- Multiple teams successfully worked to establish and manage field-test base camp, monitor and maintain the
rover, and plan and execute 2 weeks of consecutive field-testing with little to no breaks between crews.

TEST OUTCOMES
- Results will inform Artemis architecture ConOps & capabilities related to pressurized rover
operations (see sections 2 for more details)
- Summary and team detailed reports will be posted on the D-RATS 2022 wiki