Exploration

The right technology can propel exploration to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. Jacobs works closely with NASA and other industry partners to create enabling and transformative solutions that enable humans to better understand our universe and reach further into our solar system.

SHERLOC on NASA’s Mars Perseverance Rover

In the summer of 2020, NASA landed the Mars Perseverance Rover on the Martian surface. For Johnson Space Center’s first collaboration working with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Jacobs helped create a calibration tool for a Mars Perseverance science instrument named SHERLOC. The calibration tool is a critical piece of technology that will accurately look for ancient organics and life on Mars.

ARGOS – Analog Gravity Simulation

The Active Response Gravity Offload System (ARGOS) is designed to simulate reduced gravity environments, such as Lunar, Martian, and microgravity. ARGOS can recreate near zero gravity conditions for the International Space Station (ISS) Intravehicular Activity (IVA) and Extravehicular Activity (EVA) crew training as well as surface operations and robotic vehicle studies. Jacobs helps the NASA ARGOS team with sustaining engineering, maintenance and test design for this unique and complex system.

EVA Tools, Technology, & Training

From suit technologies designed to withstand the extreme environments in space to systems that maximize safety and efficiency of operations, to tools that capture the chemistry of Mars and Moon rocks, the challenges of deep space exploration are constantly evolving. As part of the Exploration Integration team, Jacobs collaborates closely with NASA to develop conceptual tools and training for preparing astronauts for exploring the Moon’s surface and eventually Mars. One example is project NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operations (NEEMO). NEEMO is a NASA analog mission that sends engineers, scientists, and astronauts to live in the Aquarius underwater laboratory for up to three weeks testing tools and creating EVA techniques for exploring the surface of the Moon.

Space Habitats Analogs and Technology Development

Space vehicle docking with another vehicle or a space station is a critical procedure that requires precision and mechanical reliability. Jacobs provides both computer modeling and analog testing of vehicle docking systems for both NASA and commercial space companies such as SpaceX and Boeing.

Designing Space Food Systems for Long-Duration Exploration Missions

Long-duration exploration missions will require a unique food system to sustain astronauts in an environment void of the usual human food sources. In order to obtain data for NASA’s use in designing this system, Jacobs will provide for a Mars habitat analog via a 3D-printed habitat. The data obtained during the Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog (CHAPEA) project in this simulated laboratory environment will also be used to inform NASA standards and associated vehicle mass and volume requirements for these missions.

Jacobs had an instrumental role in the installation and outfitting of the 3D-printed habitat designed and built by ICON & BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group. The team will support the integration and installation of the surrounding mission needs and will play an instrumental role as the Mission and Operations Team once the CHAPEA habitat is mission ready.

Systems Engineering Simulators

The Systems Engineering Simulators are real-time, crew-in-the-loop projection assisted space vehicle control environments for simulating realistic high-fidelity conditions for engineering feedback and analysis along with crew training for vehicle and surface operations training. The Jacobs team provides NASA with computer programming, hardware maintenance, and simulation testing support.

James Webb Telescope - Vacuum Chamber Technology

On December 25, 2021, NASA launched the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) one million miles from Earth to Lagrange Point 2 orbiting the Sun. The infrared telescope will be a giant leap forward to help scientists understand the universe and its origins. JWST will examine every phase of cosmic history from the first glows after the Big Bang to the formation of galaxies, stars, and planets to the evolution of our solar system. In 2017, Jacobs successfully completed the re-construction of the large cryogenic thermal vacuum chamber at Johnson Space Center where later that year NASA Goddard completed a 90-day continuous test of the 18 mirror segments with temperatures as cold as 40 Kelvin (-387 F) to simulate conditions at L2. Jacobs provided continuous facility and technical support to the NASA Goddard team throughout the successful reliability test.

Currently, JWST is at its L2 location on the other side of the moon warming up to make historic cosmic discoveries about the creation of our universe.

Vehicle Docking Modeling and Validation

Space Vehicle docking with another vehicle, or a space station is a critical procedure that requires precision and mechanical reliability. Jacobs provides both computer modeling and analog testing of vehicle docking systems for both NASA and commercial space companies such as SpaceX and Boeing.