Desert Research and Technology Studies

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The participants in Desert RATS vary from year to year. Past participants have included researchers from various NASA centers, including Johnson Space Center, Kennedy Space Center, Goddard Space Flight Center, Ames Research Center, Glenn Research Center, Langley Research Center, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Marshall Space Flight Center, as well as contractors Hamilton Sundstrand and ILC Dover, and researchers from numerous universities and institutes, including the Carnegie Institute, the Universities Space Research Association, and Virginia Commonwealth University.

In 2010, there were about 200 scientists, engineers, and mission planners participating. Mission support is provided by the Mission Operations Exploration Planning and Operations Center (ExPOC) in Houston.

Through live videoconferencing with NASA Explorer Schools and simultaneous webcasts, students around the world are able to watch Desert RATS activities live.[http://nasadln.nmsu.edu/dln/content/catalog/details/?cid=533 NASA – Digital Learning Network: Catalog Event Details] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070708100302/http://nasadln.nmsu.edu/dln/content/catalog/details/?cid=533 |date=2007-07-08 }}{{Cite web |last=Nevills |first=Amiko |title=Scenes From the Desert, or Maybe Mars: NASA's "RATS" Tests Technologies for Tomorrow's Treks |publisher=NASA |date=September 6, 2005 |url=http://www.nasa.gov/vision/space/preparingtravel/desertrats2.html}} The public is also encouraged to follow along through various social media means, including Facebook,{{cite web| url = https://www.facebook.com/pages/NASA-Desert-RATS/122098681161930| title = NASA Expeditions| website = Facebook}} Twitter,{{cite web| url = https://twitter.com/DESERT_RATS| title = Profile / Twitter}} Flickr,{{Cite web|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/nasadesertrats/|title=MMSEV Asteroid Simulation with Trevor & Liz|date=24 August 2012}} and Ustream.{{Cite web|url=http://www.ustream.tv/channel/desertrats|title = DesertRATS}}

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During the trials, researchers study the effectiveness of new designs for space suits, robots, rovers, surface networking and communications, exploration information systems and computing, habitats, and other equipment, and gain experience in the use of new technologies designed to make planetary exploration safer, easier, and more efficient. Recent tests have involved the use of an interplanetary delay emulator developed at NASA.{{Cite web |url=http://www.techbriefs.com/content/view/469/32/ |title=Automated Synthesis of Long Communication Delays for Testing |location=Glenn Research Center |date=December 1, 2005 |publisher=NASA}} They stage mock explorations of the desert, and try out various procedures and techniques for accomplishing the mission. Suited crew members work side by side with robots, and are connected to one another and to the robots by a wireless network. The rugged terrain provides challenges for robotic navigation.

In 2005, the Science Crew Operations and Utility Testbed (SCOUT) rover was tested, working alongside two suited crew members. SCOUT could also be manually driven by the crew members. Other robots participating in D-RATS have included a six-legged all-terrain vehicle known as ATHLETE, the centaur-like Robonaut, and Matilda, an autonomous support vehicle capable of collecting geologic samples and aiding with path planning.{{Cite press release|title=NASA's Desert "Rats" Test New Gear|publisher=NASA|date=September 13, 2004|url=http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2004/sep/HQ_04293_desert_rats.html|access-date=April 8, 2007 }}

Space suits tested during Desert RATS include ILC Dover's Mark III and I-Suit. Using speech recognition built into their suits, mock astronauts can command robots, adjust suit parameters for comfort, and inquire into the mission status, or the status or location of any crew member or robot. A head-up display inside the suit can show this information as well. In 2005, participants tested a new system for refilling crew members' liquid-air tanks while in use, thus extending in-suit time.{{Cite press release|title=NASA's Desert Rats Take On Harsh Mobility Challenges|publisher=Johnson Space Center|date=September 1, 2005|url=http://www.marstoday.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=17699|access-date=April 8, 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120909023941/http://www.marstoday.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=17699|archive-date=September 9, 2012}}

At D-RATS 2004 technology demonstrated included the: Spacesuits, Matilda (autonomous robotic support vehicle), an electric tractor, mobile geology lab, a wireless network and other.{{cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/vision/space/preparingtravel/desertrats.html|title=It Isn't Mars, but It'll Do for Now|date=2004-09-15|publisher=NASA|access-date=11 April 2011}}

At D-RATS 2005 technology demonstrated included the: Spacesuits, SCOUT (Science, Crew, Operations and Utility Testbed) Rover, a system to recharge air tanks while they're in use and other.{{cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/vision/space/preparingtravel/desertrats2_prt.htm|title=Scenes From the Desert, or Maybe Mars: NASA's "RATS" Tests Technologies for Tomorrow's Treks|date=2005-09-06|publisher=NASA|access-date=11 April 2011}}

At D-RATS 2006 technology demonstrated included the: ATHLETE, Robonaut/Centaur, Pressurized Rover Compartment, SCOUT Rover, electric tractor and other.{{Cite web |url=http://www.nasa.gov/exploration/analogs/desert_rats_2006.html |title=Desert RATS 2006 - Field Test |date=July 29, 2009 |publisher=NASA}}

At D-RATS 2007 technology demonstrated included the: Spacesuits, SCOUT rover and other.{{Cite web |url=http://www.nasa.gov/exploration/analogs/desert_rats_2007.html |title=NASA RATS Bring the Moon to Earth |date=October 18, 2007 |publisher=NASA}}

At D-RATS 2008 technology demonstrated included the: Space Exploration Vehicle, CHARIOT, spacesuits, ATHLETE and other.{{Cite web |url=http://www.nasa.gov/exploration/analogs/desert_rats_2008.html |title=Three Days in the Desert Tests Lunar "RV" |publisher=NASA |date=December 3, 2008 |access-date=March 14, 2011 |archive-date=March 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220308053733/https://www.nasa.gov/exploration/analogs/desert_rats_2008.html |url-status=dead }}

At D-RATS 2009 technology demonstrated included the: Space Exploration Vehicle (including Chassis B), Tri-ATHLETE, spacesuits, K-10 robots and other.{{Cite web |url=http://www.nasa.gov/exploration/analogs/desert_rats_2009.html |title=Desert RATS 2009 14-Day Analog Mission |publisher=NASA |date=November 8, 2010 |access-date=March 14, 2011 |archive-date=March 16, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110316073420/http://www.nasa.gov/exploration/analogs/desert_rats_2009.html |url-status=dead }}

At D-RATS 2010 technology demonstrated included the: Space Exploration Vehicle, Habitat Demonstration Unit/Pressurized Excursion Module - including Geolab,{{cite web|last=Evens|first=Cynthia|title=Geolab's First Field Trials, 2010 Desert RATS: Evaluating Tools for Early Sample Characterization|url=http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2011/pdf/1564.pdf|publisher=LPI|access-date=13 April 2011}} Tri-ATHLETE, Centaur 2, Portable Utility Pallets, Portable Communication Terminal Concept and other.{{Cite web |url=http://www.nasa.gov/exploration/analogs/desert_rats.html |title=Desert RATS Overview}} In addition, operational concepts explored included understanding the differences in productivity for crew operations and ground support with continuous communication vs. twice-a-day communication and evaluating and comparing two-rover operations in a lead-and-trail mode vs. a divide-and conquer mode.

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Initiated in 2004, the goal of PEGS is to develop guidelines for seismic hardware suitable for Lunar and Martian exploration. The system must have minimal volume and mass, be self-powered and recharging, wireless and suitable for planetary exploration and astronaut training. The system must be consistent with NASA's exploration vision in which seismic and other geophysical systems will be key elements of planetary exploration, sub-surface assessments and resource development. The system was tested in Barringer Crater in 2004, 2005 and 2006 plus the McMurdo Dry Valleys of Antarctica in 2005. Useful reflection records were recorded in Arizona and the refraction survey recorded in Antarctica was used to determine the thickness of the valley fill.{{cite journal |last1=Brzostowski |first1=Matthew |last2=Feustel |first2=Andrew |title=The Next Generation Planetary Exploration Geophysical System |journal=AAPG Annual Convention and Exhibition |date=2019 |url=http://www.searchanddiscovery.com/abstracts/html/2019/ace2019/abstracts/45.html |access-date=30 July 2019}}{{cite web |last1=Feustel |first1=A.J. |last2=Brzostowski |first2=M.A. |title=McMurdo Dry Valleys, A Seismic Exploration Analog for Mars |url=https://imageevent.org/2021/program/technical-program/wednesday |website=International Meeting for Applied Geoscience & Engineering |publisher=American Association of Petroleum Geologists |access-date=11 September 2021}}

File:UofWMadison Loft.jpgIn late August/Early Sept 2011 D-RATS made their 14th trip to the Arizona Desert to continue testing the technology NASA will need to enable multiple destinations for future human exploration including the Moon, near-Earth asteroids (NEAs), Mars moons, and ultimately the surface of Mars. The team continued testing hardware including the Space Exploration Vehicle (SEV), the Habitat Demonstration Unit (HDU), and the Centaur Robotic assistant vehicle system.

As part of the eXploration Habitat (X-Hab) Academic Innovation Challenge,{{cite web|title=X-Hab Academic Innovation Challenge|url=http://www.nasa.gov/exploration/analogs/xhab_challenge.html|publisher=NASA|access-date=3 August 2011}} an attachable inflatable habitat "Loft" designed and built by undergraduate students at the University of Wisconsin–Madison will be joined to the HDU and provide crew quarters for the astronaut/geologist crews.

One of the operational concepts that were explored in the 2011 field season was the effect of communication time delays. This is not a major challenge for lunar explorers as the time lag is only a couple of seconds, but at a near-Earth asteroid the time lag might be a minute or more, making normal conversation impossible. At Mars, it is much worse, the lag can be up to 20 minutes each way. Effective strategies for communicating under these conditions include utilizing text messaging, specific voice protocols, and a relay crew member that is not participating in the EVA.

The 2012 Desert RATS field tests did not involve either a desert, or a field; rather, they were conducted in JSC's Building 9, the Space Vehicle Mockup Facility. The tools and simulators were configured and optimized for a simulated mission to a near-Earth asteroid. A virtual reality lab provided an immersive environment for the extravehicular activity (EVA) crewmembers, integrating real-time graphics with crewmember motions and kinesthetic sensations of large objects – an asteroid in this case. The Active Response Gravity Offload System (ARGOS), a crane-based, reduced-gravity system, allowed crews to conduct EVAs in simulated microgravity.{{cite web |publisher=NASA |url=http://www.nasa.gov/exploration/analogs/desertrats/rats2012.html |title=2012 Research and Technology Studies (RATS) |access-date=28 August 2012}}

Image:SCOUT rover.jpg | SCOUT Rover

Image:Test of LOCAD-PTS swab system during EVA at NASA Desert RATS 2005.JPG | I-suit

Image:Centaur 2 (2010).jpg | Centaur 2

Image:Habitat Demonstration Unit (2010) cropped androtated.jpg | Habitat Demonstration Unit

Image:Habitat Demonstration Unit with X-hab - D-RATS 2011.jpg | Habitat Demonstration Unit with X-Hab

Image:Space Exploration Vehicle in field (2010).jpg | Space Exploration Vehicle

Image:Tri-ATHLETE (2010).jpg | Tri-ATHLETE

• Exploration of Mars
• Human spaceflight

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category|NASA Desert Research and Technology Studies|D-RATS}}

• {{official website|https://www.nasa.gov/exploration/analogs/desertrats/}}
• {{cite web |url= http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/vision/visiontraining/ndxpage1.html |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20041117043743/http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/vision/visiontraining/ndxpage1.html |url-status= dead |archive-date= 2004-11-17 |title= Vision Training |date= 2005 |publisher= NASA }}
• {{cite web |url= https://robonaut.jsc.nasa.gov/R1/field-ops/desert06.asp |title= Robaut 1 |publisher= NASA |work= JSC |date= Sep 2, 2006 |url-status= live |archive-date= March 7, 2007 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070307114058/http://robonaut.jsc.nasa.gov/desert06.htm }}
• {{cite web |url= http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/podcasting/nasaedge/NE001004_L06_D-RATS2010.html |publisher= NASA |format= podcast |series= Edge Live |title= D-RATS |date= 2010 }}

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Category:NASA programs

Category:Human analog missions