Lunar Supercomputer Complex

7/29/2019 Lunar Supercomputer Complex

1/18

Lunar Supercomputer Complex21st Century Deep Space Network Evolution Prospects

Ouliang ChangASTE 527 ConceptDec. 13th, 2011


2/18

Background

! More and more missions are flying simultaneously and need to besupported


3/18

Challenges

! Require larger bandwidth communication / data-processing links to Earth! Current DSNs overloaded bandwidth becomes an emerging problem! Earth-centric-processing space network (star topology)! Unreliable, less redundant, potential comm. traffic jam

!"#$%&'#(!


4/18

Challenges

! Lunar industrial & settlement development: first phase (tele-) robotic! Slow communication & feedback control! Some operations may require real time fast computing capability! Bottleneck for advanced technology employment


5/18

Proposal

Build a lunar supercomputer complex, including:

! Communication antennae arrays! Supercomputing and data storage facility! Auxiliary systems: power, shielding and cooling, etc.


6/18

Rationale

! A highly reliable, broader bandwidth lunar DSN center in cislunar spaceregimes as well as for deep space missions

! Contributing to build a faster, more redundant space network! Supercomputing and data processing support for future lunar activities


7/18

Assumptions

! Time frame: the next 10 ~ 15 years.! Some lunar industrial development and architectures already took place! High temperature superconductor materials (40K - 60K)! Graphene and related composite material! Substantial water available deeply underneath the lunar regolith ?


8/18

Location

! Far side, close to polar region! Continuous sunshine on the rim of crater! Constant deep shadow area in the crater! Potential lunar water ice underneath the regolith


9/18

Complex SubsystemsCommunication antennae

! Mission links: multiple vastly-large inflatable antennae (3~5 km) made fromgraphene membrane composite

! Local/earth links: large arrays of small steerable antennas on the rim of crater

! If asteroid impact early warning is issued by supercomputer system,antennae graphene membrane could be rolled up and folded for stowing in a

controlled manner to avoid damage

! Data relay via lunar orbiter satellites, besides direct-to-earth links


10/18

Complex SubsystemsSupercomputer architecture

! Hierarchy; Combine some power together to become great one


11/18

Complex SubsystemsSupercomputer comparison

"#$%&$'!

()*+(,,!

-./0122&$'!23114!

561.#7/328!9/.12! -/:1.!5;12%6/3!-9! !"!#$ %&'$ !"(#$ (#))$*$+,$*$(',$ &$-./0123.$4%#5%!!$6789.:$7/$;;!$

./$?78/$@A/$B779ACD$7C92$

D=9!E-99!!

FB!>1AA*=G$*HIJ!'E3?$ (%'"F$ (+5%;!$ GH@$

I0B?$/0BJ$B01AC.3$A:$

+;))*%F)K*F'KKL$

$

M8CN/.N:$37$

3?78:0CN:$

B01AC.3:$

-.C:$7O$$

P.30123.:$

I0B?$C7N.$8CN./$O899$8Q9AR0Q7C$NA::A>03.$

(5%'!5!!!$S789.:$7/$

(%!!./$?78/L$

$

-?78:0CN:$37$3.C:$7O$

3?78:0CN:$C7N.:$

P/AT0/A92$0A/$B779ACD$

U$MV@W$

KL=L!-A1!!

FB!=MH!+3?$ (5!;;$ (((5(!F$ F5(!%$

9@&$#!N$@1O,!!

FB!KD>N!%CN$ %5#''$ (;'5E';$ F5!F!$

P#3#$!;!9/C3G61.!!

FB!QGR&62G!(:3$ ;5('%$ #F;5E#%$ 45;44$

M1.C#$B!

=G31.JD9!!FB!HIJ!!

&$!/31.#?/$!+(,+!

E5!!!$ ((!5!!!$$ GH@$ XAB/7YB?0CC.9$9AZ8AN$B779ACD$

>#6#!91$61.!

M//'A1!Q&$A#$4!(5!!!5!!!$ #!5!!!$

';5';!$:Z80/.$

O773$18A9NACD$$&$I*0123.$ GH@$ [.0\03./$B779ACD$


12/18

Complex SubsystemsSupercomputer power projection

ST)!U!,(,V!QWX-=Y!

ZTZ!J1'#:#[2!


13/18

Complex SubsystemsAuxiliary systems: power, shielding

! Need at least a 10 MWatt power generator! Supercomputer is installed deeply underneath the lunar regolith to

protect against the radiation environment


14/18

Complex SubsystemsAuxiliary systems: cooling

A hierarchical liquid cooling system

! Microscale liquid cooling on chip via micro-channels! Macroscale heat exchange: heat reuse, super-large radiator fans and

heat conduction by lunar ice

! Reduce waste heat through use of superconducting materials


15/18

EvolutionA lunar based DSN center

! Easily scalable in both antennae bandwidth and computing capability! Both large inflatable antennae and arrays of small steerable antennas are

modular, expandable, low cost manufacturing and operations

! The supercomputing power is increased by adding banks over time, asother critical technologies are also evolved.

!

In first phase it will be fully autonomous, evolved in stages.! In long term, it could be manned or unmanned, depending on the specific

purpose of mission support or lunar projects


16/18

Conclusions

Merits

! A highly reliable, broader bandwidth lunar DSN centerfor comm. anddata processing in cislunar space regimes as well as for deep space

missions

! Contributing to a faster, more redundant and resilient space network

!Supercomputing and data processing support for future lunar activities

! Better computer system reliability! Abundant silicon dioxide supplies for electronics componentsChallenges

! Asteroid impact early detection system: roll up and fold large inflatableantennae graphene membrane in a controlled manner to avoid damage

! Radiation shielding: install the supercomputer deeply under the regolith! Power demand keeps increasing: nuclear power plant! Cooling efficiency: super large radiator


17/18

Future Quantitative Study

! Radiation shielding thickness. How deep the supercomputer need to putbelow the regolith to obtain an acceptable radiation environment?

! Nuclear plant really necessary? Is solar power supply abundant for lunarsupercomputer complex (20 MWatt) ?

! Calculate the cooling efficiency and the radiator plane size


18/18

Thanks for your attention !

Comments and Questions

Documents

Lunar Supercomputer Complex