| Summary: | NASA's ambitious plans for human space exploration include returning to the Moon within the next five years and undertaking long-duration, deep-space missions to Mars within the next decade. This thesis encompasses two key areas of research aimed at enhancing the safety and productivity of human exploration beyond low Earth orbit: the development of advanced radiation protection materials and the utilization of virtual reality (VR) for surface exploration. Aligned with NASA's Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate, the research falls under the exploration capabilities topic of the Advanced Exploration Systems (AES) programs and projects.
The first component of the research focuses on the development of a novel radiation shielding material comprising hydrogen and Boron-10. The material is designed to safeguard astronauts from primary and secondary radiation encountered in deep space, as well as on the Lunar and Martian surfaces. A multi-functional fabric was conceptualized, incorporating the radiation protection material, as well as advanced materials for dust protection and thermal regulation. The material can be integrated into advanced spacesuit designs, enabling astronauts to spend more time performing extravehicular activities while ensuring their safety during deep space travel. Through simulations and modeling using an online radiation simulation tool, I identified the optimal combination of shielding materials and evaluated the dose reduction potential offered by the proposed material. Furthermore, a prototype of the radiation shielding material was successfully manufactured, providing valuable insights for future production processes.
The second component of my thesis centers around the utilization of virtual reality for Lunar and planetary surface exploration. I test the application of VR as a tool for scientists to remotely explore and analyze these extraterrestrial surfaces from Earth. Additionally, VR is leveraged as a training tool to enhance astronauts' understanding of the environments they will encounter during upcoming exploration missions. I conducted field expeditions and data collection in terrestrial analog environments, specifically focusing on Svalbard, Norway, as a Mars-relevant geological site. Using depth- and environmental sensor data, a high-resolution 3D virtual environment was created, enabling a comparative user study between VR and traditional desktop applications. The results of the study highlighted the superiority of VR in terms of sense of scale, contextualization, and workload reduction. The study concluded that VR holds great potential as a valuable tool for scientific exploration and astronaut training, with recommendations provided for further improvements in data collection methodologies, virtual environment development, and VR application enhancements.
In support of the next steps for the VR platform development for the Lunar surface, I contributed to the development of a low-cost, flight-capable time-of-flight camera for 3D mapping of the Lunar south polar region. By collaborating with NASA Ames, Lunar Outpost, and MIT's Resource Exploration and Science of our Cosmic Environment (RESOURCE) team, I tested and optimized the camera for Lunar conditions, ensuring its viability, as well as developed and tested a flexible concept of operations for its flight on a near-term Commercial Lunar Payload Services mission. This development paves the way for broader access to Lunar surface data and enables a wider range of scientists to contribute to Lunar exploration.
The contributions presented in this thesis significantly advance the goal of safe and collaborative human exploration of the lunar and planetary surfaces. The developed radiation shielding material, along with the application of VR technology, not only mitigate health risks for astronauts but also enhance scientific productivity and understanding of these extraterrestrial environments. These advancements pave the way for a sustainable human presence on the Moon and further exploration of our solar system.
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