Stephen Cook

NASA's Integrated Space Transportation Plan — 3rd generation reusable launch vehicle technology update

Abstract NASAs Integrated Space Transportation Plan (ISTP) calls for investments in Space Shuttle safety upgrades, second generation Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) advanced development and third generation RLV and in-space research and technology. NASAs third generation launch systems are to be fully reusable and operation by 2025. The goals for third generation launch systems are to reduce cost by a factor of 100 and improve safety by a factor of 10,000 over current systems. The Advanced Space Transportation Program Office (ASTP) at NASAs Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, AL has the agency lead to develop third generation space transportation technologies. The Hypersonics Investment Area, part of ASTP, is developing the third generation launch vehicle technologies in two main areas, propulsion and airframes. The programs major investment is in hypersonic airbreathing propulsion since it offers the greatest potential for meeting the third generation launch vehicles. The program will mature the technologies in three key propulsion areas, scramjets, rocket-based combined cycle and turbine-based combination cycle. Ground and flight propulsion tests are being planned for the propulsion technologies. Airframe technologies will be matured primarily through ground testing. This paper describes NASAs activities in hypersonics. Current programs, accomplishments, future plans and technologies that are being pursued by the Hypersonics Investment Area under the Advanced Space Transportation Program Office will be discussed.

Single-stage-to-orbit — A step closer

Abstract Over the past several years there has been a significant effort within the United States to assess options to replace the Space Shuttle some time after the turn of the century. In order to provide a range of technology options, a wide variety of vehicle types and propulsion systems have been examined. These vehicle concepts which are representative of the classes of concepts mat could be proposed for any future vehicle development is being used in the initial phase of the access to space activity to identify requirements for the technology maturation effort and to assess approaches to achieve the required low operations cost. This paper provides the results of recent systems analyses and describes the ongoing technology maturation and demonstration program supporting the Reusable Launch Vehicle Program.

Exploration Systems Architecture Study: Overview of Architecture and Mission Operations Approach

In January 2004, President George W. Bush announced a new Vision for Space Exploration for NASA that would return humans to the Moon by 2020 in preparation for human exploration of Mars. As part of this vision, NASA would retire the Space Shuttle in 2010 and build and fly a new Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV) no later than 2014. To determine the best exploration architecture and strategy to implement this vision, the Exploration Systems Architecture Study (ESAS) team was established at NASA Headquarters (HQ) during May, June, and July of 2005. Design Reference Missions (DRMs) were established to facilitate the derivation of requirements and the allocation of functionality between the major architecture elements. Three of the DRMs were for ISSrelated missions: transportation of crew to and from the ISS, transportation of pressurized cargo to and from the ISS, and transportation of unpressurized cargo to the ISS. Three of the DRMs were for lunar missions: transportation of crew and cargo to and from anywhere on the lunar surface in support of 7-day ‘sortie’ missions, transportation of crew and cargo to and from an outpost at the lunar South Pole, and one-way transportation of cargo to anywhere on the lunar surface. A DRM was also established for transporting crew and cargo to and from the surface of Mars for a 6-month stay. This paper provides an overview of the study results, including a description of how the selected architecture meets each of the design reference missions and a discussion of a number of key features of the mission operations approach.

NASA's integrated space transportation plan

Abstract Improvements in the safety, reliability and affordability of current and future space transportation systems must be achieved if NASA is to perform its mission and if the U.S. space industry is to reach its full potential. In response to Presidential Policy in 1994, NASA, working with our industrial partners, initiated several efforts including the X-33, X-34, X-37 and Advanced Space Transportation programs with the goal of demonstrating the technologies that could enable these goals. We have learned that emerging technologies will enable the needed advancements but that more development along multiple, competing paths is needed. We have learned that developing requirements diligently and in partnership with industry will allow us to better converge with commercial capabilities. We have learned that commercial markets are not growing as fast as projected earlier, but there are still possibilities in the near-term to pursue alternate paths that can make access to space more robust. The goal of transitioning NASAs space transportation needs to commercial launch vehicles remains the key aim of our efforts and will require additional investment to reduce business and technical risks to acceptable levels.

The Next Giant Leap: NASA's Ares Launch Vehicles Overview

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)s Constellation Program is developing new launch vehicles (Ares) and spacecraft (Orion) to send astronauts to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. This paper presents plans, projections, and progress toward fielding the Ares I and Ares V vehicles, and the Ares I-X test flight in 2009. NASA is building on both new research and aeronautical capabilities, as well as lessons learned from almost 50 years of aerospace experience. The Ares Projects Office (APO) completed the Ares I System Requirements Review (SRR) in 2006 and the System Definition Review in autumn 2007; and will focus on the Preliminary Design Review in 2008. Ares I is currently being refined to meet safety, operability, reliability, and affordability goals. The Ares team is simultaneously testing Ares I elements and building hardware for Ares I-X, while the Ares V is in the early design stage, with the team validating requirements and ensuring commonality with Ares I. Ares I and V are key to opening the space frontier for peaceful endeavors.

Risk reduction activities for an F-1-based advanced booster for NASA's Space Launch System

For NASAs Space Launch System (SLS) Advanced Booster Engineering Demonstration and/or Risk Reduction (ABEDRR) procurement, Dynetics, Inc. and Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne (PWR) formed a team to offer a wide-ranging set of risk reduction activities and full-scale, system-level demonstrations that support NASAs goal of enabling competition on an affordable booster that meets the evolved capabilities of the SLS. During the ABEDRR effort, the Dynetics Team will apply state-of-the-art manufacturing and processing techniques to the heritage F-1, resulting in a low recurring cost engine while retaining the benefits of Apollo-era experience. ABEDRR will use NASA test facilities to perform full-scale F-1 gas generator and powerpack hot-fire test campaigns for engine risk reduction. Dynetics will also fabricate and test a tank assembly to verify the structural design. The Dynetics Team is partnered with NASA through Space Act Agreements (SAAs) to maximize the expertise and capabilities applied to ABEDRR.

The Benefits of an Advanced Booster Competition for NASA’s Space Launch System

The stated goals of NASA’s Research Announcement for the Space Launch System (SLS) Advanced Booster Engineering Demonstration and/or Risk Reduction (ABEDRR) are to reduce risks leading to an affordable Advanced Booster that meets the evolved capabilities of SLS and enable competition by mitigating targeted Advanced Booster risks to enhance SLS affordability. Dynetics, Inc. and Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne—now Aerojet Rocketdyne— formed a team to offer a wide-ranging set of risk reduction activities and full-scale, systemlevel demonstrations that support NASA’s ABEDRR goals. Among several efforts funded by the ABEDRR program, the Dynetics Team is applying state-of-the-art manufacturing and processing techniques to the heritage F-1 rocket engine to reduce the risk to achieving a low recurring cost engine that retains the benefits of Apolloera experience. Dynetics and Aerojet Rocketdyne are using NASA facilities to perform fullscale F-1 gas generator and powerpack hot-fire test campaigns for engine risk reduction. Dynetics will also fabricate and test a tank assembly to verify the structural design. As a result of the reduced risks and demonstrations from ABEDRR, we believe NASA can and should proceed with an SLS Advanced Booster Design, Development, Test, and Evaluation (DDT&E) competition. First, NASA will obtain the best overall booster price through a full and open competition. NASA can constrain the acquisition to its current booster budget. It can incentivize contractors based on long-term flight hardware recurring cost savings. It can evaluate the realism and reasonableness of proposed approaches. Second, a booster competition offers the potential for additional performance beyond the SLS 130 mT requirement. Excess performance above the requirement could afford NASA higher margins on the SLS and/or reduced performance requirements on elements (like an upper stage), leading to lower development risk and lower cost. Increased performance may also enable broader, bolder options for exploration missions within the constrained budgets. We believe there is a strong case for an Advanced Booster DDT&E competition as soon as funding allows. A lower cost, higher performing booster will increase the chance of success of other system and mission elements. Prioritizing the Advanced Booster competition and selection will allow NASA to accurately assess the SLS capabilities and environments and focus future procurement requirements on affordable, achievable missions.

NASA Exploration Launch Projects Overview: The Crew Launch Vehicle and the Cargo Launch Vehicle Systems

The U.S. Vision for Space Exploration (January 2004) serves as the foundation for the National Aeronautics and Space Administrations (NASA) strategic goals and objectives. As the NASA Administrator outlined during his confirmation hearing in April 2005, these include: 1) Flying the Space Shuttle as safely as possible until its retirement, not later than 2010. 2) Bringing a new Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV) into service as soon as possible after Shuttle retirement. 3) Developing a balanced overall program of science, exploration, and aeronautics at NASA, consistent with the redirection of the human space flight program to focus on exploration. 4) Completing the International Space Station (ISS) in a manner consistent with international partner commitments and the needs of human exploration. 5) Encouraging the pursuit of appropriate partnerships with the emerging commercial space sector. 6) Establishing a lunar return program having the maximum possible utility for later missions to Mars and other destinations. In spring 2005, the Agency commissioned a team of aerospace subject matter experts to perform the Exploration Systems Architecture Study (ESAS). The ESAS team performed in-depth evaluations of a number of space transportation architectures and provided recommendations based on their findings? The ESAS analysis focused on a human-rated Crew Launch Vehicle (CLV) for astronaut transport and a heavy lift Cargo Launch Vehicle (CaLV) to carry equipment, materials, and supplies for lunar missions and, later, the first human journeys to Mars. After several months of intense study utilizing safety and reliability, technical performance, budget, and schedule figures of merit in relation to design reference missions, the ESAS design options were unveiled in summer 2005. As part of NASAs systems engineering approach, these point of departure architectures have been refined through trade studies during the ongoing design phase leading to the development phase that begins in 2008. Comprehensive reviews of engineering data and business assessments by both internal and independent reviewers serve as decision gates to ensure that systems can fully meet customer and stakeholder requirements. This paper provides the current CLV and CaLV configuration designs and gives examples of the progress being made during the first year of this significant effort. Safe, reliable, cost-effective space transportation systems are a foundational piece of America s future in space and the next step in realizing the plan for revitalizing lunar capabilities on the passageway to the human exploration of Mars. While building on legacy knowledge and heritage hardware for risk reduction, NASA will apply lessons learned from developing these new launch vehicles to the growth path for future missions. The elements for mission success and continued U.S. leadership in space have been assembled over the past year. As NASA designs and develops these two new systems over the next dozen years, visible progress, such as that reported in this paper, may sustain the national will to stay the course across political administrations and weather the inevitable trials that will be experienced during this challenging endeavor.

Launch vehicles for the Space Exploration Initiative

NASA study results concerning the launch vehicle options required to support the SEI First Lunar Outpost (FLO) missions are reviewed. The FLO requirements, single launch per mission and a capability of delivering 34.5 t to the lunar surface, dictate a launch vehicle capable of delivering approximatley 93 t to trans-lunar injection. Whether an NLS or a Saturn Y derived vehicle approach is utilized, the development of liquid LOX/RP boosters using F-1A engines will be required. The discussion covers the mission scenario, vehicle configurations, launch vehicle design definition, launch facilities, and cost.