Assignment 5.4 - Research Blog 4: Unmanned Systems Space-Based Applications

Don Moore

UNSY 501 Applications of Unmanned Systems

Embry Riddle Aeronautical University 

Unmanned Preferred Over Manned Exploration

 My chosen article for this week clearly sides with unmanned space exploration over manned expiration.  The author points out a logical key points for both sides of the argument however, in the end he states that he’s “not saying that we should explore the solar system purely robotically.  But we can do a huge amount with robots, as our partners in this exploration of the solar system, and as extensions of ourselves as our eyes and hands and senses on remote moons and planets” (Walker, 2015). Siding with the autonomous point of view, the author points out the following:

·      Unmanned spacecraft don’t have minimum fixed weight and sizes

·      Unmanned spacecraft can go almost anywhere

·      Unmanned spacecraft can go into dormancy or low energy observation states

·      Unmanned spacecraft can be sterilized for planetary protection

Unmanned spacecraft don’t have minimum fixed weight and sizes

The spacecraft must be large enough to house humans; as we all know humans require certain equipment and necessities in order to operate and survive.  Humans need enough room to exercise; we need life support systems, and we will require large amounts of space for supplies such as food.  “Spacecraft has to be built to hold in ten tons per square meter of atmospheric pressure, leading to bulky designs usually based around cylinders or spheres, like the ISS” (Walker, 2015).  The Human spacecraft “may need to spin for artificial gravity at any rate something needs to be done to deal with issues of zero g. Robots are absolutely fine in zero g” (Walker, 2015).  One of the things that we must keep in mind is that humans require food, so for deep space missions more food and equipment will be needed.

Unmanned spacecraft can go almost anywhere

Unmanned spacecraft can be built to go to places that are currently impossible for him is to go.  These places include those with a high radiation; the surface of Venus, within close proximity to the sun, and the Galilean satellites of Jupiter.

 

Unmanned spacecraft can go into dormancy or low energy observation states

During space travel there is no requirement for sustenance, packing, stretching, and they can lay dormant until needed.  For long mission such as going to Mars; forms of cryogenic sleep will not be a necessity.  “On the surface of a planet, you can leave it observing something for months on end, or doing a long experiment, and it will never get bored or tired, or require resupply to stay alive. Just solar panels, or an RTG, is enough to keep it healthy indefinitely” (Walker, 2015). 

Unmanned spacecraft can be sterilized for planetary protection

The writer made an interesting point in saying that “humans could land on a vulnerable target, in principle, if you enclosed them in a totally impervious and immensely strong sphere and sterilized the outside. But what is the point? As they couldn't get out and just have to observe from inside? They might as well be in orbit and explore via ” (Walker, 2015).  These types of precautions are not needed for unmanned missions because Robots can be sterilized to the requirements needed for planetary protection.

Manned Missions Benefits

The writer also gave a few benefits of conducting manned missions.   Some of the more important benefits were decision-making and adaptability.  The benefit of decision-making comes into play when quick accurate decisions need to be made for unexpected situations and or adapting to unaccounted for secondary missions.  With that being said the writer pointed out that there is usually nothing on an unmanned mission that needs to be responded to instantly.

Conclusion

In my humble opinion I currently there is no need for strictly manned.  I believe that all space missions can be conducted autonomously but human involvement remains necessary.  I also believe that telepresence would be a logical solution however due to latency this solution would only work if communication methods were enhanced. I believe that the price tag is one of the deciding factors, so if we could find a way to bring the price down; manned mission would be more frequent. An astronomer by the name of Dan Lester envisions a solution, which would make the process of cheaper.  He suggests that astronauts should camp out on Mars’ moons Phobos and Deimos and order remote-controlled robots to drive long distances over the planet’s surface, set up geologic instruments, and collect samples for analysis. He estimates this could greatly reduce costs because roughly half the price tag of a manned mission is spent on getting people down and back up the deep gravity well of a planet” (Mann, 2012).

Reference

Mann, A. (2012, April 12). Humans vs. Robots: Who Should Dominate Space Exploration? Retrieved from https://www.wired.com/2012/04/space-humans-vs-robots/

Walker, R. (2015, May 3). Why is unmanned exploration preferred to manned exploration? Retrieved from https://www.quora.com/Why-is-unmanned-exploration-prefered-to-manned-exploration