The year is 2010. This joint
venture is a collaboration amongst many Universities and institutions of
higher learning around the world and our world's leading space agencies.
The main objective of project is to use off the shelf technology redesigned
slightly to explore the upper atmosphere of Venus.
Each institution is incharge of on phase of the operation. Both NASA
and the European Space Agency have
agreed to donate surplus payload
for the project. Since surplus payload is still rather
limited on each launch the dirigible, the instrument platform and each
of the instruments will be launched separately and assembled at the International
Space Station. Two separate designs will be placed in
the Venusian atmosphere. They may even be
able to communicate with each other using the long range
subsonic transmitters. While exploring Venus
is the main goal of this mission developing microsystems
to explore other planets both in and outside our
solar system is an unofficial objective as well.
The Ecole National Superior des Mines of Saint Etienne
is in charge of the instrument platforms. Simple in shape, the requirements
are dictated by the instrument package whose development is ongoing.
Students will therefore have to try to stay in touch
with NASA and the other Universities working on the project. Conditions
are extreme and certain decisions will have to made. Some devices are to
be permanently attached so corrosion and material fusing
should not be a problem during the two month projected life
of the project but other instruments are to be jettisoned. Will it be possible
to embed control
lines (either electric or fiber optic)?
Planned Instruments:
Intel Pentium Five Microprocessor and Heater/Cooler
(weight 7k): will command the majority of devices onboard the craft. This
is subject to change since the power and temperature requirements are high
for this computer. An artificial intelligence similar to the norns
from the game Creatures will
pilot the Venus University Dirigible. One important
question to be answered is how will the
computer be linked to the other devices? This will be
left up to the platform designers.
Extra Helium Tank & Pump (E.H.T.P.): (weight
10k) While the main helium supply is to be inside or attached to the dirigible
itself, there will be a reserve tank will be hung on the undercarriage
of the
instrument platform. During a descent, either accidental
or planned the exterior tank will
heat up faster than the interior gas thus making an accent
(if necessary) powered by the E.H.T.P.
more feasible.
The E.H.T.P. is to be equipped with a series of sensors,
radio transmitter, and a small sonic array.
At some appointed time during the mission the E.H.T.P.
is to be jettisoned.
The reasons for this action are twofold:
1. By lightening the load the V.U.D. mission can be prolonged.
2. This plunge into the lower depths of the Venusian
atmosphere may deliver some valuable insights
into our sister planet's makeup and the capacities of
the new instruments onboard the Venus University Dirigible.
Atmospheric
Humidity Sensor: (weight unknown)a sensitive
hygrometer, its will be application for taking
atmospheric humidity
measurements. This device may help warn of hazardous
weather conditions
to the V.U.D. controllers. A fast hygrometer
could also be useful in detecting microbursts, localized
downdrafts that represent a navigational hazard and could
be
detected by sudden drops in humidity.
Developed by a team of grad students under the
supervision of a Dr. Michael
E. Hoenk of NASA.
Sonic Array: ( weight 2k but distributed over four
different locations.)
The dirigible itself will be a subsonic transmitter and
receiver, interpreting those results
will be left to the Sonic Array and the main computer.
One of the more important
tasks for this unit will be to listen for any Venusquakes,
volcanic eruptions, etc
to see if there is any seismic activity on this planet.
Included in the array:
Quadraphonic positioning sonar
ultrasound emitter
synthetic ears based on artificial stereocilia
developed by Dr.
Flavio Noca, a biologically inspired acoustic sensor based on artificial
stereocilia, the hair-like inner ear structures that
are involved in detecting sound. To demonstrate the potential of
this design, the researchers are using arrays of carbon nanotubes. The
miniature device may lead to revolutionary advances in acoustic detection
and signal processing and could
allow for the development of an artificial cochlea, or
inner ear. For the V.U.D. the synthetic ears
listen to the "sounds"
Venus, including the drop of the Extra Helium Tank & Pump.
Much of the technical advice is from the Acoustical
Society of America (ASA).
Radio Link and Radar Package: (weight unknown)
Some mapping of small scale surface features and
formations should be possible. At the same time as the
two V.U.D.s are deployed NASA plans to put
in place its BigEars satellite system in Venusian orbit.
Not only will uplink information be readily available
to scientists and students back Earth but the Venus
University Dirigible will have an excellent idea where it is thanks
to a system analogous to the GPS on Earth.
Artificial
Nose: (weight 1.5k) actually, almost a complete
chemical laboratory
in micro form. Able to analyze in almost quantities this
amazing device should give
us a more complete picture of the Venusian atmosphere
than ever before.
The artificial nose may even be able to sense the second
dirigible if they come within
kilometers of each other.
The stratospheric multi wavelength LIDAR instrument
Has recently been suggested for at least one of the
Dirigibles
consisting of two lasers, a XeCl-Excimer laser
for UV-wavelengths and a
Nd:YAG-laser for near IR- and visible wavelengths along
with some form of telescope.
but this might change the mission objectives since such
instruments are used to study
the ozone layer and usually require clear skies. contact:
The
BioTanks: (weight 2.5k) This is the most controversial
package on this mission.
The biotanks
are a series of shelves that progressively go from near Earth conditions
to
the harsh outside atmosphere of Venus. Inside this contraption
are cloud borne algae
from our planet that have already undergone genetic modification
to adapt them to life in the
upper reaches of the Venusian atmosphere. Like the E.H.T.P.
the BioTanks should be placed
underneath the platform and should detach easily.
Other packages may be added at the last minute.