Advanced Launch Technology Life Cycle Analysis Using the Architectural Comparison Tool (ACT)

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Advanced Launch Technology Life Cycle Analysis Using the Architectural Comparison Tool (ACT) NASA/TM—2015–218487 Advanced Launch Technology Life Cycle Analysis Using the Architectural Comparison Tool (ACT) Carey M. McCleskey Kennedy Space Center, Florida March 2015 NASA STI Program…in Profile Since its founding, NASA has been dedicated to x CONFERENCE PUBLICATION. Collected the advancement of aeronautics and space science. papers from scientific and technical The NASA Scientific and Technical Information conferences, symposia, seminars, or other (STI) program plays a key part in helping NASA meetings sponsored or cosponsored by NASA. maintain this important role. x SPECIAL PUBLICATIONS. Scientific, The NASA STI Program operates under the technical, or historical information from NASA auspices of the Agency Chief Information Officer. programs, projects, and missions, often It collects, organizes, provides for archiving, and concerned with subjects having substantial disseminates NASA’s STI. The NASA STI public interest. program provides access to the NASA Aeronautics and Space Database and its public interface, the x TECHNICAL TRANSLATION. English- NASA Technical Reports Server, thus providing language translations of foreign scientific and one of the largest collections of aeronautical and technical material pertinent to NASA’s space science STI in the world. Results are mission. published in both non-NASA channels and by NASA in the NASA STI Report Series, which Specialized services also include creating custom includes the following report types: thesauri, building customized databases, organizing and publishing research results. x TECHNICAL PUBLICATION. Reports of completed research or a major significant For more information about the NASA STI phase of research that present the results of program, see the following: NASA programs and include extensive data or theoretical analysis. Includes compilations of x Access the NASA STI program home page at significant scientific and technical data and http://www.sti.nasa.gov information deemed to be of continuing reference value. NASA counterpart of peer- x E-mail your question via the Internet to reviewed formal professional papers but has [email protected] less stringent limitations on manuscript length and extent of graphic presentations. x Fax your question to the NASA STI Help Desk at 443-757-5803 x TECHNICAL MEMORANDUM. Scientific and technical findings that are preliminary or of x Telephone the NASA STI Help Desk at specialized interest, e.g., quick release reports, 443-757-5802 working papers, and bibliographies that contain minimal annotation. Does not contain extensive x Write to: analysis. NASA Center for Aerospace Information (CASI) 7115 Standard Drive x CONTRACTOR REPORT. Scientific and Hanover, MD 21076-1320 technical findings by NASA-sponsored contractors and grantees. NASA/TM—2015–218487 Advanced Launch Technology Life Cycle Analysis Using the Architectural Comparison Tool (ACT) Carey M. McCleskey Kennedy Space Center, Florida National Aeronautics and Space Administration Kennedy Space Center March 2015 NASA/TM—2015–218487 Acknowledgments Point of contact for this work is: Email: [email protected] Carey M. McCleskey NASA Mail Code: NE-D3 John F. Kennedy Space Center, FL 32899 The author would like to acknowledge the following individuals and organizations: NASA Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) – Nanolauncher Technologies Ronald J. Litchford – Principal Investigator Air Force Research Laboratory, NASA CRADA sponsor for Skylon Assessment Barry M. Hellman/USAF AFMC AFRL/RQHV Edgardo Santiago-Maldonado/KSC-liaison NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC) Vehicle Analysis Branch Roger A. Lepsch John G. Martin NASA Kennedy Space Center (KSC) Engineering and Technology Directorate Timothy R. Bollo/NASA (ret.) Russel E. Rhodes/NASA (ret.) Jerry L. Garcia/NASA NASA KSC Information Technology Directorate Edgar Zapata/NASA Benjamin P. Bryant/NASA Deveney T. Lonergan-Stenger/Technik, Inc. Jason L. Miller/a.i. solutions (Engineering Services Contract) Chintan Shah/a.i. solutions (Engineering Services Contract) Available from: NASA Center for AeroSpace Information National Technical Information Service 7115 Standard Drive 5301 Shawnee Road Hanover, MD 21076-1320 Alexandria, VA 22312 Available in electronic form at http://www.sti.nasa.gov. ii NASA/TM—2015–218487 Contents 1 INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................1 1.1 Purpose ...............................................................................................................1 1.2 Scope ..................................................................................................................1 1.3 Authority ............................................................................................................1 1.4 Background ........................................................................................................1 1.5 Summary of Findings by KSC Engineering and Technology Integration Branch .............................................................................................2 2 COMPARING TECHNOLOGY IMPACTS ON NANOLAUNCHER LIFE CYCLES ...................................................................................................3 2.1 Nanolauncher Introduction and Technical Approach ........................................3 2.2 Comparison 1: Identify and Quantify Cost Drivers Relative to Actual Program ..............................................................................................................5 2.2.1 Scout Historical Launch Vehicle (Scout) ..........................................................5 2.2.2 Concepts 1 and 2 – Nanolauncher System Concepts .......................................12 2.2.3 System Design Contributors to Life Cycle Drivers .........................................16 2.2.4 Business Processes and Practices as Life Cycle Drivers .................................17 2.3 Comparison 1 Results ......................................................................................18 2.3.1 Summary of Comparison 1 Results .................................................................18 2.3.2 Result 1 Discussion ..........................................................................................19 2.3.3 Result 2 Discussion ..........................................................................................20 2.3.4 Result 3 Discussion ..........................................................................................22 2.3.5 Result 4 Discussion ..........................................................................................26 2.4 Improvement Strategies ...................................................................................27 2.4.1 Improvement Strategy 1 – System Design Improvement ................................27 2.4.2 Improvement Strategy 2 – Technology Integration .........................................27 2.4.3 Improvement Strategy 3 – Business Processes and Practices Changes ...........27 2.5 Comparison 2: Quantify Impact of Avionics Technologies on Nanolaunchers..................................................................................................28 2.5.1 Defining an Advanced Integrated Avionics Version of NL001 for Life Cycle Analysis .................................................................................................30 2.5.2 Avionics Technology .......................................................................................31 2.5.3 Comparing the Architectural-Level Impacts of Integrated Avionics ..............34 2.6 Comparison 2 Results ......................................................................................34 2.6.1 Result 5 – Avionics Can Provide Substantial Cost and Productivity Improvement ....................................................................................................34 2.6.2 Result 6 – Other Concept and Technology Improvement Strategies ...............35 2.7 Conclusions ......................................................................................................35 2.7.1 Conclusion 1 – Infrastructure Accumulation Must Be Constrained by Design ..............................................................................................................35 2.7.2 Conclusion 2 – Minimum Acceptable System Utilization Must Be Identified ..........................................................................................................35 2.7.3 Conclusion 3 – Element and Subsystem Complexity Drives Life Cycle Result ...............................................................................................................36 iii NASA/TM—2015–218487 2.7.4 Conclusion 4 – Integrated Avionics Simplifies Design and Use of Nanolaunchers..................................................................................................36 2.7.5 Conclusion 5 – Technology Investments Can Better Enable $2M Flights ..............................................................................................................36 2.7.6 Conclusion 6 – Specialization of Infrastructure and Operations .....................36 2.8 Findings............................................................................................................36 2.8.1 Finding 1 – Minimize the infrastructure and use the system at a higher flight rate ..........................................................................................................36 2.8.2 Finding 2 – Pursue focused nanolauncher technologies and design approaches, such as integrated avionics and
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