Astrobotic Uses Ansys to Prepare for Historic Lunar Mission

Rhea-AI Summary

Ansys (ANSS) simulation solutions optimized mission planning and lunar lander design, increasing likelihood of success. Astrobotic's Peregrine lunar lander, scheduled to launch early January and land late February, will carry 20 payloads from seven nations and five NASA payloads in support of NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative. Leveraging Ansys' virtual design and mission planning, the spacecraft is poised to make one of the first CLPS deliveries to the Moon, laying the foundation for further exploration and future human missions as part of the Artemis program.

Aerospace Engineer

The utilization of Ansys' simulation technology by Astrobotic represents a significant advancement in spacecraft design and mission planning. The ability to optimize the lunar lander's structure for both weight and durability is a critical factor in mission success. The mass savings of up to 20% without compromising structural integrity is particularly noteworthy, as it directly translates to reduced launch costs and potentially more payload capacity. Moreover, the application of Ansys Thermal Desktop for analyzing thermal environments indicates a sophisticated approach to managing the thermal risks associated with cislunar space, which is vital for ensuring the longevity and reliability of the spacecraft's components.

Financial Analyst

From a financial perspective, the collaboration between Astrobotic and Ansys is likely to have a positive impact on Ansys' financial performance, particularly if the mission is successful. Ansys' role in this high-profile project showcases the company's capabilities to potential clients in the aerospace sector, which could lead to new contracts and revenue streams. Furthermore, the success of Peregrine could bolster confidence in Ansys' simulation solutions, potentially driving up the stock value due to increased investor optimism about the company's growth prospects in the burgeoning space exploration industry.

Market Research Analyst

As commercial space exploration grows, the demand for advanced simulation technologies like those offered by Ansys is expected to increase. Astrobotic's choice to use Ansys for the Peregrine lunar lander is a testament to the company's competitive edge in the market. This partnership could set a precedent for future space missions, positioning Ansys as a preferred provider for simulation solutions in the aerospace industry. It's important to monitor how this impacts Ansys' market share and if it prompts competitors to innovate similarly advanced solutions to meet the evolving needs of the space sector.

Ansys simulation solutions optimized mission planning and lunar lander design, increasing likelihood of success 

/ Key Highlights

• Ansys multiphysics and digital mission engineering (DME) solutions enabled Astrobotic to predict many categories of the spacecraft's performance indicators throughout all phases of the mission, from plotting the orbital trajectory to analyzing communication system performance
• Astrobotic's Peregrine lunar lander will carry 20 payloads from seven nations, and five NASA payloads in support of NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative, building a foundation for further exploration and future human missions

PITTSBURGH, Jan. 3, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Leveraging Ansys (NASDAQ: ANSS) DME and multiphysics simulation solutions, Astrobotic's Peregrine lunar lander is poised to make one of the first CLPS deliveries to the Moon. Scheduled to launch early January and land late February, Peregrine will ferry 20 payloads from seven countries and will help NASA explore the lunar surface to prepare for human missions as part of the Artemis program.

To reach the Moon, spacecraft traverse a hostile cislunar environment featuring extreme temperatures, unanticipated space weather phenomena, high levels of radiation, and a multitude of unknowns. The craft must be durable enough to withstand intense load-case scenarios during flight and landing, while remaining light enough to carry enough fuel for the journey. Because it is impossible to replicate these conditions with a physical prototype on Earth, Space 2.0 companies rely on Ansys' virtual design and mission planning to validate their technology and to maximize the chances of mission success.

With support from Ansys Elite Channel Partner, SimuTech Group, Astrobotic used a suite of Ansys solutions to enhance spacecraft design and predict performance across all phases of the complex mission:

• Astrobotic harnessed Ansys' topology optimization capabilities to help design a lander with mass savings of up to 20% while meeting structural durability criteria.
• Engineers used Ansys Mechanical to help evaluate performance under extreme structural loads during the launch and transit, and the impact of shock, vibration, and fluid transients during powered descent.
• Astrobotic engineers used Ansys Discovery to mature the design for stress, reduce mass, and optimize Peregrine for assembly.
• Using Ansys Thermal Desktop, Astrobotic analyzed the complex cislunar orbit and trajectory options across diverse thermal environments and spacecraft altitudes. This enabled the mission planning team to determine the most suitable launch and landing opportunities.
• As Peregrine travels farther from Earth, the integrity of the antenna and radio signal are critical for communications and orbit trajectory tracking. Astrobotic implemented Ansys HFSS to design the antenna radiation patterns to ensure maximum signal strength.

"Ansys solutions helped us design and validate an innovative lander within a strict mission timeline that a manual approach would not have met," said Sharad Bhaskaran, mission director, Astrobotic. "Peregrine is poised to be one of the first U.S. spacecraft to land on the Moon since Apollo, so we put it through rigorous testing to ensure it has the durability to withstand extreme cislunar conditions. With expert engineering guidance from SimuTech and Space Exploration Engineering, we are confident the Peregrine is ready to pave the way for the future of lunar operations."

Space Exploration Engineering (SEE), an aerospace firm specializing in planning space missions, mission analysis, and flight dynamics, leveraged Ansys' DME capabilities to support the mission. Using Ansys Systems Tool Kit (STK), SEE experts worked as part of the Astrobotic Flight Dynamics team to plan Peregrine's mission, trajectory, and maneuvers. The Astrobotic team used Ansys Orbit Determination Tool Kit (ODTK) to track the lander's orbital trajectory and used STK to plan maneuvers and course corrections to achieve an accurate approach to the final landing site. SEE engineers augmented the existing mission capabilities by running the flight dynamics system, AstroFDS, which provides crucial automation of interfaces, workflows, and configuration control of Ansys ODTK and Ansys STK.

"Flying to the Moon is no easy undertaking because there are innumerable variables and scenarios that must be tested," said John Carrico Jr., owner and chief technology officer, Astrogator and technical advisor, SEE. "Our collaboration with Ansys helps customers like Astrobotic account for cislunar environments through predictively accurate, reliable simulations and real-time guidance from experts with a track record of success."

"As one of the first CLPS missions, the Astrobotic Peregrine lander serves as de facto pathfinder," said Shane Emswiler, senior vice president of products at Ansys. "Astrobotic needed Peregrine to perform predictably in a hostile environment, and there is no way to do that with only physical testing on Earth. Ansys has a long history of providing high-fidelity simulation solutions to civil, defense, and commercial programs, repeatedly proving reliability in uncertain conditions."

Register to watch Peregrine Mission One's historic launch on NASA TV here.

/ About Ansys

Our Mission: Powering Innovation that Drives Human Advancement™

When visionary companies need to know how their world-changing ideas will perform, they close the gap between design and reality with Ansys simulation. For more than 50 years, Ansys software has enabled innovators across industries to push boundaries by using the predictive power of simulation. From sustainable transportation to advanced semiconductors, from satellite systems to life-saving medical devices, the next great leaps in human advancement will be powered by Ansys.

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/ Contacts

Media	Mary Kate Joyce
	724.820.4368
	marykate.joyce@ansys.com

Investors	Kelsey DeBriyn
	724.820.3927
	kelsey.debriyn@ansys.com

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SOURCE Ansys

FAQ

What is the scheduled launch date for Astrobotic's Peregrine lunar lander?

The Peregrine lunar lander is scheduled to launch early January and land late February.

How many payloads will the Peregrine lunar lander carry?

The lander will carry 20 payloads from seven nations and five NASA payloads in support of NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative.

What is the ticker symbol for Ansys?

The ticker symbol for Ansys is ANSS.

What is the purpose of Ansys' virtual design and mission planning?

Ansys' virtual design and mission planning is used to validate technology and maximize the chances of mission success for spacecraft missions to the Moon.

How did Ansys solutions help in designing the Peregrine lunar lander?

Ansys solutions were used to enhance spacecraft design, predict performance across all phases of the mission, and validate an innovative lander within a strict mission timeline.