Inside of Titan-JVMSA

The name of the space shuttle were using to get to Titan, one of Saturns
moons, is Titan-JVMSA. Scientists indirectly control the entire spacecrafts
system through the robots called Olympians onboard. The Olympians are
able to manage all complicated equipment, perform routine checks, and
sense if there is a problem, where it immediately alerts the scientists and
brainstorms an efficient solution. The space shuttle is made of 4 parts; the 2
rocket boosters, the fuel tank, and the spaceship itself. Altogether, the space
shuttle is 360ft long and 190ft wide and weighs over 350,000 lb.
The rocket boosters are each 300ft in length and 45ft wide. Their purpose is
to give the space shuttle the extra boost needed to shoot out of the Earths
gravitational pull. A few minutes in flight afterwards, they separate and using
the built in parachutes they drift into the Atlantic Ocean, where they can be
recovered and reused. The spacecraft continues on.
The fuel tank is 360ft long and 100ft wide. In it contains liquidized hydrogen
and oxygen as energy sources. Liquid oxygen is used as an oxidizer and is
stored in a 1,100,000 gallon-tank located in the northwest corner of the tank
kept at less than -297 degrees F. It is transferred by one of the two main
pumps able to pump 1,300 gallons per minute. Hydrogen is a light element
as it has the lowest molecular weight of all known substances and makes for
a very strong rocket propellant. When combined with an oxidizer, liquid
hydrogen yields the utmost efficiency in relation to the amount of propellant
used. Liquid hydrogen is used as fuel and stored in a 1,050,000 gallon-tank
in the northeast corner, kept at a temperature even lower than liquid oxygen
(-423 degrees F). They requires careful handling so it doesnt evaporate, boil
off, or explode. It is carefully insulated from any sources of heat like air
friction during flight or the Sun once it reaches space. When liquid hydrogen
absorbs heat, it quickly expands so venting is essential to stop the tank from
exploding.
The spaceship itself is 265ft long and 155ft in wingspan. Along with space
travel comes many issues, like unpredictable temperatures, lack of oxygen
and muscle deficiency as well as other health problems associated with our
bodies trying to adapt to a new atmosphere.
The high atmospheric density of Titan makes thermal insulation a major
obstacle, so insulation and heat generation is a top priority. For this purpose,
the Thermal Control System (TCS) was created. The TCS also functions to
keep all parts of the spacecraft within a satisfactory temperature range
during the entire journey, not just once it lands on Titan, as space can vary
greatly in temperature ranges so the TCS must react accordingly. Excess heat
from the dissipation of the spacecraft itself has been programmed to eject

into space. There are 2 sub-sections actively functioning, the Passive

Thermal Control System (PTCS) and the Active Thermal Control System
(ATCS). The PTCS is continuously operating and the other provides energy for
it. Parts of the PTCS include multi-layer insulation which protects the
spaceship from overheating caused by excessive solar and planetary
heating. Radioisotope heater units (RHU) were installed to produce and store
electrical power for all TCS devices. The ATCS has about the same amount of
components. Thermostatically controlled resistive electric heaters help keep
the temperature of the equipment stablr in cold phases in space and fluid
loops transfer excess heat radiated by the equipment to the radiators.
Cryogenics relate to the production of low temperatures and the effects of it
on things. In this case, it refers to preserving a human body by freezing it at
very low temperatures, so low the body ceases to function, but the person
stays alive. Cryonics has been an immense help because it means that the
passengers on the spaceship do not need to be taken care of, fed and more
in their frozen state, ideally saving more of the essentials like food for when
they land on Titan itself.
To start the process, your heart must stop beating. This would normally
signify that the person is dead, but if some cellular brain functions remain
even after the heart stops, you can be brought back to life at a later date.
Cryonics preserve some of that cell function so you are certain to live on.
Then the actual freezing process begins. The body is brought to a freezing
facility and dipped into a huge pot of liquid nitrogen. However, if you were
just dropped in without any protection the cells in your body would freeze
and shatter. To prevent this, a type of antifreeze is put in it called the
cryoprotectant. This glycerol based mixture protects your organ tissues by
obstructing the formation of ice crystals. This process called vitrification
permits cells to live in a kind of suspended animation. After vitrification, your
body is cooled with dry ice until it reaches -202 degrees F. After being precooled, its time to place your body into an individual container that will then
be inserted into a liquid nitrogen filled metal tank. This will cool the body
down to a temperature of around -320 degrees F, and marks the end of the
freezing process.
In 2055, technology has become much more advanced and they have found
a method of reviving cryogenically frozen people. Using molecular
nanotechnology, the leftover atoms in your brain can be preserved and set
so that after a certain amount of time, it will naturally send messages to your
heart cells to start beating again and your body will start warming up. The
room will also start to heat up, and with an atmosphere at a steady, high
temperature to aid the process, the bodies will start to thaw. Once it lands on
Titan everyone on the spacecraft will have thawed.

There is no oxygen in space, so breathing would be a huge issue. That is

where NOBS, or the Nitrogen/Oxygen Breathing System comes in. Nitrogen
and oxygen is dissolved from the air and go through a refining process to get
rid of other chemicals that may have followed. They are then stored in
separate tanks and connect to the spacecrafts air network system. NOBS
was programmed so air tanks and their support fixtures are plugged into the
existing air supply network to refill tanks once they are empty. The tanks are
about 6ft long and 40 inches in diameter. Passengers will be cryogenically
frozen so not much oxygen is necessary for survival, but a minimal amount is
required to insure everyone stays alive and to somewhat stabilize air
pressure.
Outside of Titan-JVMSA
Carbon is often used in spaceship construction. The spacecraft is made of a
recently discovered material made from the element, carbon fiber
technology. It has been used to replace many spacecraft parts except for the
bulkhead. Bulkheads are still made from titanium, aluminum or other
conventional metals and alloys because of extreme thermal and pressure
demands. Carbon nanotubes are a newly discovered form of carbon, 600
times the strength of steel by weight. They can also act as conductors. One
other nanostructure has been inputted for use for the critical systems of a
spacecraft, nanometer-scale sensors. They continuously oversee the
condition of materials. If a part starts to fail, the sensors are able to alert the
central computer before the damage worsens. Think of it like how humans
can feel even the slightest pinprick anywhere on their bodies by carrying
signals to their brain.
Gossamer materials are also popular since they are ultra-thin sheets that can
be used for small parts like antennas, or for large solar sails that provide
driving force instead of previous bulkier materials.
Self-healing materials have even been used for the exterior of the spacecraft.
These materials are made of ionomers, long-chain molecules that react to a
penetrating object like a bullet by closing behind it. Spaceships need such
skins because space is full of small projectiles fast-moving bits of debris
from comets and asteroids. Because of this layer of self-healing material, the
entire ship would be kept airtight, meaning no puncture wounds.
One of the most difficult challenges of space travel is Galactic Cosmic
Radiation (GCR) produced by far off supernova explosions. It partly consists
of very heavy positive ions, such as iron nuclei, that zoom across space at a
high speed. The heavy mass and great speed combined result in little cannon
ball-like atoms that cause immense destruction. If they pierce through cells
in a persons body, their DNA can be fractured leading to terrible illnesses

and even cancer. Light elements like hydrogen and helium make for the best
defense against the GCR because if they collide, only little secondary
radiation is produced, unlike metals where collisions with the GCR can
produce radiation worse than what it was supposed to shield.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Shuttle_Solid_Rocket_Booster
ttp://www.space.com/10727-nasa-space-shuttle-spacecraft.html
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spacecraft_thermal_control
http://www.nasa.gov/vision/space/gettingtospace/16sep_rightstuff.html
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/cassini/spacecraft/huygens.html#.V0kS
mf-s_CS
http://www.nasa.gov/topics/technology/hydrogen/hydrogen_fuel_of_choice.ht
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https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryogenics
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Titan_(moon)
http://www.nasa.gov/content/air-supply-high-pressure-tanks-ready-for-spacestation