One embodiment includes a contamination limiter for a spacecraft. The contamination limiter includes a body having an interior. An inlet is fluidly coupled to the interior of the body. A collector plate is positioned within the interior of the body. A UV light source is directed at a surface of the collector plate. An exterior vent is fluidly coupled to the interior of the body. A volatile condensable material from the spacecraft is photofixed by the UV light exposure to the collector plate prior to venting through an exterior vent to an exterior of the spacecraft.

One embodiment includes a contamination limiter for a spacecraft. The contamination limiter includes a body having an interior. An inlet is fluidly coupled to the interior of the body. A collector plate is positioned within the interior of the body. A UV light source is directed at a surface of the collector plate. An exterior vent is fluidly coupled to the interior of the body. A volatile condensable material from the spacecraft is photofixed by the UV light exposure to the collector plate prior to venting through an exterior vent to an exterior of the spacecraft.

Ruggedized avionics assemblies for use on kinetically launched space vehicles are disclosed. The avionic assemblies are able to maintain structural integrity and functionality under high acceleration forces generated during kinetic launch, including acceleration forces of >5,000 times Earth's gravity in a single direction of loading. The avionics assembly is ruggedized to withstand this level of acceleration force during launch via a plurality of constraining elements to constrain a plurality of printed circuit boards aligned in parallel to an acceleration vector. Further, a high specific strength and stiffness composition of the plurality of constraining elements aids in supporting the printed circuit boards and preventing them from bending and dislodging electronic components mounted to the printed circuit boards.

Ruggedized avionics assemblies for use on kinetically launched space vehicles are disclosed. The avionic assemblies are able to maintain structural integrity and functionality under high acceleration forces generated during kinetic launch, including acceleration forces of >5,000 times Earth's gravity in a single direction of loading. The avionics assembly is ruggedized to withstand this level of acceleration force during launch via a plurality of constraining elements to constrain a plurality of printed circuit boards aligned in parallel to an acceleration vector. Further, a high specific strength and stiffness composition of the plurality of constraining elements aids in supporting the printed circuit boards and preventing them from bending and dislodging electronic components mounted to the printed circuit boards.

An equipment cleaning apparatus for an extraplanetary environment includes a cleaner vessel positioned at an exterior of an extraplanetary habitat, and an exterior hatch located outside of the extraplanetary habitat and allowing access to an interior of the cleaner vessel. The cleaning apparatus is operable in one or more cleaning cycles to clean equipment located in the cleaner vessel. A method of cleaning equipment in an extraplanetary environment includes providing a cleaner vessel at an extraplanetary habitat, placing one or more articles of equipment into an interior of the cleaner vessel through an exterior hatch located outside of the extraplanetary habitat, closing the exterior hatch, and operating one or more cleaning cycles on the equipment in the cleaner vessel.

An abnormality diagnosing method includes a model generation step of generating a simulation model of a monitoring target, an operation start step of starting an operation of the monitoring target, a measurement step of measuring an internal state quantity in the operating state of the monitoring target and extracting a measured value, a prediction step of inputting into the simulation model same control input value used in the operating state of the monitoring target and calculating a predicted value of the internal state quantity of the monitoring target, a Mahalanobis distance calculation step of calculating a Mahalanobis distance from a difference between the measured value and the predicted value, and an abnormality diagnosis step of diagnosing whether the operating state of the monitoring target is abnormal based on the Mahalanobis distance.

An abnormality diagnosing method includes a model generation step of generating a simulation model of a monitoring target, an operation start step of starting an operation of the monitoring target, a measurement step of measuring an internal state quantity in the operating state of the monitoring target and extracting a measured value, a prediction step of inputting into the simulation model same control input value used in the operating state of the monitoring target and calculating a predicted value of the internal state quantity of the monitoring target, a Mahalanobis distance calculation step of calculating a Mahalanobis distance from a difference between the measured value and the predicted value, and an abnormality diagnosis step of diagnosing whether the operating state of the monitoring target is abnormal based on the Mahalanobis distance.

A multi-layer shell structure for a vehicle and method of providing a multi-layer shell structure for a vehicle. The multi-layer structure includes a thermal protection system (TPS) layer, a structural layer connected to the TPS layer, and a high tensile fabric barrier layer bonded to the structural layer. Room-temperature-vulcanizing silicone may be used to bond the TPS layer to the structural layer and bond the high tensile fabric barrier layer to the structural layer. The high tensile fabric barrier layer may create a seal on the structural layer. The multi-layer shell structure may include inner shell enclosing a passenger and/or cargo compartment and an annulus between the inner shell and the high tensile fabric barrier layer. The high tensile fabric barrier layer may prohibit entry of gas into the annulus in the event a hole is created through a portion of the multi-layer shell structure.

Embodiments in accordance with the invention address potential co-orbital threats to a spacecraft through the use of a plurality of evasion pattern maneuvers selected to prevent a rendezvous with a potential co-orbital threat from occurring within a finite horizon. Embodiments in accordance with the invention maintain separation from the potential co-orbital threat while minimizing a defending spacecraft's fuel consumption.

Embodiments in accordance with the invention address potential co-orbital threats to a spacecraft through the use of a plurality of evasion pattern maneuvers selected to prevent a rendezvous with a potential co-orbital threat from occurring within a finite horizon. Embodiments in accordance with the invention maintain separation from the potential co-orbital threat while minimizing a defending spacecraft's fuel consumption.