JULY / AUGUST 2008
THE MAGAZINE OF THE AMERICAN ASTRONAUTICAL SOCIETY ISSUE 4 VOLUME 47
SPACE TIMES • July/August 2008 1 AAS OFFICERS PRESIDENT Frank A. Slazer, SBD Consulting EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT Lyn D. Wigbels, RWI International Consulting Services JULY / AUGUST 2008 VICE PRESIDENT–TECHNICAL Srinivas R. Vadali, Texas A&M University VICE PRESIDENT–PROGRAMS ISSUE 4–VOLUME 47 Mary L. Snitch, Lockheed Martin VICE PRESIDENT–PUBLICATIONS David B. Spencer, Penn State University VICE PRESIDENT–MEMBERSHIP J. Walter Faulconer, Applied Physics Laboratory VICE PRESIDENT–EDUCATION Kirk W. Kittell, SAIC VICE PRESIDENT–FINANCE THE MAGAZINE OF THE AMERICAN ASTRONAUTICAL SOCIETY Carol S. Lane, Ball Aerospace VICE PRESIDENT–INTERNATIONAL Clayton Mowry, Arianespace, Inc. VICE PRESIDENT–PUBLIC POLICY PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE William B. Adkins, Adkins Strategies, LLC The Banality of Success 3 VICE PRESIDENT–STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS AND OUTREACH Mary Lynne Dittmar, Dittmar Associates FEATURES LEGAL COUNSEL Franceska O. Schroeder, Fish & Richardson P.C. Lessons from Apollo, Space Shuttle, International Space Station, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR and the Hubble Space Telescope: Learning from These Great James R. Kirkpatrick, AAS Legacies 4 A key theme enunciated by the White House in directing NASA’s AAS BOARD OF DIRECTORS future is to achieve major national goals in space using humans, TERM EXPIRES 2008 along with robots and autonomous systems. Peter M. Bainum, Howard University by Frank J. Cepollina David A. Cicci, Auburn University Lynn F.H. Cline Nancy S.A. Colleton, Institute for Global Sea Launch Regains Launch Tempo 10 Environmental Strategies Mark K. Craig, SAIC Against considerable odds, Sea Launch returned to launch operations Roger D. Launius, Smithsonian Institution with the launch of the Thuraya-3 mobile communications satellite on Jonathan T. Malay, Lockheed Martin January 15, 2008. Kathy J. Nado, L-3 Communications Richard M. Obermann, House Committee on Science by Paula Korn & Technology TERM EXPIRES 2009 Feedback Forum 14 Marc S. Allen Steven Brody, International Space University NASA’s FY2009 appropriation and future appropriations will most Ashok R. Deshmukh, Technica, Inc. likely not permit current programs to be achieved - including the return Graham Gibbs, Canadian Space Agency of astronauts to the Moon. Steven D. Harrison, BAE Systems by Donald Beattie Sue E. Hegg, The Boeing Company Arthur F. Obenschain Ian Pryke, CAPR, George Mason University AAS NEWS Ronald J. Proulx, Charles Stark Draper Laboratory Trevor C. Sorensen, University of Hawaii Fourth CanSat Competition a Success 15 TERM EXPIRES 2010 Linda Billings, SETI Institute 26th International Symposium on Space Technology and Ronald J. Birk, Northrop Grumman Rebecca L. Griffin, Griffin Aerospace Science 16 Hal E. Hagemeier, National Security Space Office Dennis Lowrey, General Dynamics Molly Kenna Macauley, Resources for the Future F. Landis Markley Astronautics Symposium 16 Erin Neal, ATK Lesa B. Roe Rosanna Sattler, Posternak Blankstein & Lund LLP AAS CORPORATE MEMBER PROFILE Robert H. Schingler, Jr. Woodrow Whitlow, Jr. Edge Space Systems, Inc. 17
SPACE TIMES EDITORIAL STAFF CALL FOR PAPERS EDITOR, Jeffrey P. Elbel PHOTO & GRAPHICS EDITOR, Dustin Doud The 32nd Annual Guidance and Control Conference 18 PRODUCTION MANAGER, Diane L. Thompson Breckenridge, Colorado BUSINESS MANAGER, James R. Kirkpatrick SPACE TIMES is published bimonthly by the American UPCOMING EVENTS 21 Astronautical Society, a professional non-profit society. SPACE TIMES is free to members of the AAS. Individual subscriptions may be ordered from the AAS Business Office. © Copyright 2008 by the American Astronautical Society, Inc. Printed in the United NOTES ON A NEW BOOK States of America. ISSN 1933-2793. Is Pluto a Planet? A Historical Journey through the Solar System 23 Reviewed by Mark Williamson PERIODICALS SPACE TIMES, magazine of the AAS, bimonthly, volume 47, 2008—$80 domestic, $95 foreign The Journal of the Astronautical Sciences, quarterly, volume 56, 2008—$170 domestic, $190 foreign To order these publications, contact the AAS Business Office. 6352 Rolling Mill Place, Suite 102 Springfield, VA 22152-2354 USA REPRINTS Tel: 703-866-0020 Fax: 703-866-3526 Reprints are available for all articles in SPACE TIMES and all pa- [email protected] www.astronautical.org pers published in The Journal of the Astronautical Sciences. 2 SPACE TIMES • July/August 2008 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE The Banality of Success
Like many others involved in space activities, I have found it discouraging to see the waning of our nation’s attention given to space events. As shown on the recent Discovery channel miniseries When We Left Earth, in the Apollo era, hundreds of thousands would converge on Cape Canaveral to witness America’s earliest efforts to send humans into space. A Shuttle launch will still draw a decent crowd these days, but they are nothing like they used to be. The missions and spacewalks performed by astronauts at the International Space Station rarely generate significant public attention. Interplanetary probes continue to make amazing discoveries long after the initial flush of attention has faded. To be certain, new developments such as the Phoenix lander’s arrival on Mars do generate flurries of twittering and increased hits at the JPL web site. Still, such activity pales against what would have occurred in the past. Does this lack of excited interest mean that our nation is less supportive of NASA’s space exploration efforts and other space activities? I would strongly argue that this is not the case. In fact, I believe that the public’s apparently blasé attitude towards space should be a source of pride. In the early years of the twentieth century, thousands would descend on fields to witness the arrival of airplanes and the often dramatic aerial acrobatic performances by barnstormers. Now, aircraft many times faster and larger routinely take off and land with zero public attention - unless they are meeting someone on a delayed flight. Does this mean the American people do not support air travel? Of course not. It merely indicates that in the early years of the twenty-first century, air transportation is a mature means of conveyance. It is consequently unremarkable, just as the modern equivalents of the ships that would have once attracted large crowds to the port of colonial Jamestown are now confined to port areas miles away from cities. We in the AAS and other space supporters are, in reality, victims of our own success. We are often frustrated when we cannot generate the same excitement in space activities as our predecessors did. It is important to recognize, however, that our inability to do so is not failure. Rather, it is a measure of our success. Space transportation has become so routine that we expect it to work every time, despite physical realities which have not changed, and still cause space travel to be difficult. I recently took my two young children to watch the launch of a Delta II rocket at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. I have seen dozens of launches, but this was the first for my children. Despite how much my children have heard (and also viewed on TV, DVD, and video) about launches, it was remarkable to witness their astonishment at what most now take for granted – that is, what goes up does not necessarily come down. Most people may now see space travel as routine, which is progress. In witnessing it through the eyes of my children, though, I was reminded of its wonder.
AAS – Advancing All Space
Frank A. Slazer [email protected] ON THE COVER
FRONT: A delicate ribbon of gas floats eerily in our galaxy. This image, taken by NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope, is a very thin section of a supernova remnant caused by a stellar explosion which occurred over 1,000 years ago. The image is a composite of observations captured in 2006 and 2008 using the Advanced Camera for Surveys and the Wide Field Planetary Camera 2. (Source: W. Blair (JHU), NASA, ESA, and the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)) BACK: Lightning from storms in late June sparked dozens of wildfires in California. This image by the MODIS instrument on the Terra satellite shows the fires on July 8, 2008. The red dots show the locations of active fires. Many of the fires have visible gray plumes of smoke rising from them, and a great deal of smoke has drifted over the Pacific Ocean. (Source: Jeff Schmaltz/MODIS Land Rapid Response Team/NASA GSFC) SPACE TIMES • July/August 2008 3 Lessons from Apollo, Space Shuttle, International Space Station, and the Hubble Space Telescope: Learning from These Great Legacies by Frank J. Cepollina
“Make no little plans. They have no magic This article examines a key theme this configuration never flew, although a to stir men’s blood. ... Make big plans; enunciated by the White House in directing variant became the Apollo Telescope aim high in hope and work.” –Daniel H. NASA’s future. That theme is to achieve Mount for the Skylab mission in 1973. Burnhan, Architect major national goals in space using Skylab successfully demonstrated how humans, whether in space or on the Earth’s astronauts and augmented human “It is dumb to launch complicated, surface, along with robots and autonomous spaceflight hardware could achieve expensive telescopes into space that systems. In addition, I identify how early multiple major science goals while cannot be serviced.” –Michael Griffin, investments and modest augmentations will simultaneously functioning as a “stepping NASA Administrator make NASA’s Constellation architecture stone” for even more ambitious in-space more widely useful and publically operations. A similar philosophy has been The advent of NASA’s Constellation appealing than is presently the case. These adopted more recently by several ad hoc Program offers great opportunities for the investments and augmentations will also working groups around the country: space science communities. Now is the lay the groundwork for further, more achieving important goals not originally critical point when the Constellation ambitious goals for NASA. In essence, I incorporated within the human spaceflight Program can become even more broadly am advocating an additional, valuable program via adaptation of the new relevant than originally planned through emphasis for the Constellation Program. hardware. the incorporation of on-orbit servicing into its mission. The Shuttle (STS) program has A Bit of History demonstrated the feasibility and NASA recognized the adaptability of importance of on-orbit servicing, as well human spaceflight vehicles to achieve as criticality of the human factor in multiple goals early in the Apollo Program. maintaining, repairing, and upgrading In the mid-1960s, a variant of the Lunar valuable space assets. The lessons learned Module (LM) was proposed to the Apollo from the Shuttle program, and particularly Applications Program as an Earth-orbiting from the Hubble Telescope servicing scientific laboratory. This version of the missions, should be incorporated into the LM had its engines and propellant tanks Constellation Program to provide removed (see Figure 1) to provide space significant benefits to the scientific for experiments and as many as ten tons of Figure 1. Modifying the Apollo Lunar community and to broaden the public scientific equipment. Its estimated two- Module to permit astronaut-tended appeal of human spaceflight. week low-Earth orbit (LEO) mission scientific missions. The Apollo Applications In 2004, President George W. Bush lifetime was comparable to that of the lunar Program in 1965 and 1966 developed announced the Vision for Space surface missions of the time. During the concepts that broadened the applicability Exploration (VSE). He directed NASA to proposed mission, astronauts could carry of hardware developed primarily for complete the International Space Station out numerous stellar and solar experiments, sending humans to the lunar surface. (ISS), return humans to the lunar surface most of which would take advantage of (Source: NASA) in preparation for the long voyage to Mars, having humans to operate the complex embark on a long-term human and robotic instruments proposed for this facility. As the Apollo program was completed program to explore the Solar System, and Due to fading public interest in (and and Skylab became operational, NASA search the universe for Earth-like worlds. political support for) the Apollo program, began the Space Shuttle program. As was
4 SPACE TIMES • July/August 2008 the case with the Apollo vehicles, members NASA’s most dramatic, publicly engaging, for servicing were in the budget during of the science and human spaceflight and scientifically valuable example of development, yet Solar Max, Weststar/ communities urged early investment in employing humans in space to achieve Palapa, Syncom IV, Compton Gamma Ray Shuttle capabilities that would broaden that science goals. The lessons for NASA seem Observatory, Intelsat VI were successfully vehicle’s value beyond its most immediate clear. serviced. and narrowly defined goals. Figure 2 shows But interestingly, the Shuttle in its initial Thus, every major human spaceflight an early satellite-servicing concept. By design architecture had very few services program since the mid-1960s has been adopting capabilities such as special tools, it could provide to payloads. For example, significantly modified and upgraded to a highly capable robotic arm, the ability it had only one power and data umbilical, achieve multiple goals beyond those to approach and rendezvous with a variety no latchdown provisions and no means of originally planned. Each leap in technology of spacecraft, and especially the grappling a spacecraft in flight (no RMS springboards the next leap in technology. demonstrated adaptability of astronauts, arm). It was not until the advent of a The concept of close collaborative NASA developed a spacecraft that payload pathfinder mission for Shuttle that programs of scientific discovery and achieved far more than its original provisions began to be incorporated in human exploration, enabled by long-term designers had conceived. order to make STS more user-compatible. technology investments, were the basis of Solar Max was the pathfinder modular a series of “stepping stones” developed spacecraft for STS. Four years later, HST about a decade ago for NASA senior incorporated many of the same modularity management by the Decadal Planning and external carrier and interface features Team (DPT) and its successor, the NASA of Solar Max and became the flagship Exploration Team (NExT). mission for STS repair and upgrade capabilities. Contrast with Current Plans From 1976 to 1984, modularity of Beginning in the late summer of 2004, systems and external interfaces were the small NASA, academic, and industrial primary catalysts for on-orbit satellite teams have proposed options, servicing. From 1985 to 2002, there were augmentations, and upgrades to the early nine servicing missions—Solar Max, designs of the Orion/Crew Exploration Syncom IV, Westar/Palapa, Compton Vehicle (CEV) that would permit in-space Figure 2. Early design for augmenting the GRO, Intelsat IV, and four to Hubble Space servicing and replace some of the Space Shuttle for satellite servicing. Telescope. In late 2008, the fifth servicing capabilities that will be lost when the Capabilities not originally planned for the mission to Hubble Space Telescope will Shuttle is retired in a few years. These program were made possible by demonstrate the improved Extravehicular proposals from NASA’s stakeholders and Activity (EVA) efficiencies, including likely international partners often include coordinated advocacy by the science and advanced, miniature tools, equipment development plans for near-term human spaceflight communities. These caddies and tool boards, quick release technology investment, precursors, augmentations broadened the value of the latches, tool-less latches, and on-orbit demonstration missions, and pathfinder vehicle to NASA and achieved major repair that has progressed to the circuit programs to achieve critical goals over the science goals not otherwise possible. board level. These missions show that next few years. They also seek to extend (Source: NASA) architecture, incorporating standardized human activities beyond the ISS, even modularity, is the single most significant before humans are returned to the lunar The Shuttle offered very large mass- aspect of cost. surface. return and volume-return capabilities, Since 1984, we have learned the value NASA’s implementation plan of the enabling scientific and human spaceflight of repair in orbi,t and have evolved human Vision for Space Exploration is the experiments requiring return to Earth (e.g., interaction to ever more demanding and Constellation Program. This program is SpaceLab, SpaceHab). These enhanced complex tasks. We have discovered that it strictly focused on replacing the aging capabilities allowed for the on-orbit rescue truly does not cost more money to make Space Shuttle and retaining a national and significant upgrade of numerous serviceable telescopes. Modular capability to ferry astronauts to the satellites, most notable of which is the architecture results in lower ground International Space Station. About a Hubble Space Telescope (HST). The ground-based I&T costs and easier in-flight decade from now, according to current repeated on-orbit servicing of Hubble is hardware upgrades. Historically, no funds plans, this capability will be expanded to
SPACE TIMES • July/August 2008 5 return humans to the lunar surface. The recommendations developed via these scientific discoveries. components of the Constellation multiple meetings encourage NASA to To date, NASA has carried out rela- architecture consist of the Ares I and V, begin to assess in a substantive way how tively limited assessments regarding how the Orion/Crew Exploration Vehicle, the the Constellation Architecture might be its Constellation architecture could extend in-space transfer stage, and the Altair lunar evolved to achieve multiple goals, building human and robot capabilities in free space. landing system. upon the costly and hard-won experience Here I describe some concepts that have Orion, the Crew Exploration Vehicle, with construction of ISS and servicing of been presented to NASA by teams that will be capable of carrying crew and cargo HST. This experience shows that rapid have adopted the philosophies of innova- to the ISS. It will be able to rendezvous improvement in technology leads to big tors working with the human spaceflight with a lunar landing module and an Earth science discoveries - but only if we can program for the past 40 years. These departure stage in low-Earth orbit to carry get this new technology to orbit quickly. philophies include building upon existing crews to the Moon and, far in the future, In our experience, the most significant experience, adapting new facilities to to Mars-bound vehicles assembled in low- contributions of major science discoveries achieve multiple goals, and beginning Earth orbit. Orion will be the Earth-entry have occurred as humans worked together early! NASA has taken a very positive first vehicle for returns from the Moon and during the Telescope servicing missions, step by incorporating a Soft Capture Mars. and when advanced detector and spacecraft Mechanism on the back end of Hubble to Altair will be capable of landing four hardware were brought to orbit for those effect soft capture by an Orion-type vehicle astronauts on the Moon, providing life servicing missions. For example, new in the future for either de-orbit or emer- support and a base for week-long surface technology has transformed HST’s gency repair capability. This mechanism exploration missions. It shall also return capabilities with all four servicing missions is shown in Figure 3. the crew to the Orion spacecraft, which to date. This technology includes: will bring them home to Earth. Altair will Enabling the Future: Augmenting the launch aboard an Ares V rocket into low - 4,754% increase in detector technology Constellation Architecture Earth orbit, where it will rendezvous with - 2,400% increase in computational power The Vision for Space Exploration di- the Orion crew vehicle. - 1,633% increase in onboard data rects NASA to operate very large optical Additional opportunities enabled by the storage systems in space to search for Earth-like Constellation architecture are being - 455% increase in infrared science worlds. This technological goal was also actively explored by the science - 150% increase in number of scientific included by the National Research Coun- community to achieve major science goals instruments operating simultaneously cil in its last decadal review for astronomy that are not otherwise possible. Examples - 00% increase in gyros flex lead life and astrophysics. Large optics, either as of these efforts include workshops - 57% increase in safemode energy segmented, filled apertures or as spatial in- sponsored by the Space Telescope Science margin Institute, a workshop supported by the - 50% increase in gyro redundancy NASA Advisory Committee (NAC) in margin Tempe, Arizona in March, 2007, and - 35% increase in power generation international conferences in the United - 30% gain in Fine Guidance Sensor Kingdom and France during the past year. performance Furthermore, the National Research - 10% increase in thermal margin for Council is currently considering a large electrical units. number of formal concepts for major science goals enabled by the Constellation Also, by using new application-specific architecture. integrated circuit (ASIC) technology, de- A consensus is emerging that, although tector noise-limited observations for HST’s Figure 3: The Soft Capture Mechanism human operations on the lunar surface offer Advanced Camera for Surveys will poten- will be installed on the back end of Hubble distinct advantages for a handful of tially double following its repair. important science programs, the The improvements to Hubble over its life- during SM4 to effect soft capture by an Constellation architecture has potential to time include eleven new and three repaired Orion-type vehicle in the future for either enable very major science facilities science instruments. This fresh, sophisti- de-orbit or emergency repair capability. It throughout the Earth-Moon system. cated technology brought to orbit in three- is circled in red for ease of identification. Consequently, most of the or four-year cycles is what has enabled new (Source: HST Development Office, NASA)
6 SPACE TIMES • July/August 2008 terferometers, are also highlighted as tech- nological goals in the most recent (2007) Science Plan for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate. A large optical system (and its precursors) in space would constitute per- haps the premier astronomical observatory of the 21st Century, able to carry out nu- merous science programs in addition to those identified for NASA in the VSE. Such future telescopes may be far larger than can be launched as a single monolith, so the capability to assemble in space will be highly desirable. Furthermore, expen- sive and complex facilities, whether in free Figure 4. An Orion/Crew Exploration Vehicle that would be able to operate space or on the lunar surface, are likely to throughout cis-lunar space (Thronson, Lester, and Budinoff, 59th International require significant external involvement by Astronautics Conference). From left to right, a Centaur transfer stage, a servicing astronauts and/or robots to ensure that tax- node designed around the Altair airlock system, and an Orion CEV. The Centaur payer investment will be well used. After and Servicing Node are launched by an Ares I vehicle to rendezvous with an years of assessment and discussion, the Orion already in LEO via a previous Ares I launch. (Source: Thronson et al., astronomy community is concentrating on 59th International Astronautical Congress) the second Sun-Earth libration point (S-E L2) as the optimum site for major obser- libration points may make more logistical modified Orion/Crew Exploration Vehicle vatories for the foreseeable future. Conse- sense than landing expensive, rarely used (CEV). One capable concept is shown in quently, the capability to operate with ro- resources at multiple locations where as- Figure 4. The Orion/CEV in this concept bots and/or astronauts throughout cis-lu- tronauts or robots are working. is launched with two astronauts to low nar space seems to be an essential opera- One measure of the relative value of Earth orbit, where it later docks to a Cen- tional capability in achieving future prior- various locations in the Earth-Moon sys- taur/servicing node assembly launched by ity astronomical goals. tem is the velocities required to travel from a second Ares I vehicle. The combined pro- In addition, operating with humans and one location to another. NASA’s Decadal pulsion of the Centaur and Orion service robots at the Earth-Moon libration points Planning Team in 1999-2000 examined a module is sufficient for the stack to travel may provide valuable support for contin- series of architectures for human explora- throughout cis-lunar space. This is one of gencies or emergencies on the lunar sur- tion beyond the immediate vicinity of the a series of variants of the Orion system that face. This could spell the difference be- Earth with an emphasis on flexibility to have been proposed over the years to en- tween success and failure for major sci- achieve multiple goals, as opposed to trav- able astronaut-based servicing with ence missions, just as has been the case eling to a single destination. telerobotics assistance at, for example, an for terrestrial exploration programs. Re- A near-future application of hardware Earth-Moon libration point jobsite. pair equipment and back-up systems that developed for the Constellation program To cover the entire span from 2015 to may not need to be immediately available may be in-space telerobotics operated from 2035, I have suggested a phased approach, may more cost-effectively be “ware- the Earth’s surface, or from a modestly shown below, in Table 1. housed” in space until needed. Similarly, Table 1. Phased Approach serious medical emergencies on the lunar surface appear to be far better treated on- site, within a gravity well, without subject- ing patients to brutalizing transportation back to Earth. Hypothetically, a well- stocked “emergency-room-in-a-can” may be kept on-orbit, perhaps never to be used, but ready to be sent to the lunar surface if required. Thus, for example, a single stor- age and work site at one of the Earth-Moon
SPACE TIMES • July/August 2008 7 Orion/CEV alone is limited to contin- gency or emergency EVA. In any case, it is a very constrained environment with a limited lifetime. To enable extended capa- bilities, Thronson, et al., have proposed adapting a servicing node designed around the airlock system that will be developed for the Altair lunar lander. This will pro- vide additional pressurized volume, stor- age areas, consumables, and an airlock for astronaut EVA. The design also uses the NASA GSFC-developed “carriers” con- cept intended to permit modest additional cargo on Orion. A very preliminary esti- mate of the combined Orion-servicing node suggests that 14–21-day missions can be supported for two astronauts. With the capability to carry things to Figure 5. Instrument Stowage, a telescoping arm, and a modified door are not an orbiting facility - whether with robots currently a part of the Orion baseline (Source: HST Development Office, NASA) or the Constellation crew vehicle - changes, upgrades, servicing, repair, recovering, and the Kennedy Space Center, will be too late jor science goals, can be used to identify rescue can be accomplished. With careful and too expensive. If the investment is al- priority technologies in which NASA cur- management, brand new technologies can ready being made for transportation, we rently can be investing. be taken to orbit on a planned, periodic ba- should ensure that the capabilities for ser- For the Crew Exploration Vehicle, de- sis. Hardware wears out, and technology vicing are also present. signers should provide points for attach- becomes outdated. The ability to upgrade Near-term investments, demonstration ment and the capability of controlling ro- is a real asset, because technology for items missions, and pathfinders must begin botic systems from the vehicle. Cargo stor- such as detectors, optics, electronics, com- within the next very few years to take ad- age provisions need to be added to the ser- puters, and communication systems con- vantage of existing, perishable experience, vice module. If architecture cannot be de- tinues to improve exponentially. As we to demonstrate the value of astronaut op- signed with a general purpose, widely ap- have learned through Hubble and other on- erations in free space, and to expand pub- plicable system, it should at least be de- orbit servicing, astronomical observatories lic support for the Constellation program. signed for easy upgradability in the future. or other satellites can be kept useful and Every NASA Program and Project Man- Observatories also need to be designed relevant. They can be brought to the cut- ager, including those on the Constellation with higher degrees of modularity. For ex- ting edge of technology in order to address Program, must look toward the future as ample, it makes no sense to bury a fine the latest scientific questions. they prepare hardware, so that they can guidance telescope control system in the Just as was the case with the Apollo take advantage of systems as they come middle of an instrument or instrument clus- Applications Program forty years ago, online. The potential for upgrading systems ter. Program cost would skyrocket if one NASA must continue to think ahead. Many must not be precluded. had to deintegrate and reintegrate such a of us believe that the Constellation archi- In the case of Phase III, in situ servic- science instrument to repair a failed con- tecture is capable of more than merely be- ing of telescopes 16 meters or larger (Fig- trol system component on the ground. Now, ing a ferryboat from the Earth’s surface. ure 6), astronauts and advanced space ro- imagine the cost of such a situation on or- NASA needs to start thinking now about bots will operate throughout the Earth- bit. how to modify and augment Orion to make Moon system for long periods of time, tak- in-space servicing possible. A grapple arm ing advantage of the heavy-lift capability Conclusions fixture and a storage location to carry rea- of the Ares V launch vehicle. During the NASA must begin studying how the sonably sized instruments can be designed same timeframe, NASA plans to have the Orion can continue the benefits of human into Orion now, as shown in Figures 5. capability for extended lunar-surface op- exploration, and this must be done in par- Trying to do it ten years from now, when erations with astronauts. Phase III con- allel with Orion development and a science the hardware is built and moving out to cepts, especially robotics to achieve ma- pathfinder mission. But time is of the es-
8 SPACE TIMES • July/August 2008 sence. Preparations must begin now. On- 1. Early detailed assessment of aug- humans in free space seems equally nec- orbit servicing by astronauts has saved mented capabilities offered by the Constel- essary before we undertake long, challeng- NASA million of dollars in space assets, lation architecture, along with a plan to ing voyages of many months in duration. yet the savings of science otherwise lost is deploy astronauts and robots for in-space Increasingly capable servicing, repair, up- priceless. servicing of expensive space assets as soon grade, and assembly with an augmented The nation’s leaders have directed as the capability exists, presumably around Constellation system in the Earth-Moon NASA to extend human operations beyond the middle of the next decade. system may be essential preparation for the Earth’s surface, complete the remark- 2. Extending the capabilities of the Con- even more ambitious human missions. able International Space Station, replace stellation architecture—specifically the 4. Initiation of a sustained program of the aging Space Shuttle, return humans to Orion/CEV and lunar habitation module— investment in the technologies necessary the lunar surface, one day travel with hu- to operate for weeks at time throughout the for space robotics, either with astronaut mans to Mars, and achieve major scien- Earth-Moon system, perhaps even before partners or increasingly autonomous. Al- tific goals - all within a very constrained humans return to the lunar surface. Forty though NASA has declined for some years budget. History has shown that the ele- years ago, with Apollo missions 7, 8, 9, to allocate significant resources to a ro- ments of the human spaceflight architec- and 10, NASA’s human spaceflight lead- botics technology program, this promising ture can be adapted to achieve goals in ers chose to assess in depth the perfor- technology area has been pursued on the space beyond those originally planned, mance of their designs before sending hu- Earth’s surface, undersea, and in space by which in turn meant that “limited re- mans into the deep gravitational well of the US military and numerous private in- sources” was not synonymous with “lim- the Moon. terests. It may be possible for NASA to ited achievement.” Although to date, 3. Preparation for longer human voy- leverage this work and apply the capabili- NASA has concentrated its design and de- ages beyond the vicinity of the Earth-Moon ties to enable its priority missions. velopment work on a concept for the Con- system, for example to Mars or the infre- 5. The experience of Hubble servicing stellation architecture that will be initially quent Near-Earth Objects (NEOs). Human demonstrates the scientific advantages of focused on ferrying astronauts to the ISS, occupation of the Moon’s surface has been flying the most technologically advanced numerous ad hoc groups have explored identified as a necessary “stepping stone” detectors available, often within one year augmented capabilities. These designs have before humans travel further into space. At of instrument flight. This is possible by in common: the same time, successful operations with building modular, serviceable telescopes, which are cost-effective and scientifically beneficial. Based on Hubble experience, the development cost of a new instrument is typically less than five percent of the development cost of the observatory. 6. Continuous rejuvenation of knowl- edge, from old instrumentation to new, re- sults in a pace of innovation and discovery four to five times faster than that which can be achieved with expendable tele- scopes. Given the achievements accom- plished with the Space Shuttle and Hubble, why not continue the cost and time sav- ings with the Constellation system?
Frank J. Cepollina directs the Hubble Figure 6. An Orion/Crew Exploration “stack” at an Earth-Moon libration point Space Telescope Development Office at stands off from the Single-Aperture Far-Infrared (SAFIR) observatory, which NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. has returned from its observation location at the Sun-Earth L2 location. NASA’s Parts of this article were first delivered Constellation architecture, developed to return humans to the lunar surface, by Mr. Cepollina at a Maryland Space may be adapted to achieve multiple additional priority goals such as this. Business Roundtable luncheon in June, 2008. (Source: John Frassantio & Associates and H.A. Thronson)
SPACE TIMES • July/August 2008 9 Sea Launch Regains Launch Tempo by Paula Korn
On January 15, 2008, Sea Launch failure in the 2007 May/June edition of The diversity and experience of the Sea accomplished what some speculated would SPACE TIMES. A year later, we look back Launch’s international team are the most be impossible, or at least improbable: Sea at the return to the world stage of the important assets of the company. Known Launch returned to launch operations with dynamic launch industry. for their marine expertise, the Norwegians the flawless launch of the Thuraya-3 The outstanding performance of each are well respected by their American, mobile communications satellite. The individual Sea Launch employee made a Russian, and Ukrainian partners alike. achievement marked Sea Launch’s 25th vital contribution to the success of Mission Likewise, the Russians and Ukrainians are mission since the international team began Recovery, transitioning from launch failure highly regarded for their experience, operations with its first launch in 1999, and to launch readiness in a remarkable period history, and knowledge of rockets and the first mission since a failure one year of just eight months. Not only was the launch operations. And the Americans before which lost the NSS-8 launch system ready for operations, but the bring their systems integration and communications satellite. Sea Launch launch team was eager to return to what it operations management capabilities to a described the recovery process after that does best: executing flawless launches. proven, working launch service and team.
The Sea Launch vessels in launch position on the Equator, during countdown. The launch platform, one of the world’s largest semi-submersible vessels, is ballasted about 65 feet for stability. The Sea Launch Commander is nearly four miles uprange, accommodating the Launch Control Center as well as remotely controlled marine operations for the platform. All personnel evacuate the platform before fueling operations are initiated. (Source: Sea Launch)
10 SPACE TIMES • July/August 2008 Return to Launch Operations unanimous decision to terminate the and thensubsequent extensive analysis, Sea In September 2007, Sea Launch took countdown and return to Home Port. Launch increased power and fuel delivery of the Thuraya-3 communications “Notwithstanding the ingenuity and capabilities on the Launch Platform and satellite, which was processed and mated positive attitude of every person in every began evaluating the use of existing with a Zenit-3SL rocket, in preparation for segment on this mission, and the absolute margins on identified launch parameters, resuming launch operations. The vessels readiness of all systems to support the as needed. departed Home Port at the end of October launch of Thuraya-3, Mother Nature is not The Launch Platform maintains a and arrived at the launch site with all cooperating,” said Rob Peckham, president position that is optimal for the launch systems and personnel ready for liftoff. and general manager of Sea Launch. trajectory and minimizes the loads on the launch vehicle. The marine crews verify and hold the relative headings of the vessels to ensure their exact orientation. The Launch Commit Criteria requires the Launch Platform to be in position +/-50 meters of the designated launch site and the vessel’s axis must be within +/- 3 degrees of the specified launch heading. Sea Launch has expanded the station- keeping capabilities of the Launch Platform by opening up the vessel’s heading requirement and enlarging the launch site tolerance. The Sea Launch Commander houses its own weather station, manned by a professional meteorologist. The team monitors winds aloft by releasing weather balloons at specific intervals prior to launch. They also monitor sea conditions in real time using data acquired from the The Zenit-3SL vehicle is assembled on the Sea Launch Commander and Sea Launch buoy at the launch site, at 154 then transferred to the Odyssey Launch Platform. This image was made degrees West Longitudelongitude. from the stern of the ship, positioned directly in front of the platform during But, while While buoys and Earth observing systems track and predict many the transfer operations. The rocket is rolled onto the ship’s stern ramp environmental characteristics of the sea and and then lifted 200 feet to the fore end of the hangar. Heavy cranes do the air, the idiosyncrasies of deep ocean lifting and then move the rocket into the hangar, where the rocket rests on currents remain a mystery. The team the transporter erecter. (Source: Sea Launch) consulted with oceanographers and various experts who were studying the winter’s Then, a new challenge emerged: an “Therefore, the integrated team (Marine unusual ocean conditions at the Equator, unusual set of ocean-state conditions, Segment, Mission Director, Rocket much of which was credited to a La Nina including a convergence of powerful Segment, and Spacecraft) agreed to event. As a result of the experience, Sea currents, created difficulty in station- terminate the countdown. We will now Launch has learned a lot more about this keeping capabilities. The Launch Platform focus on extending the campaign and part of the Pacific Ocean and also about was subject to ocean currents of up to twice scheduling the corresponding activities optimizing capabilities for enhanced launch the historical trends and normal levels, required to return to the launch site and availability. coupled with high winds. Maintaining a launch our customer’s satellite.” As a result of the experience in launch position within established launch As the team sailed home with its November, Sea Launch has implemented commit criteria became impossible as sea- precious cargo, personnel quickly regained a variety of other measures to increase state conditions continued to deteriorate. energy and resolve with problem-solving launch availability, particularly in the event On November 26, the team made a tactics. Following the delays in November of off-nominal environmental conditions.
SPACE TIMES • July/August 2008 11 a ship and then transfers the fully integrated rocket onto a floating launch platform;. Sea Launch also has the only team that deals with such things as ocean currents and vessel headings to assure exact trajectory and mission success.
Current Status On January 2, 2008, the Odyssey Launch Platform and the Sea Launch Commander ventured out to the launch site again for “part two” of the Thuraya-3 mission. Liftoff on January 15 proceeded right on schedule, and all systems performed nominally throughout the flight. Sea Launch has successfully launched all three of the Thuraya spacecraft, supporting the start of the Thuraya Satellite Telecommunications Company’s mobile communications business as well as its growth. The Payload Assembly for the Thuraya-3 mission is moved out of the Payload Without losing any momentum, the team Processing Facility onto a transporter that takes it to assembly with a Zenit-3SL immediately began preparations for the vehicle, on the Sea Launch Commander. (Source: Sea Launch) next mission on the manifest, the launch of the DIRECTV 11 broadcast satellite. On An additional generator on the Launch Platform now provideswill provide nearly 20% more power for use in contingency scenarios by reconfiguring the allocation of power generation. In addition, the vessels are now prepared for a longer stayto be at the launch site for a longer stay, as needed. Other options are under study. As is typical of the Sea Launch team, challenges begetChallenges begat new solutions and enhancements, resulting in new possibilities for customers. From the start of operations ten years ago, problem- solving capabilities and energy hashave been a hallmark of the Sea Launch team. Much of what this team does, has never been done before. And no problem goes unsolved. While we celebrate the 50th year of NASA and Sputnik, all of the extraordinary accomplishments of the world’s launch operations have been initiated from land- The Odyssey Launch Platform enroute to the equatorial launch site at 154 degrees based sites. Sea Launch has the only team West Longitude (Source: Sea Launch) in the world that assembles its rockets on
12 SPACE TIMES • July/August 2008 Launch system, operating out of the Baikonur Space Center in Kazakhstan in cooperation with Space International Services, based in Moscow. Using the Zenit-3SLB vehicle, a variant of the Sea Launch Zenit-3SL, Land Launch provides launch services for medium- weight commercial satellites. The first of these missions was successfully completed on April 28, with the successful launch of the AMOS-3 communications satellite. A second Land Launch mission, the launch of the MEASAT 1R satellite, is planned for August. As a result of the market’s positive response to this new service, Sea Launch is now filling manifest opportunities in 2010.
About Sea Launch Established in 1995, Sea Launch Company, LLC, is an international partnership of American, Russian, Ukrainian and Norwegian businesses that provides the most direct and cost effective route to geostationary orbit for commercial communications satellites. With the advantage of a launch site on the Equator, the robust Zenit-3SL rocket can lift a heavier mass or provide longer life on orbit, offering best value plus optimized spacecraft orbital delivery. In addition to its ocean-based heavy lift Liftoff of the EchoStar XI mission on July 15, 2008. The launch pad is located at launch service from the Equator, Sea the stern of the launch deck on the Launch Platform. (Source: Sea Launch) Launch also offers a land-based service for medium weight payloads, originating from an existing launch site at the March 19, Sea Launch successfully everyone involved in achieving this Baikonur Space Center in Kazakhstan. delivered the DIRECTV 11 satellite to successful launch, particularly the people For additional information, visit the orbit, marking its 4thfourth successful of Sea Launch and our partners, contractors Sea Launch website at www.sea- launch for DIRECTV. On May 21, Sea and families around the world who launch.com. Launch executed its 25th successful supportAs this issue goes to press, Sea mission, with the launch of the Galaxy 18 Launch is preparing for its fifth Paula Korn, former AAS VP of telecommunications satellite for Intelsat. missionthird of the yearsix planned Publications, is Communications That was followed by another success on missions in 2008, the launch of the Galaxy Director for Sea Launch, where she is July 15, with the launch of the EchoStar 1918 satellite for Intelsat. Sea Launch is responsible for corporate XI direct broadcast satellite for DISH regaining its launch tempo and is, once communications, as well as media and Network. again, strongly positioned for a successful public relations, presentations, Rob Peckham congratulated and growing future. In addition, operations marketing materials, website, participants, as he often does: “Thanks to are moving forward with the new Land advertising, and launch coverage.
SPACE TIMES • July/August 2008 13 Feedback Forum
by Donald Beattie
In the March/April 2008 issue of The Constellation program should be SPACE TIMES, John Klineberg, former tailored to missions other than returning Goddard Space Flight Center Director and to the Moon, and if the shuttle keeps flying aerospace executive, wrote a thoughtful (perhaps twice a year until Orion is article concerning some of NASA’s operational) it will take pressure off the ongoing problems. He used the allegory of program schedule - which, as GAO has the Emperor’s New Clothes to illustrate his pointed out, is overly optimistic. The concerns. Referring to the Vision for Space budget should be reallocated to allow this Exploration he wrote: “We pretend we see outcome. it and exclaim how wonderful it is, but The problem NASA has, as I see it, is there’s nothing there at all.” what to do with the astronaut corps - NASA faces two major problems, one NASA Aeronautics research has tackled currently and in the past, over 60% of near term, the other longer term. The near some enormous aviation challenges in its NASA’s budget has been dedicated to term problem is the FY 2009 appropriation history. Among them are technologies human space flight. There is a solution, but and whether or not NASA will be forced it means a much less ambitious near-term developed to address wake vortices - to operate in FY 2009 on a continuing human space flight program until all the horizontal tornadoes trailing from wing tips resolution. The longer term problem is that other higher priority programs are funded. that are created as a byproduct of lift. Wake regardless of the size of the FY 2009 What the next administration will appropriation, future appropriations will turbulence has an impact on how closely endorse is anyone’s guess. My judgment, almost certainly not permit current NASA planes can be spaced, especially during along with many others, is that federal programs to be achieved, including landing and take-off. (Source: NASA/ budgets for the foreseeable future will be returning astronauts to the Moon. Langley) so tight that NASA will not receive major As Klineberg pointed out, aeronautics increases. research is deficient in several areas. In are not being fully funded and, in my So what should the next administration the past decade the NASA aeronautics judgment, may never be funded if NASA do? It should reprioritize programs with the budget has declined almost 25 percent. As continues to place lunar programs at the help of experienced space and aeronautics an old Navy pilot, I would add that NASA top of the list. It is not just a case of “been panelists, but not with panels dominated has lost its aeronautics R&D edge by not there, done that,” though that is certainly a by former or current astronauts. Otherwise, continuing to pursue major flight part of the problem. the new administration and congress will demonstration programs as it did in the NAS/NRC Earth observation get the same old recommendations. These past. NASA and DOD must decide quickly recommendations should be at the top of will neither be sustainable nor in the best how to develop a long range plan that will the list, followed by NEO research interests of the country. keep NASA involved at the cutting edge advocated by Rusty Schweikert. The latter of future flight technology, as called for in should become a major international effort Donald A. Beattie is a former NASA the 2007 National Aeronautics Plan. To do including how to divert a large object that engineer and manager. He also directed this will require a much larger funded is or could be on a collision course with programs at the National Science NASA aeronautics program. Earth. Robotic Mars sample return should Foundation, Energy Research and Because NASA budgets will continue also have a higher priority than lunar Development Administration, and the to be less than needed to carry out all the missions. NASA is having a hard time Department of Energy. He currently important work NASA should and can do, scheduling Mars sample return because of works as a private consultant. He is also there must be a reevaluation of NASA budget constraints. the author of several books, including priorities. Returning to the Moon should Full use of the ISS beyond 2015 should Taking Science to the Moon and not be at the top of the list. Besides also have a higher priority. To do this ISScapades: The Crippling of America’s aeronautics, much higher priority programs means keeping the shuttle flying past 2010. Space Program.
14 SPACE TIMES • July/August 2008 AAS NEWS
Fourth CanSat Competition a Success
College students from around the country and Mexico gathered June 13-15 in Amarillo, Texas to compete in the annual Student CanSat Competition. In order to experience a hands-on space program at an affordable cost, each team had to build and launch a payload the size of a 12 ounce soda can to an altitude of one mile. The basic mission required that the payload transmit its altitude to the ground station at least every five seconds and land in a defined upright position, or upright itself Teams prepare for the competition Texas-style chuckwagon barbeque within ten minutes. Bonus points were (Source: AAS) (Source: AAS) given for taking panoramic images after landing, extracting 5 grams of soil, and measuring the ground surface temperature, wind speed, and direction. Each team was also required to write a mission proposal, generate design documentation, conduct preliminary and critical design reviews with staff engineers, and prepare/present a post-mission debrief. A total of $6,500 in prize money went to the winning CanSat teams, with the University of New Hampshire taking first place, University of Alabama in Huntsville second place, University of Michigan (with CanSat payload (Source: AAS) Mexico City team briefs their mission two teams) third and fourth places, and (Source: AAS) Virginia Tech fifth place. This year’s competition was sponsored by the AAS, the American Institute of Astronautics and Aeronautics, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Naval Research Laboratory, Orbital Sciences Corporation, and NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Planning for next year’s competition is already underway. It will be held June 12- 14, 2009, back in Amarillo with the continued support of the Panhandle of Texas Rocketry Society (POTROCS). To view additional photographs and video of this and past years’ events, visit www.cansatcompetition.com. For corporate sponsorship opportunities for the 2009 competition, contact the AAS First place team members from the University of New Hampshire Business Office. (Source: AAS)
SPACE TIMES • July/August 2008 15 AAS NEWS
26th International Symposium on Space Technology and Science
Held every two years, the International Symposium on Space Technology and Science (ISTS) is the second largest international space conference worldwide, second only to the annual International Astronautical Congresses in terms of attendance, countries represented, exhibitors, and number of papers submitted. The theme of the 26th ISTS, held in June 2008 in Hamamatsu, Japan, was Space!! Go for it! More than 30 student papers at the Ph.D. and Masters levels were submitted during the ISTS Student Conference and Competition, held in conjunction with the Symposium. Peter Bainum, who served on the ISTS Overseas Program Committee, provided comments at the Opening Ceremony on behalf of the AAS, co-chaired three sessions during the Student Conference, and participated in the Student Award Dr. Peter Bainum (right) presents the AAS Award for Ceremony during the Closing Banquet. the Most Innovative Application of Space Technology The 27th ISTS will break from its bi-annual tradition to to Professor Komurasaki on behalf of winning student celebrate the 50th Anniversary of ISTS. This event will be held Mr. Fukushima, both representing the University of July 5-12, 2009 in Tsukuba City, Japan, the location of a major Tokyo (Source: Dr. Hirayama/Kyushu University) JAXA facility.
F. Landis Markley Astronautics Symposium Dr. F. Landis Markley, one of the pillars of spacecraft attitude expected that the papers will be published by the AAS in a special estimation as well as one of our most important mission engineers, Proceedings, with many appearing in a future issue of The Journal was honored at a special symposium June 29–July 2, 2008 at the of the Astronautical Sciences. Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Golf Resort, Spa and Marina in Cambridge, Maryland. Dr. Markley was specifically recognized for his many innovations in astronautical engineering, for his many algorithms and methodologies for spacecraft attitude support, and for his numerous seminal publications. Additionally, this event gave his many friends, colleagues, and admirers a perfect opportunity to show how much they respect and admire both him and his accomplishments. The symposium was organized with the cooperation of the AAS and sponsored by the University at Buffalo-State University of New York, Hubble Space Telescope Project, Computer Sciences Corporation, The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Spacecraft System Engineering Services, and the American Institute of Aeronautics and the Astronautics (AIAA) Baltimore Section. The well-attended symposium featured presentations of over fifty papers, as well as social events and a special banquet. It is F. Landis Markley (Source: AAS)
16 SPACE TIMES • July/August 2008 CORPORATE MEMBER PROFILE
Corporate Member Profile Edge Space Systems, Inc.
Edge Space Systems, Inc. is a woman- launch vehicles, and flight components owned small business, founded in 2003 and such as electronics, structures, solar arrays, located in Glenelg, Maryland. Edge deployables, batteries, and cooling specializes in thermal and mechanical systems. Edge has cryogenic thermal systems engineering for space applications, expertise as well as extensive experience with one of the largest thermal engineering in Structural-Thermal-Optical (STOP) industry groups in the Maryland area. analysis. The staff works with low earth Customers include NASA Goddard Space orbits (LEO), geosynchronous orbits Flight Center, NASA Kennedy Space (GEO), highly elliptical orbits (HEO), Center, the Naval Research Laboratory, interplanetary, lunar, L1 and L2, solar, and Analex Corporation, Sigma Space high altitude balloon missions. Edge Corporation, and SGT. thermal engineers are expert in a variety of industry software, including Thermal Desktop, TSS, SINDA, TMG, and TRASYS, providing geometry and thermal mathematical models to meet customer needs. Edge engineers are supporting SDO, LRO, JWST, NPP, GOES, POES, SAM Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) and ELC. (Source: NASA) Edge Space Systems engineers and technicians support the Goddard Thermal mentoring, reviewing, and sharing Laboratory, providing subassembly knowledge. They are developing the next thermal design and testing, test bed design, generation of engineers by hiring college and advanced thermal control development. students and new graduates as frequently Edge believes in the continuous as possible and encouraging all employees development and education of technical to continue learning. staff, creating an environment of Edge has consistently and successfully expanded their capabilities and expertise, most recently with growth in mechanical systems. They continue to increase their capabilities by adding and developing Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) mechanical engineering personnel with (Source: NASA) expertise in the areas of mechanical design, structural analysis, and mechanical Edge expertise includes: thermal systems. analysis from back of the envelope to detailed flight and test models; design from concept through full integration; requirements generation/review; thermal testing; integration; thermal requirement definition; hardware procurement; and venting analysis. Edge engineers support Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) space science instruments, spacecraft, (Source: NASA)
SPACE TIMES • July/August 2008 17 CALL FOR PAPERS ABSTRACT DEADLINE: September 12, 2008
Call for Papers
The 32nd Annual Guidance and Control Conference Beaver Run Resort Breckenridge, Colorado
The 32nd Annual Guidance and Control (G&C) Conference will be held January 30 through February 4, 2009 at the beautiful Beaver Run Resort in Breckenridge, Colorado. Attached please find the agenda for the 2009 Conference. Abstracts for potential papers to be presented at the Conference are being accepted. The deadline for abstract submission is September 12, 2008. The 2009 Conference will have the following sessions. Their themes are listed as well as the session organizer(s) to contact for abstract submission. Sessions 1 through 8 are the traditional open sessions, including international participation. Session 9 will be limited to U.S. citizens and permanent residents only. SESSION I - Recent Experience Theme: Lessons learned through experience prove most valuable when shared with others in the G&C community. This session, which is a traditional part of the conference, provides a forum for candid sharing of insights gained through successes and failures. Past conferences have shown this session to be most interesting and informative. Organizers: Dave Chart, Lockheed Martin Space Systems, [email protected], 303-977-6875 Ian Gravseth, Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp., [email protected], 303-939-5421 National Chairperson: Owen Brown, DARPA, [email protected], 571-218-4206 SESSION II - Technical Exhibits Theme: The Technical Exibits Session is a unique opportunity to observe displays and demonstrations of state-of-the-art hardware, design and analysis tools, and services applicable to advancement the of guidance, navigation, and control technology. The latest commercial tools for GN&C simulations, analysis, and graphical displays are demonstrated in a hands-on, interactive environment, including lessons learned and undocumented features. Associated papers not presented in other sessions are also provided and can be discussed with the author. Come enjoy an excellent complimentary buffet and interact with the technical representatives and authors. This session takes place in a social setting, and family members are welcome. Organizers: Scott Francis, Lockheed Martin Space Systems, [email protected], 303-977-8253 Kristen Terry, Lockheed Martin Space Systems, [email protected], 303-971-7450 Vanessa Baez, Lockheed Martin Space Systems, [email protected], 303-971-6481 SESSION III - Advances in G&C (includes Smart Sensors) Theme: Many programs depend on heritage, but the future is advanced by those willing to design and implement new and novel architectures, technologies, and algorithms to solve the GN&C problems. This session is open to papers with topics ranging from theoretical formulations to innovative systems and intelligent sensors that will advance the state of the art, reduce the cost of applications, and speed the convergence to hardware, numerical, or design trade solutions. Organizers: Jay Speed, Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp., [email protected], 303-939-5322 Shawn McQuerry, Lockheed Martin Space Systems, [email protected], 303-971-5262 National Chairperson: Stephen Airey, European Space Agency, stephen.airey@esa,int, +31 (0) 710 565 5295 SESSION IV - N&C of Earth and Space Observing Environmental Spacecraft Theme: There are unique guidance navigation and control challenges in the design, development, and operations of earth orbiting observations that monitor earth and space weather. These challenges increase as requirements for long-term climate monitoring are added, with GNC implications on instruments and the bus. This session will cover such aspects for operational and experimentsl observations in low earth geosynchronous orbits. This includes GN&C design, image navigation and registration (INR), pointing stability, geo-location, station keeping, and end-to-end calibration and validation. Organizers: Bill Emery, University of Colorado, [email protected], 303-492-8591 Bill Frazier, Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp., [email protected], 303-939-4986 National Chairperson: TBD
18 SPACE TIMES • July/August 2008 CALL FOR PAPERS
SESSION V - Lunar and Martian Navigation Theme: This session focuses on navigation in orbit, during entry descent and landing, and on the surface of the Moon and Mars. Papers may include discussion of precision gravity models, atmospheric models, entry descent and landing (EDL) developments, autonomous rover navigation, and others. Organizer: Mary Klaus, Lockheed Martin Space Systems, [email protected], 303-971-2724 National Chairperson: Steve Lee, JPL, [email protected], 818-393-6685 SESSION VI - Rendezvous Management Theme: While rendezvous between two objects in space has begun to seem almost common place in recent years, the technology to accomplish this feat has become increasingly complex. Greater autonomy and tighter constraints drive to more specialized systems. This session will explore curren trends in rendezvous, including sensor technology, navigation methodology, and flight demonstrations. Organizers: Michael Osborne, Lockheed Martin Space Systems, [email protected], 303-977-5867 Larry Germann, Left Hand Design, [email protected], 303-652-2786 National Chairperson: Jack Brazzel, NASA, [email protected] SESSION VII - Geriatric Spacecraft Theme: Despite the harsh environment in which spacecraft must function from the beginning of their operational lives, many will finish their intended missions successfully, possibly experiencing only the occasional hiccup. However, either by design or luck, some of these spacecraft will outlive their contemporaries and remain useful for many years to decades. Even then, these extended missions will face their own challenges as actuator and sensor components begin to deteriorate and propellant is depleted, among other potential issues. This session will explore the orbite maintenance and attitude control issues faced by these spacecraft and the unique and often clever efforts devised by their operators to seek out every bit of operational life and, in some cases, to give them a fitting retirement. Organizers: Heidi Hallowell, Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp., [email protected], 303-939-6131 Zack Wilson, Lockheed Martin Space Systems, [email protected], 303-971-4799 National Chairperson: Phil Sabelhaus, Goddard Space Flight Center, [email protected], 301-286-5712 SESSION VIII - CubeSats and Nanosats Theme: A number of recent commercial and university efforts have taken advantage of the reduced resources required to develop small, secondary- payload spacecraft. The CubeSat initiative in particular, with standardized design guidelines and logistics support for picosats constrained to a 1-liter volume, has proven highly successful in providing space access to resource-constrained university research labs. The first CubeSat launch occurred ini 2003, and today the collaboration includes more than 60 universities and high schools. These programs have benefited from a remarkable level of collaboration among the participants, and have produced some noteworthy achievements. This session highlights creative guidance and control approaches for CubeSats and other small spacecraft, where the performance goals may be modest, but the innovation and learning experiences can be exceptional. Organizer: Jim Chapel, Lockheed Martin Space Systems, [email protected], 303-977-9462 National Chairpersons: Jordi Puig-Suari, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, [email protected], 805-756-6479 Therese Moretto Jorgensen, National Science Foundation, [email protected], 703-292-8518 SESSION IX - Orion Navigation (U.S. only) Theme: This session will address the challenges and recent advances associated with U.S. investment to develop a new manned space vehicle, the Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle. Topcis include guidance and control during ascent, rendezvous and docking, transit to the moon, landing and hazard avoidance technologies, sensors, situation awareness systems, and considerations for humans in the control loop. Organizer: Ed Friedman (acting), Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp., [email protected], 303-939-5701 National Chairpersons: Tim Crain, NASA Johnson Space Flight Center, [email protected], 281-244-5077 For additional information, including Conference registration and Beaver Run reservation information, local attractions and activities, the latest updates for the 2009 G&C Conference, and much more, please visit our website at www.aas-rocky-mountain-section.org. Thank you in advance. We look forward to your participation and seeing you at the Conference! Ed Friedman Jay Brownfield 2009 Conference Chair Rocky Mountain Section Secretary Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. Honeywell Defense & Space 303-939-5701 303-681-3316
SPACE TIMES • July/August 2008 19 AAS Corporate Members
The Aerospace Corporation Lockheed Martin Corporation Air Force Institute of Technology Lunar Transportation Systems, Inc. a.i. solutions, inc. N. Hahn & Co., Inc. Analytical Graphics, Inc. Noblis Applied Defense Solutions, Inc. Northrop Grumman Space Technology Applied Physics Laboratory / JHU Orbital Sciences Corporation Arianespace The Pennsylvania State University Auburn University Raytheon Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. SAIC The Boeing Company The Tauri Group Braxton Technologies, Inc. Technica, Inc. Carnegie Institution of Washington Texas A&M University Computer Sciences Corporation United Launch Alliance Edge Space Systems, Inc. Univelt, Inc. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Universal Space Network General Dynamics AIS Universities Space Research Association George Mason University, CAPR University of Florida Honeywell Technology Solutions, Inc. Utah State University / Space Dynamics Laboratory International Space University Virginia Tech Jacobs Technology, Inc. Women in Aerospace Jet Propulsion Laboratory Wyle Laboratories KinetX, Inc.
WELCOME NEW CORPORATE MEMBER
Universities Space Research Association
20 SPACE TIMES • July/August 2008 UPCOMING EVENTS
AAS Events Schedule
August 18-21, 2008 February 8-12, 2009 *AIAA/AAS Astrodynamics Specialist *AAS/AIAA Space Flight Mechanics Conference Winter Meeting Hilton Hawaiian Village Hilton Savannah DeSoto Honolulu, Hawaii Savannah, Georgia www.aiaa.org Abstract Deadline: October 6, 2008 www.space-flight.org October 21-22, 2008 *Special Symposium March 10-12, 2009 "Building on the Past to Power the Future" 47th Robert H. Goddard Memorial Von Braun Center Symposium Huntsville, Alabama Greenbelt Marriott 703-866-0020 Greenbelt, Maryland 703-866-0020 November 17-19, 2008 AAS National Conference and May 26-29, 2009 55th Annual Meeting *12th International Space Conference "Space Exploration and Science in the Next of Pacific-basin Societies (ISCOPS) Decade" Holiday Inn Select Pasadena Hilton Montreal, Canada Pasadena, California 703-866-0020 www.astronautical.org June 12-14, 2009 January 30-February 4, 2009 *5th Student CanSat Competition AAS Guidance and Control Conference Amarillo, Texas Beaver Run Resort and Conference Center www.cansatcompetition.com Breckenridge, Colorado Abstract Deadline: September 15, 2008 August 9-13, 2009 www.aas-rocky-mountain-section.org *AAS/AIAA Astrodynamics Specialist Conference Renaissance Pittsburgh Hotel Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania *AAS Cosponsored Meetings www.space-flight.org
Charitable Giving and the AAS A popular way of donating to an organization is through a gift by means of a will (i.e., to make a bequest). You may decide to consider either a general bequest to the AAS or a bequest targeted to an existing or new AAS scholarship or an award fund. These bequests are deductible against estate and inheritance taxes. There are also tax advantages when making charitable donations to the AAS while you are living. Such gifts could contribute to the memory of someone who has passed away or be made in the honor of a person who is still alive. In addition, special occasions offer opportunities for gifts to be directed to the Society. As a final note, although the AAS is able to provide suggestions for charitable giving, your financial or legal advisor should be consulted about such actions.
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Feature articles of 1500 to 3000 words, op-eds of 500 to 1500 words, and book reviews of 600 words or less are encouraged and accepted by the AAS for production in SPACE TIMES magazine. Exceptions to the length of any article must be discussed in advance with the editor. Articles may cover virtually any topic involving space science, technology, exploration, law, policy, or issues relevant to the civil, commercial, and military and intelligence space sectors. SPACE TIMES is a magazine, as opposed to a technical journal, with a well-educated audience that has a great interest in space topics but may not necessarily be familiar with your specific topic. Therefore, write with an active voice and provide a clear explanation of technical concepts. Conversational rather than formal is the preferred tone. Submission deadlines are the 15th of the month prior to the first month of the issue (i.e., August 15 for the September/October issue). Articles should be submitted in Microsoft Word format and Times New Roman font, with a title, subtitle, or one to two sentence summary of the subject matter for use in the index, subheadings for separation between major sections of the article, and a one to two sentence author biography to appear at the end of the article. Also, please provide a mailing address for shipment of complimentary copies of the issue in which your article appears. Photos or other visual support are encouraged, although not required, and must be provided in high resolution (at least 300 dpi) and JPG or TIF format, separate from, not imbedded in, the article. Proof of permission to reproduce from the owner of any photos or visuals must be provided. Contact information of the owner will be accepted if permission has not already been obtained prior to submission of an article. Units of measurement should be conveyed in metric, not English, terms, acronyms should be used sparingly, and numbers one through one hundred should be spelled out. In addition, names of specific spacecraft (e.g., Columbia) should be italicized, but general spacecraft names (e.g., space shuttle Delta) should not be. Contact: Jeffrey Elbel, Editor ([email protected])
22 SPACE TIMES • July/August 2008 NOTES ON A NEW BOOK
Is Pluto a Planet? A Historical Journey through the Solar System Reviewed by Mark Williamson
Is Pluto a Planet? A Historical Journey enigmatic, but the book itself is written through the Solar System? by David A. in an engaging and accessible way. Weintraub, Princeton University Press, 254 The author explains that scientists, in pages, 2007, $27.95 (hardback), ISBN: 978- common with the rest of us, like to 0-691-12348-6 categorize things, as a way of understanding them and placing them in Is Pluto a planet? More or less anyone their correct context. But what does the you asked prior to 2006, amateur or astronomer do if he observes three bright professional, would have frowned in points in the sky, which differ only in their response, “Well, of course it is...unless colour? Are they individual examples of it Lowell’s Planet X or Pickering’s Planet you’re talking about that cartoon dog!” The objects in three separate categories (red O? Was it neither?” (You will have to read very fact that the answer, which has been stars, blue stars and yellow stars), or the book to find out). more or less the same since Clyde Tombaugh three examples of the same category As the author states, whether Pluto is a discovered Pluto in 1930, is now less clear (stars) that “differ only in the incidental planet or the largest Kuiper Belt Object indicates that something momentous – in quality of color?” Although he doesn’t (KBO), or, indeed, part of a KBO subgroup terms of astronomical definitions - happened draw the analogy, the question is common known as the Plutinos, is “a scientific in 2006. Indeed, it was on August 24 of that to broader human issues such as class and question, not a matter of public opinion or year, at the 26th General Assembly of the race. a decision to be made by NASA or a panel International Astronomical Union (IAU), Weintraub goes on to analyze some of distinguished astronomers.” (No doubt that a majority of the 424 members present ancient and modern definitions of the he has in mind that the IAU’s decision was passed a resolution defining “planet” in a word ‘planet’ and concludes that he is made among a group of just over 400 of a way that appeared to exclude Pluto. “very dissatisfied [with the Oxford total of 10,000 members.) Following a There followed a ripple of dissent, fuelled English Dictionary] definitions,” discussion of many of the factors by which by inaccurate media reports, that grew into labelling them “essentially worthless.” planets might be defined (size, mass, orbit, a tide of indignation within the astronomical It’s not clear how many other dictionaries roundness, etc.), he comes to the surprising community, and, among other things, he might have consulted, but that’s not conclusion that “The solar system has more produced this book by David Weintraub, the point. If even professional than twenty planets!...Pluto is a planet and himself a professor of astronomy at astronomers can’t decide what constitutes a Plutino and a KBO.” An arguably more Vanderbilt University. Like all good a planet, what hope is there for dictionary important conclusion is that the jury is still detective stories, this one does a good job of writers? out on the status of Pluto. not revealing the conclusion until the end. Readers who enjoy immersing Is Pluto a Planet? is well illustrated In fact, the author concentrates on themselves in the history of astronomy, with black and white photos and diagrams, providing a detailed historical background however many times they’ve read of and comes complete with an index, chapter to the Pluto issue by tracing the way our view Aristotle, Copernicus, and Kepler, will notes, and an appendix on “What we know of what constitutes a planet has evolved since like this book. In fact, Pluto doesn’t get about Pluto.” Perhaps unsurprisingly, there the Mayans and the Babylonians began to much of a mention until about half way is no glossary of terms. Offering a list of observe the heavens. Some of his chapter through, when it is introduced as “the definitions would be a ‘can of worms’ titles, such as “The Earth Becomes a Planet” fourth ninth planet,” a reference to how beyond that already opened. and “Not Everything That Orbits the Sun is planetary definitions have changed in the a Planet,” tell a story in themselves. Others, past. According to Weintraub, “Pluto Mark Williamson is an independent such as “Uranus!,” “The Celestial Police,” generated controversy” almost from the space technology consultant and author. and “Goldilocks,” are perhaps more day its discovery was announced. “Was
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24 SPACE TIMES • July/August 2008