Digital Commons Network^™

Paper Session Ii-B - Nls Cost Containment, William S. Rutledge

Space Congress® Proceedings

Growth in costs and schedules of aerospace projects is all too commonplace. Within NASA, about 70% of cost growth is attributed to underestimation of technical difficulty, 20% to major scope changes and 10% to external impacts. Schedule duration has increased by 50% over the last 15 years. Most growth problems can be traced to incomplete Phase A/B requirements definition, coupled with the resulting incomplete cost estimates.

NLS must be a cost effective, low cost transportation system to be viable. To achieve this goal a cost containment system is required which forces cost, technical and schedule to function together interlocked in …

Paper Session Ii-B - Automated Launch Vehicle Command & Control Center, Roger F. Block, Hoyt M. Layson, David V. Wilson

Space Congress® Proceedings

The current U.S. earth-to-orbit expendable launch vehicles (ELVs) and space transportation systems (STS) require labor intensive, expensive launch site preparations, on-pad vehicle checkout, and launch support. By using state of the art, commercially available technology, these operations can be automated to reduce costs and improve mission success. In addition, the technology allows remote launch monitoring and personnel reductions at the launch site. Today's industrial work stations, computers, communications hardware, and data bus equipment, in use throughout the process control industry, can be integrated with existing avionics and organized into a modern avionics architecture. Such an architecture could replace the current …

Paper Session Ii-A - Dimensional Stability Of The Attitude Reference Assembly On Space Station Freedom, Fred Cutting, Merle Hubbard

Space Congress® Proceedings

This paper addresses the dimensional stability of a Nav Base for the Space Station Attitude Determination System. Specifically the methods of evaluating and controlling the thermally induced internal and external forces are discussed.

Space Station Freedom must "know" it's orientation at all times if it is to accurately point sensors and telescopes. Knowledge of orientation is initially acquired through the Star Trackers (ST), then maintained with redundant combinations of the three Inertial Sensor Assemblies (ISA) and two Star Trackers. Only one ISA and one ST are required to determine attitude, but multiple units are used for redundancy and fault tolerance. …

Paper Session Ii-C - Horizon Missions Technology Study, John L. Anderson

Space Congress® Proceedings

The purpose of the HMT Study was to develop and demonstrate a systematic methodology for identifying and evaluating innovative technology concepts offering revolutionary, breakthrough-type capabilities for advanced space missions and for assessing their potential mission impact. The methodology is based on identifying the new functional, operational and technology capabilities needed by hypothetical "Horizon" space missions that have performance requirements that cannot be met, even by extrapolating known space technologies. Nineteen Horizon Missions were selected to represent a collective vision of advanced space missions of the mid-21st century. The missions typically would occur beyond the lifetime of current or planned space …

Paper Session Ii-C - The Role Of Advanced Nuclear Propulsion Systems In Precursor Interstellar Missions, Joseph A. Angelo, Jr. Ph.D., David Buden

Space Congress® Proceedings

This paper describes the potential role of an evolutionary family of advanced space nuclear power and propulsion systems (i.e. solid core reactor, gas core reactor, and thermonuclear fusion systems) in the detailed exploration of the outer Solar System and in precursor interstellar missions to the Oort Cloud and beyond in the late 21st Century.

Paper Session Ii-A - Magik Robotics Simulation: A Window On Space Station Freedom, David A. Read

Space Congress® Proceedings

The MAGIK program is the primary kinematic analysis tool used by the Robotic Systems group at MDSSC. It allows users to conduct man-in-the-loop analyses to evaluate space robotic operations, including reach, clearance, and accessibility. MAGIK can be used to model, specify, simulate, analyze, and modify n-jointed type manipulators and their respective control algorithms. The MAGIK simulation currently implements kinematic models of all robotic devices currently baselined on Space Station Freedom (SSF).

Paper Session Ii-A - Space Station On-Orbit Solar Array Loads During Assembly, S. Ghofiranian, E. Fuji, C. R. Larson

Space Congress® Proceedings

This paper is concerned with the closed-loop dynamic analysis of on-orbit maneuvers when the Space Shuttle is fully mated to the Space Station Freedom. A flexible model of the Space Station in the form of component modes is attached to a rigid orbiter and on-orbit maneuvers are performed using the Shuttle Primary Reaction Control System jets. The traditional approach for this type of problems is to perform an open-loop analysis to determine the attitude control system jet profiles based on rigid vehicles and apply the resulting profile to a flexible Space Station. In this study a closed-loop Structure/Control model was …

Paper Session Ii-B - National Launch System Launch Operations, Gary F. Letchworth

Space Congress® Proceedings

The National Launch System (NLS) is the nation's next generation family of launch vehicles, and is being jointly developed by NASA and the Air Force. The three vehicle classes, capable of placing 20Klb, SOKlb, and SOKlb into low earth orbit (LEO), will initially be launched between 2001 and 2004 from Kennedy Space Center (KSC) and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS). This paper describes the launch operations concepts currently envisioned for the NLS vehicles. Ground processing timelines, facilities, core stage processing options, launch support manpower estimates (as compared to the Space Shuttle), and new technologies will also be discussed. Launch …

Paper Session Ii-C - Pioneer 10 Interstellar Studies, P. Dyal

Space Congress® Proceedings

The Pioneer 10 spacecraft may soon be the first man-made object to leave our solar system and penetrate the heliospheric boundary into interstellar space. Scientific investigators on this mission eagerly anticipate the opportunity to measure the physical processes occurring in the terminal boundary region and in the unexplored space known as the interstellar medium by astronomers who have studied it remotely with telescopes for many years. This paper is a descriptive overview of the Pioneer 10 mission and the dominant physical processes that have been discovered since its 1972 launch into our heliosphere and those processes that we expect to …

Paper Session Ii-C - Legal Challenges In Realizing Interstellar Initiatives, Suzanne M. Hodge, Elizabeth B. Osmond, Manuel C. Urrutia

Space Congress® Proceedings

Exploration of our solar system and beyond has barely begun. The challenges of space are limitless, and each addition to our ability to operate there opens new legal concerns between ourselves and our international partners. We are in fact living at the very beginning of time. Our descendants of far-off ages will use the legal framework we put in place to reach unimaginable opportunities. In the past our forefathers never envisioned the United States Constitution to be such a strong source of power for the government. Consequently "We the people of the United States" have the Bill of Rights. Will …

Paper Session Ii-B - Integrated Factory/Launch Site Processing Concept, Jacob E. Huether, Albert E. Otto

Space Congress® Proceedings

Achieving low cost, reliable space transportation is one of the most important space policy challenges facing the United States today. Since launch and mission operations are responsible for up to 45 % of the costs of each launch, lowering these costs is critical to reducing overall costs associated with space flight.

To reduce these costs significantly, an innovative alternative approach to vehicle element processing was developed. This concept was born from the fact that present day launch processing system (LPS) is undergoing a major upgrade to implement today's technology. Carrying this one step further, the same upgrade could be implemented …

Paper Session I-C - Career Outcomes Assessment And Human Resource Policy In Science And Engineering, Cheryl B. Leggon Ph.D.

Space Congress® Proceedings

Based upon our experience with programs targeted to increase participation in careers in science and engineering (S/E), this paper discusses career outcomes assessment as an approach that enables policy makers and program administrators to identify and interpret indicators of participant-related outcomes, such as changes in career-related behavior and performance.

Paper Session I-B - Generic Propellants Transfer Unit (Gptu), Christopher A. Cook

Space Congress® Proceedings

The Generic Propellants Transfer Unit (GPTU) is being designed to support spacecraft liquid propellant operations at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) and Eastern Test Range (ETR). The GPTU will have a 500 gallon capacity and be Department Of Transportation (DOT) approved for over-the-road transportation of hypergolic propellants. The use of these containers will allow the users to increase efficiency and. reduce the following costs:

Design/Construction

Transportation (To/From The Launch Site)

Propellant Transfer Operations

Decontamination Operations

The user also acquires the flexibility of transporting to an offsite location for processing or storage without obtaining special exemptions or permits. These containers will …

Paper Session I-B - Spacehab: Augmenting The Shuttle's Middeck Capacity, Barbara A. Stone Ph.D., David A. Rossi

Space Congress® Proceedings

SPACEHAB, Inc. is developing a pressurized laboratory which fits in the forward portion of the Space Shuttle payload bay and connects to the crew compartment through an airlock. SPACEHAB's standard middeck type lockers offer crew-tended access to the microgravity environment for experimentation, technology development, and small-scale production. NASA's Office of Commercial Programs has contracted with SPACEHAB to lease two-thirds of the SPACEHAB's module capacity over the first six missions for commercial research initiatives. Use of SPACEHAB modules also offers an economical intermediate step prior to making a full commitment for commercial use of Space Station Freedom.

Paper Session I-A - Weather Impacts On Space Operations, J. Madura, B. Boyd, N. Wyse, M. Adams

Space Congress® Proceedings

The 45th Weather Squadron of the United States Air Force provides weather support to Patrick Air Force Base, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS), Eastern Range, and Kennedy Space Center (KSC). The support includes weather observations, forecasts, climatological studies and consultant services to a wide variety of Range users. The most visible to the general public is weather support to space vehicles, particularly the Space Shuttle. That support includes resource protection, ground processing, launch, and Ferry Flight; as well as consultant to the Spaceflight Meteorology Group (at Johnson Space Center) for landing forecasts.

Paper Session I-C - The Future Of The Space Program Is In The Hands Of An Unexpected Customer, William Y. Mccaslin, Charles D. Westerfield, Cinsy M. Krehbiel

Space Congress® Proceedings

In order for America to maintain its leadership position in space, a technically skilled workforce must be cultivated. Current projections of the American workforce in the year 2000 predict a shortage of scientists and engineers. America's current educational system will not be able to meet the Space Industry's needs for skilled labor. In order to increase tomorrow's supply of talented individuals, it is imperative that the Space Industry and all other industries that use this resource be proactive in all levels of the educational process. Only then will America be able to retain its competitive edge in space.

This paper …

Paper Session I-B - Gsim: A Low Cost Mbr Approach For Ksc Design And Operations, John Wilkinson

Space Congress® Proceedings

NASA research, over the past 8 years, has developed Model Based Reasoning (MBR) technology to the point where it can now be applied to solve operational problems. GSIM is a tool developed jointly by NASA and LSOC that builds on this research, making MBR technology cost effective and readily available. Using GSIM, high fidelity MBR models can be developed on standard office computers and workstations. Using the intuitive GSIM model development environment, these models can be constructed at the rate of approximately IQx that required for development of lower fidelity math models, such as those used today for launch team …

Paper Session I-C - Building An Intellectual Infrastructure For Space Commerce, Barbara A. Stone Ph.D., Jeffrey L. Struthers

Space Congress® Proceedings

To be successful, American industries engaged in space commerce must be on sound infrastructure foundations. To serve industry effectively, building such infrastructure requires thoughtful attention not only to hardware but also to people. People are the "intellectual infrastructure" required for success. Competition in the international marketplace requires a work force with extensive scientific and technical knowledge, and a thorough understanding of the business world. The focus of this paper is the development of the intellectual infrastructure required to make space commerce a reality. The contributions to this development by the Centers for the Commercial Development of Space Program and a …

Paper Session I-B - Computational Fluid Dynamics Analysis Of Space Shuttle Vehicle And Exhaust Plume Flows At High Altitude Flight Conditions, N. S. Dougherty, J. B. Holt, B. L. Liu, S. L. Johnson

Space Congress® Proceedings

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis has provided verification of Space Shuttle flight performance details and is being applied to performance predictions with Advanced Solid Rocket Motors (ASRM's) scheduled to begin operation in 1997. Advancements in CFD methodology described herein have allowed definition of exhaust plume flow details completing the capability for 'nose-to-plume' simulation. CFD predictions of the Space Shuttle vehicle aerodynamic performance at Mach 3.5 and 107,000 ft with ASRM's confirm no adverse effects for high-altitude flight conditions.

Paper Session I-A - A New Guidance & Control Unit For The Titan Iv Vehicle, R. Joseph Wright Jr.

Space Congress® Proceedings

The Guidance and Control Unit (GCU) provides, in a self-contained package, significant cost, weight, reliability and power advantages over the present gimballed guidance system and digital computer packages. The GCU includes a strapdown acceleration and angular motion sensing system, a general purpose flight control processor, and all required I/O necessary for vehicle and ground interfaces. The GCU design is based upon an existing space qualified, production navigator modified to meet Titan IV unique vehicle needs. The GCU incorporates a robust mechanical design capable of withstanding launch induced vibration and shock, flight temperature and altitude variations, as well as all environments …

Paper Session I-A - Space Strategy And The New World Order, Lt Col Michael A. Hamel, Lt Col Michael L. Wolfert

Space Congress® Proceedings

Military applications of space were conceived well before the first orbiting satellites. For over a decade after World War II, the U. S. military studied possible uses of space and developed technologies essential for spaceflight. However, it took the shock of Sputnik in October 1957 for America to begin its military space program in earnest. Since that time, national imperatives and technology advances have driven our military space program, including surveillance and assessment of the Soviet military threat, and collection of data to monitor treaties. As advances were made in space technologies, applications, such as communications and meteorology, proved to …

Paper Session I-B - Non-Destructive Evaluation Of Shuttle Columbia Tiles, Richard M. Davis, Faissal A. Moslehy Ph.D.

Space Congress® Proceedings

This abstract describes the nondestructive evaluation (NDE) of Orbiter Vehicle (OV)-102 tile bonds, performed in August 1991 by Rockwell International's Space Systems Division and its subcontractors, NAVCON Engineering Network/Ometron Inc. and Laser Technology Inc. The purpose was to help NASA develop fast, reliable methods to diagnose problems in tile bonding other than the present "pull" and "wiggle" tests. Forty-one tiles were evaluated by laser vibrometry in conjunction with modal testing and vibration imaging techniques, and/or by laser shearography, at Rockwell's Palmdale Facility. Both evaluation methods involve the acoustic excitation of tiles and the identification of the consequent tile vibration by …

Paper Session I-C - A Communication Satellite Dedicated To The Delivery Of Educational Programming, Frank C. Weaver

Space Congress® Proceedings

This paper studies the application of communication satellites as a mechanism for providing universal access to the rich, educational resources of this great nation* 1 A space segment configuration is proposed that would link the nation's 125,000 school buildings (grades K-12) , the 3,000 colleges and universities and 6,000 libraries. To justify "the investment, the cost of the proposal is compared to current ad hoc expenditures for the delivery of educational programming.

An analysis of the universe of existing earth stations and the current capacity and future demand of transponders for this purpose is made. To reduce the potential shortfall …

Paper Session I-C - Making Space A Part Of General Education, Stephen Horan Ph.D.

Space Congress® Proceedings

General education reform is on-going at many universities to, in part, make undergraduate students more technically literate. The space program provides an area of study that is still exciting to students, provides technical content, and can incorporate the other goals. Additionally, human space activity contains international and interdisciplinary dimensions that can reach students outside of the technical disciplines. The development and contents of a space education course to become part of the university's general education program open to all students is presented. Included in the presentation is a listing of the course materials to be used by the students.

Paper Session I-C - Aerospace And America 2000 Communities, John F. Will

Space Congress® Proceedings

On April 18, 1991, President George Bush stated: "To those who want to see real improvement in American education, I say: there will be no renaissance without revolution.” The president used that statement in his opening announcement of America 2000: an education strategy.

America 2000 is a bold, comprehensive, and long-range plan to move every community in America toward the national education goals adopted by the president and the governors in 1990.

When the president called the governors together for an educational summit it was only the third time in the nation's history that such a forum was called by …

Paper Session I-B - Space Shuttle Payload Accommodations And Trends In Customer Demands, Daniel L. Hedin, James R. Wilson

Space Congress® Proceedings

Current space policy limits the assignment of primary payloads on the Shuttle to those requiring manned presence or the unique capabilities of the Shuttle. While exceptions to these criteria have been allowed due to other compelling circumstances, it has essentially resulted in the removal of deployable satellites from the Shuttle manifest. In the pre-Challenger environment the Shuttle's performance capabilities were efficiently utilized by co-manifesting NASA science experiments with commercial deployable satellites. The absence of these commercial payloads has resulted in a Shuttle manifest primarily oriented to science and technology payloads. The diverse on-orbit operational requirements of these payloads results in …

Paper Session I-A - Space Applications - Another Wingman, Lt Col James O. Hale

Space Congress® Proceedings

We justifiably pride ourselves as a nation on our military capabilities, especially since our recent success in Desert Shield/Desert Storm. However, it is very possible that in the mid-90 f s the Federal Express truck driver will have better situation awareness and global connectivity than a fighter pilot.

As not only the Air Force, but the other military services look into the future, it is clear that we will all have to take the maximum advantage of both our newer technologies as well as existing capabilities to leverage costs and systems which can contribute to improved military performance on the …

Paper Session I-A - Planning For The Performance Of Future Space Bases, David A. Luke Jr, Captain, Duane E. Knutson P.E., Robert C. Hawkins Ph.D.

Space Congress® Proceedings

The United States Air Force and the Department of Defense are moving toward normalizing space operations, from specialized one-of-a-kind launch to standardized launch, much as they provide airlift today. Normalized launch will enhance our capability to meet contingency operations responsive to the rapidly changing world geopolitical situation. The current space infrastructure will not fully support future launch operation concepts. We must be more sensitive to environmental concerns, and improved performance standards are needed for future space facilities* The Air Force is taking the lead in bringing together the worldwide space community in developing a process for performance planning of future …

Paper Session I-A - Titan Iv Integrate. Test And Launch Facility System Improvements, Capt. Phillip A. Ray, Carl C. Fischer

Space Congress® Proceedings

In order to sustain our quest for new frontiers, we must first appreciate how we attained our present accomplishments. We are transitioning from the research and development phase into the operational phase of accessing space. Three decades ago we struggled with the idea of placing a basketball sized satellite into space and today the Titan IV system is installing school bus size payloads in Earth orbit and beyond. The scope of this paper is to briefly describe the Titan IV system, including the flight hardware, facilities and ground equipment, and explain how this system is improving at the Eastern Launch …

Meeting Minutes, Wku University Senate

Faculty Senate

No abstract provided.