Creating Twenty-First Century Space Access

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Creating Twenty-First Century Space Access “And Now for Something Completely Different”: !"#$%&'()*+#'%,-."/%)!#'%0",)12$3#)433#// by Roger D. Launius Like the great Monty Python line ?*,+"0%"+:33'*.0%1"@$*./"'*A0.$4"'3-*$­ NASA’s program. !"#$%&"%'(")'*"+',-./0%1"2',34-.-45" tions instead of relying on the Constel­ >/-"3$%-4"$4+'"%'.-&"./$."$"HI"A04­ &0))-*-%.6" !" -$*45" 0%" ./-" $&,0%0+.*$­ lation program, itself a plan hatched in 40'%" $" 5-$*" 0%2*-$+-" )'*" ?+2$4" 5-$*+" tion of President Barack Obama in 788B".'"*-34$2-"./-"C3$2-"C/:..4-"./$." 78;8J78;B"2':4&"*-.:*%"./-"K'%+.-44$­ 7889"+3$2-"3'4025".:*%-&"0%"$"&0*-2.0'%" was nearing the end of its service life tion program to health. But there was just as strikingly different as what had $%&"(':4&"A-"*-.0*-&"0%"78;;= $4+'"$%'./-*"'3.0'%="#D+"(-",'L-")*'," taken place in the transition from the D:1:+.0%-E+"*-3'*."2'%24:&-&F"#G%­ the complex, reusable Shuttle back to Apollo to the Space Shuttle program der current conditions, the gap in U.S. a simpler, smaller capsule, it is appro­ 0%"./-"-$*45";9<8+=">/-"3*-+0&-%."2'%­ ability to launch astronauts into space priate to consider turning this transport vened a blue­ribbon panel chaired by will stretch to at least seven years. service over to the commercial sector,” Norm Augustine, the former CEO of The Committee did not identify any ./-"3$%-4"2'%24:&-&="#>/0+"$33*'$2/"0+" Lockheed Martin and a longstanding credible approach employing new ca­ not without technical and programmat­ space guru, that recommended in the pabilities that could shorten the gap ic risks, but it creates the possibility of fall of that year the harnessing of pri­ to less than six years.” This would be lower operating costs for the system vate sector, especially entrepreneurial, true even with increased funding for and potentially accelerates the avail­ !"#$%&'()(*%&'+(,-"%.'$/%01-2$2'-3,%(*%4()5,%607#'2$8%!"#$%&'()(*9 !" SPACE TIMES"#"$%&'()*+&,-"./0. !"#$%&#&'%()*+(&,&+%)-&#.+*$+%"()'.+/%0),$")1.&+%)2345)'%0)678),"(,)'.,&#9"()&%)*."*'.',&+%):+.),$")("#+%0).+/%0)+:),"(,&%;)&%),$")'#+/(,&#)#$'-<".) ',)6+#=$""0)2'.,&%>():'#&9&,&"()%"'.)?"%@".)+%)7/;/(,)ABC)DEAAF)!$")@"$&#9")G'()<+-<'.0"0)<H)'#+/(,&#)9"@"9()+:)AIE)0"#&<"9(),+)(&-/9',")#+%0&,&+%() 0/.&%;)9'/%#$)'%0)'<+.,)&:)%"#"(('.HF)J8+/.#"K)6+#=$""0)2'.,&%L SPACE TIMES !"!#$%&'()*%+,!-./- 5 Earth orbit over to commercial entities could then empower NASA to focus on deep space exploration, perhaps even­ tually sending humans to Mars or else­ where. The debate has largely been over maintaining a traditional approach to 2&8$6# 45$;(H3=2'# ?3'2# SF7F# 9%83­ nating the effort, owning the vehicles, and operating them through contrac­ tors. That was the method whereby America went to the Moon; it has 5)%C(6# 4&;;(441&<# %C()# :1'"# "($)4# %1# human space exploration. Then there $)(#'2%4(#1)%8#'2(#>6(?#45$;(@#?%)<9# that emphasize allowing private sector :)84#'%#4(3R(#'2(#363'3$'3C(#$69#5&)4&(# entrepreneurial approaches to human 45$;(H3=2'/ Advocates of the more traditional !"#$%&'(#)$*+',-.$('&/01#$0.2#+,-#/$'$(+#3$#405&6#.7$5.7#+8'(#$7#/79$:%-0+(#;$%&'(#)< approach believe that the other side will 4$;)3:;(#4$1('"T#$9C%;$'(4#%1#'2(#(6')(­ ability of U.S. access to low­Earth orbit 1&'&)(# G/7/# 2&8$6# 45$;(H3=2'# (11%)'4/# preneurial approach criticize the forces !"#$!%&'#$#"($)*#'%#+,-./#01#'234#%5'3%6# Central to this would be the termina­ of tradition by pointing out their large, is chosen, the Committee suggests es­ tion of the Constellation program as over­budget, under­achieving space ef­ tablishing a new competition for this a single entity, continuation of certain forts. It remained unclear how much (if service, in which both large and small technology developments such as the $6"J#%1#'234#6(?#363'3$'3C(#?3<<#!(#$5­ companies could participate.” Orion space capsule, the continua­ 5)%C(9#!"#L%6=)(44/#06#+,-+#'2()(#4'3<<# The response to this report from the tion of operations on the International was no resolution. U.S. space community was immediate. 75$;(# 7'$'3%6# &6'3<# $'# <($4'# +,+,*# $69# While these concerns are ever­pres­ 7%8(# $983634')$'3%6# %1:;3$<4# &)=(9# the fostering of private sector solutions ent in the current debate over the future that the president cancel Constellation. to support operations in low­Earth or­ of human transportation into space in Edward Crawley, a Massachusetts In­ bit. the United States, the place of com­ stitute of Technology professor and Since this declaration numerous mercial activities in this arena seems a member of the Augustine panel, re­ 23=2#5)%:<(#45$;(H3=2'#$9C%;$'(4#2$C(# assured. There does not look to be any marked that Ares I was suffering from ?(3=2(9#36#%6#!%'2#439(4/#06#F5)3<#+,-,# consensus in favor of undertaking a technical issues that could only be Apollo astronauts Neil Armstrong traditional approach to space access, overcome with more money and time. IF5%<<%#--J*#K(6(#L()6$6#IF5%<<%#-MJ*# one that NASA dominates both from >0'#?$4#$#?34(#;2%3;(#$'#'2(#'38(*@#4$39# $69#N38#O%C(<<#IF5%<<%4#P#$69#-QJ#1$­ a market standpoint and an owner­ Crawley, when asked about originating mously sent the U.S. president a letter ship imperative. As space policy ana­ '2(#5)%=)$8#36#+,,A/#>B&'#'38(4#2$C(# warning that the proposed change to lyst Stewart Money commented in the changed,…the budgetary environment 2&8$6#45$;(H3=2'#>9(4'36(4#%&)#6$'3%6# Space Review#36#+,--U#>V23<(#'2(#8$)­ is much more tight, and the understand­ to become one of second­ or even third­ ket for publically­funded commercial ing of the cost and schedule to develop rate stature.”Proponents of the new crew transport to ISS is clearly limited, the Ares I has matured.” Others were 4')$'(="*#$8%6=#'2(8#F5%<<%#--#$4')%­ it is becoming increasingly certain. supportive of continuing Constellation. naut Buzz Aldrin, countered that the NASA Administrator Charles Bold­ Based on these responses, President president’s approach will return NASA en’s emphatic declaration in support D!$8$#5)%5%4(9#%6#E(!)&$)"#-*#+,-,*# to its roots as a research­and­develop­ of commercial crew may well signify with more details added in a presiden­ 8(6'# %)=$63R$'3%6# ?23<(# 5)3C$'(# :)84# a bellwether date in space history…. '3$<#45((;2#%6#F5)3<#-A*#$#6(?#5$'2#1%)# operate space systems. Turning low­ W2(# 8%4'# 43=63:;$6'# 385<3;$'3%6# 8$"# !" SPACE TIMES"#"$%&'()*+&,-"./0. be that other opportunities for leverag­ others, offer the tantalizing possibility development program known as Com­ ing the spacecraft initially offered for of being the opening act in a new era <1/+*,)# =/1># 5101)!'<1-%# ?==510@A# ISS cargo and crew duties can begin to !"# $!%&# '($)*+# ,-.# '/*0,%1# 2',+13*4&%# Intended to stimulate development of emerge in earnest….The fact that sev­ to low Earth orbit. privately operated crew vehicles to eral of the proposed crew transport craft In this situation, furthermore, issues )!>BC,/%&#!/$*%D#*%2#E/2%#'&,21#!""1/1.#,# are promoted as being able to launch of reusability have largely been forgot­ %!F1-#2(<#!"#GH7#<*))*!-#.(/*-4#6787# on more than one rocket indicates an ten, despite this critical necessity in de­ %!# 2%*<(),%1# E01#:<1/*+,-# +!<',-*12# encouraging shift in the way some veloping a cost effective replacement to undertake research and development aerospace companies are approaching for the Space Shuttle.” !"#-1>#&(<,-#2',+13*4&%#+!-+1'%2#,-.# the marketplace. It is something more 5(/*-4# 6787# ,-.# 6788# 9:;:# '(/­ technologies. In its second phase, with akin to an aircraft manufacturer’s role, sued efforts to replace the vehicle pro­ +!-%/,+%2# !"# G6IJ# <*))*!-# ,>,/.1.# %!# an analogy Boeing was happy to make viding access to low­Earth orbit pre­ "!(/#E/<2#*-#:'/*)#6788D#%&1#!$K1+%*01# in the same announcement…Taken to­ viously offered by the Space Shuttle was to move toward the establishment gether, these developments, along with through a multiphase space technology !"#!-1#!/#<!/1#!/$*%,)#2',+13*4&%#+,',­ !"#$%&#'($)"'*#&+$,-'.#$,/*0#($1*$'$.&#2$'34$.'&56$0&'3*-6&0'0163$*/*0#($4#*153#4$06$*#&71.#$862$9'&0"$6&:10;$13.8<4135$0"#$=30#&3'0163'8$,-'.#$ ,0'0163>$?,6<&.#@$,1#&&'$A#7'4'$)6&-6&'0163B SPACE TIMES !"!#$%&'()*%+,!-./- 7 !"#$%&'()*%+,-.%/(0-)$%12%(%3-,#*4%5(0-)$%6//,(-)*780,/#%6#/(9%:%)(;;<,-.%(-%=7>?@%A;8,#(/%B*9#%:*$,)/*%1-%6';,/%CCD%CEFE%G&10;)*H%356IJ(#%K1;L*;<M !" SPACE TIMES"#"$%&'()*+&,-"./0. bilities on which NASA could purchase cial provider. The partnerships NASA from changes in technology and greater cargo and eventually crew space. is forming with industry will support knowledge of the processes involved in The awardees were all American the development of multiple American development and using these capabili­ !"#$% &'(% )*+,"% &--".&/*+$% "&'0+(% systems capable of providing future ac­ ties, discovering optimal solutions, as from lifting body to capsule spacecraft. cess to low­Earth orbit.” well as the most elegant of them, re­ 1*.$+%/.#-&',+$%2%345+%6",0,'7%8,+"­ This ferment of ideas and broad quires diligence and creativity. ra Nevada Corporation, Space Explora­ set of actions stimulated through the The spacecraft nearest to being ready ),.'%1+/*'.4.0,+$%98-&/+:;7%&'(%3.+­ CCDev program suggest that the issue for operational use might well be the ,'0% 2% &"+% +'<,$,.'+(% &$% &% <&'05&"(% of human space activities remains an SpaceX Dragon capsule launched atop that will be able to usher in a new era unsettled issue. The longstanding set )*+%K&4/.'%L%"./M+)I%J,)*%,)$%$5//+$$=54% .=%,''.<&),<+%*5#&'%$-&/+>,0*)%.--."­ .=%,$$5+$%&'(%)"&(+C.==$%'+/+$$&"D%).%>D% $5E."E,)&4% )+$)% >,0*)% .'% N+/+#E+"% O7% tunities. As announced by Ed Mango, into space safely, perform useful mis­ FGHG7%)*+%8-&/+:%+')"D%,').%)*,$%/.#­ NASA’s Commercial Crew Program sions on­orbit, and return to the ground petition appeared destined for an early #&'&0+"?%@1*+%'+A)%B#+",/&'C>&00+(% in not only a safe but an elegant manner operational capability.
Recommended publications
  • Computational Fluid Dynamic Analysis of Scaled Hypersonic Re-Entry Vehicles
    Computational Fluid Dynamic Analysis of Scaled Hypersonic Re-Entry Vehicles A project presented to The Faculty of the Department of Aerospace Engineering San Jose State University In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering by Simon H.B. Sorensen March 2019 approved by Dr. Periklis Papadopoulous Faculty Advisor 1 i ABSTRACT With the advancement of technology in space, reusable re-entry space planes have become a focus point with their ability to save materials and utilize existing flight data. Their ability to not only supply materials to space stations or deploy satellites, but also in atmosphere flight makes them versatile in their deployment and recovery. The existing design of vehicles such as the Space Shuttle Orbiter and X-37 Orbital Test Vehicle can be used to observe the effects of scaling existing vehicle geometry and how it would operate in identical conditions to the full-size vehicle. These scaled vehicles, if viable, would provide additional options depending on mission parameters without losing the advantages of reusable re-entry space planes. 2 Table of Contents Abstract . i Nomenclature . .1 1. Introduction. .1 2. Literature Review. 2 2.1 Space Shuttle Orbiter. 2 2.2 X-37 Orbital Test Vehicle. 3 3. Assumptions & Equations. 3 3.1 Assumptions. 3 3.2 Equations to Solve. 4 4. Methodology. 5 5. Base Sized Vehicles. 5 5.1 Space Shuttle Orbiter. 5 5.2 X-37. 9 6. Scaled Vehicles. 11 7. Simulations. 12 7.1 Initial Conditions. 12 7.2 Initial Test Utilizing X-37. .13 7.3 X-37 OTV.
    [Show full text]
  • Overview of Dream Chaser Space Vehicle
    Overview of Dream Chaser Space Vehicle 2018 Exploration Masters Contest © 2018 Sierra Nevada Corporation 1 Sierra Nevada Corporation’s Space Systems A Legacy of Flight Heritage and Innovation Proven Experience • 30 year of spaceflight heritage • 450 space missions supported • 4,000 products delivered on-orbit • Launching products ~every 3 weeks • 70+ successful NASA missions • Supplier to nearly all flagship and interplanetary NASA missions • Providing cargo services to the International Space Station under NASA resupply contract © 2018 Sierra Nevada Corporation 2 Dream Chaser Space Vehicle • Only runway-landing Space Vehicle actively in development • Capable of landing at spaceports and airports that can accommodate large commercial planes Credit: NASA • Crewed or uncrewed transportation to and from Low Crewed Dream Chaser Earth Orbit (LEO) • Non-toxic propulsion for launch abort, orbital translations, attitude control, deorbit • < 1.5g re-entry profile and >1,500 km cross-range capability • Designed to launch on a variety of launch vehicles Uncrewed Dream Chaser © 2018 Sierra Nevada Corporation 3 © 2018 Sierra Nevada Corporation 4 4 History: Dream Chaser Program • 1982-84: ½ scale Russian BOR-4 orbital flights • Recovery photographed by Australian Royal Air Force P-3 Orion aircraft • 1983-95: NASA Langley development of HL-20 (based on BOR-4 images) • 2005-10: SpaceDev (later acquired by SNC) modified the HL-20 into the Dream Chaser spacecraft • 2010-14: SNC awarded NASA’s CCDev 1, CCDev2, CCiCap and CPC contracts to continue development
    [Show full text]
  • A Pictorial History of Rockets
    he mighty space rockets of today are the result A Pictorial Tof more than 2,000 years of invention, experi- mentation, and discovery. First by observation and inspiration and then by methodical research, the History of foundations for modern rocketry were laid. Rockets Building upon the experience of two millennia, new rockets will expand human presence in space back to the Moon and Mars. These new rockets will be versatile. They will support Earth orbital missions, such as the International Space Station, and off- world missions millions of kilometers from home. Already, travel to the stars is possible. Robotic spacecraft are on their way into interstellar space as you read this. Someday, they will be followed by human explorers. Often lost in the shadows of time, early rocket pioneers “pushed the envelope” by creating rocket- propelled devices for land, sea, air, and space. When the scientific principles governing motion were discovered, rockets graduated from toys and novelties to serious devices for commerce, war, travel, and research. This work led to many of the most amazing discoveries of our time. The vignettes that follow provide a small sampling of stories from the history of rockets. They form a rocket time line that includes critical developments and interesting sidelines. In some cases, one story leads to another, and in others, the stories are inter- esting diversions from the path. They portray the inspirations that ultimately led to us taking our first steps into outer space. NASA’s new Space Launch System (SLS), commercial launch systems, and the rockets that follow owe much of their success to the accomplishments presented here.
    [Show full text]
  • The New American Space Age: a Progress Report on Human Spaceflight the New American Space Age: a Progress Report on Human Spaceflight the International Space
    The New American Space Age: A PROGRESS REPORT ON HUMAN SpaCEFLIGHT The New American Space Age: A Progress Report on Human Spaceflight The International Space Station: the largest international scientific and engineering achievement in human history. The New American Space Age: A Progress Report on Human Spaceflight Lately, it seems the public cannot get enough of space! The recent hit movie “Gravity” not only won 7 Academy Awards – it was a runaway box office success, no doubt inspiring young future scientists, engineers and mathematicians just as “2001: A Space Odyssey” did more than 40 years ago. “Cosmos,” a PBS series on the origins of the universe from the 1980s, has been updated to include the latest discoveries – and funded by a major television network in primetime. And let’s not forget the terrific online videos of science experiments from former International Space Station Commander Chris Hadfield that were viewed by millions of people online. Clearly, the American public is eager to carry the torch of space exploration again. Thankfully, NASA and the space industry are building a host of new vehicles that will do just that. American industry is hard at work developing new commercial transportation services to suborbital altitudes and even low Earth orbit. NASA and the space industry are also building vehicles to take astronauts beyond low Earth orbit for the first time since the Apollo program. Meanwhile, in the U.S. National Lab on the space station, unprecedented research in zero-g is paving the way for Earth breakthroughs in genetics, gerontology, new vaccines and much more.
    [Show full text]
  • ミルスペース 140730------[What’S New in Virtual Library?]
    - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -ミルスペース 140730- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - [What’s New in Virtual Library?] AW&ST Aviation Week & Space Technology Inside GNSS 140714AWST_Contents.pdf, Cover.jpg 1405&06InsideGNSS_Contents.pdf, Cover.jpg [What’s New in Real Library?] InsideGNSS May/June2014 収蔵。 [謝辞] JAXA 宇宙科学研より ISAS News 2014.7 No.400 寄贈、感謝。 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Jul. 30, 2014 (Wed.) mainichi.jp 米国は中国が衛星攻撃ミサイルをテストしたと述べる U.S. says China tested anti-satellite missile WASHINGTON (AP) -- The U.S. says China has tested a missile sustainability of the outer-space environment that all nations designed to destroy satellites and is urging Beijing to refrain from depend upon. China's state-run Xinhua (shihn-wah) news agency, destabilizing actions. State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf citing a Defense Ministry statement, reported a successful said the "non-destructive" test occurred Wednesday. She said a missile interception test conducted from land within Chinese previous destructive test of the system in 2007 created territory late Wednesday. Xinhua did not refer to it as an thousands of pieces of dangerous debris in space. Harf said anti-satellite system. It said such tests could strengthen Friday that the continued development and testing of destructive Chinese air defense against ballistic missiles. July 26, 2014(Mainichi anti-satellite systems threaten the long-term security and Japan) http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20140726p2g00m0in022000c.html
    [Show full text]
  • Project Mercury: First Step on the Way to the Moon
    Historical Perspective Project Mercury: First step on the way to the moon By Henry T. Brownlee Jr. ore than 50 years ago, Mon Oct. 4, 1957, the former Soviet Union’s launch of Sputnik shocked the United States and initiated a space race between the two world powers to demonstrate political superiority through technological advancement. Less than two years PHOTO: James McDonnell (right) and later, in February 1959, T. Keith Glennan, the first NASA NASA awarded the administrator, discuss the Mercury prime contract to program using a model of the manned space capsule. BOEING ARCHIVES design, test and build the Project Mercury manned spacecraft to McDonnell Aircraft Corporation (MAC). Twelve companies, including Boeing predecessor companies MAC, Douglas Aircraft and North American Aviation, submitted proposals. The selection of McDonnell was a carefully guarded secret until the day of the announcement. Several years before the launch of Sputnik, and before Alan B. Shepard Jr. became the first American to achieve suborbital spaceflight in May 1961, James S. McDonnell, president of MAC, studied placing a human in space. Indeed, in a May 26, 1957, commencement speech at the Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy in Rolla, Mo. (now the Missouri University of Science and Technology), McDonnell provided the engineering graduates a speculative timetable for space travel. He thought the United States would not achieve a manned Earth satellite until 1990, and a manned spaceship to land on the moon and return to Earth until 2010. It was in this same speech that McDonnell referenced the dangerous dilemma PHOTO: McDonnell workers hoist the Freedom 7 capsule onto its Redstone launch vehicle.
    [Show full text]
  • The Annual Compendium of Commercial Space Transportation: 2017
    Federal Aviation Administration The Annual Compendium of Commercial Space Transportation: 2017 January 2017 Annual Compendium of Commercial Space Transportation: 2017 i Contents About the FAA Office of Commercial Space Transportation The Federal Aviation Administration’s Office of Commercial Space Transportation (FAA AST) licenses and regulates U.S. commercial space launch and reentry activity, as well as the operation of non-federal launch and reentry sites, as authorized by Executive Order 12465 and Title 51 United States Code, Subtitle V, Chapter 509 (formerly the Commercial Space Launch Act). FAA AST’s mission is to ensure public health and safety and the safety of property while protecting the national security and foreign policy interests of the United States during commercial launch and reentry operations. In addition, FAA AST is directed to encourage, facilitate, and promote commercial space launches and reentries. Additional information concerning commercial space transportation can be found on FAA AST’s website: http://www.faa.gov/go/ast Cover art: Phil Smith, The Tauri Group (2017) Publication produced for FAA AST by The Tauri Group under contract. NOTICE Use of trade names or names of manufacturers in this document does not constitute an official endorsement of such products or manufacturers, either expressed or implied, by the Federal Aviation Administration. ii Annual Compendium of Commercial Space Transportation: 2017 GENERAL CONTENTS Executive Summary 1 Introduction 5 Launch Vehicles 9 Launch and Reentry Sites 21 Payloads 35 2016 Launch Events 39 2017 Annual Commercial Space Transportation Forecast 45 Space Transportation Law and Policy 83 Appendices 89 Orbital Launch Vehicle Fact Sheets 100 iii Contents DETAILED CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .
    [Show full text]
  • Nasa's Commercial Crew Development
    NASA’S COMMERCIAL CREW DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM: ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND CHALLENGES HEARING BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE, SPACE, AND TECHNOLOGY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ONE HUNDRED TWELFTH CONGRESS FIRST SESSION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2011 Serial No. 112–46 Printed for the use of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology ( Available via the World Wide Web: http://science.house.gov U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 70–800PDF WASHINGTON : 2011 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Internet: bookstore.gpo.gov Phone: toll free (866) 512–1800; DC area (202) 512–1800 Fax: (202) 512–2104 Mail: Stop IDCC, Washington, DC 20402–0001 COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE, SPACE, AND TECHNOLOGY HON. RALPH M. HALL, Texas, Chair F. JAMES SENSENBRENNER, JR., EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON, Texas Wisconsin JERRY F. COSTELLO, Illinois LAMAR S. SMITH, Texas LYNN C. WOOLSEY, California DANA ROHRABACHER, California ZOE LOFGREN, California ROSCOE G. BARTLETT, Maryland BRAD MILLER, North Carolina FRANK D. LUCAS, Oklahoma DANIEL LIPINSKI, Illinois JUDY BIGGERT, Illinois GABRIELLE GIFFORDS, Arizona W. TODD AKIN, Missouri DONNA F. EDWARDS, Maryland RANDY NEUGEBAUER, Texas MARCIA L. FUDGE, Ohio MICHAEL T. MCCAUL, Texas BEN R. LUJA´ N, New Mexico PAUL C. BROUN, Georgia PAUL D. TONKO, New York SANDY ADAMS, Florida JERRY MCNERNEY, California BENJAMIN QUAYLE, Arizona JOHN P. SARBANES, Maryland CHARLES J. ‘‘CHUCK’’ FLEISCHMANN, TERRI A. SEWELL, Alabama Tennessee FREDERICA S. WILSON, Florida E. SCOTT RIGELL, Virginia HANSEN CLARKE, Michigan STEVEN M. PALAZZO, Mississippi VACANCY MO BROOKS, Alabama ANDY HARRIS, Maryland RANDY HULTGREN, Illinois CHIP CRAVAACK, Minnesota LARRY BUCSHON, Indiana DAN BENISHEK, Michigan VACANCY (II) C O N T E N T S Wednesday, October 26, 2011 Page Witness List ............................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • “From HL-20 to Dream Chaser” the Long Story of a Little Spaceplane
    “From HL-20 to Dream Chaser” The Long story of a little spaceplane Giuseppe De Chiara 19.11. 2012 All the drawings are copyright of the author Foreword (1/2) It’s not an easy task to track down the history of the development of the actual Dream Chaser spaceplane, since it started with Russian efforts almost 50 years ago. In origin, Russians started (as Americans) a lot of studies regarding lifting bodies as spacecraft’s architecture. In particular they launched the ambitious project Spiral OS 50/50 as response to the Boeing X-20 Dyna Soar, essentially it was a TSTO with a large Mach 4 mothership (to be developed by Sukhoi OKB) and a small single seat spaceplane launched atop (to be developed by MiG OKB). For the Spiral OS spacecraft Russians studied a peculiar lifting body configuration dubbed “Lapot” (a Russian term that means “wooden shoe” since the shape resembled it). As often happened in the history of US-USSR aerospace confrontation the withdraw of X-20 program (in 1963) didn’t ceased the Russian effort on its counterpart, even as low priority program. During the 70’s MiG OKB realized one full scale test demonstrator called MiG105-11 and tested it several times launched by a Tupolev Tu-95. During the first part of 80’s the Lapot concretized into a real spacecraft with the advent of the Bor-4 subscale unmanned program as forerunner for the ongoing Buran OS. The Bor-4 performed 4 spaceflights between 1982 and 1984, in particular the first flights were spotted by Australian P-3 Orion aircrafts made available to Western analyzer a lot of photos regarding this brand new spacecraft.
    [Show full text]
  • Facing the Heat Barrier: a History of Hypersonics First Thoughts of Hypersonic Propulsion
    Facing the Heat Barrier: A History of Hypersonics First Thoughts of Hypersonic Propulsion Republic’s Aerospaceplane concept showed extensive engine-airframe integration. (Republic Aviation) For takeoff, Lockheed expected to use Turbo-LACE. This was a LACE variant that sought again to reduce the inherently hydrogen-rich operation of the basic system. Rather than cool the air until it was liquid, Turbo-Lace chilled it deeply but allowed it to remain gaseous. Being very dense, it could pass through a turbocom- pressor and reach pressures in the hundreds of psi. This saved hydrogen because less was needed to accomplish this cooling. The Turbo-LACE engines were to operate at chamber pressures of 200 to 250 psi, well below the internal pressure of standard rockets but high enough to produce 300,000 pounds of thrust by using turbocom- pressed oxygen.67 Republic Aviation continued to emphasize the scramjet. A new configuration broke with the practice of mounting these engines within pods, as if they were turbojets. Instead, this design introduced the important topic of engine-airframe integration by setting forth a concept that amounted to a single enormous scramjet fitted with wings and a tail. A conical forward fuselage served as an inlet spike. The inlets themselves formed a ring encircling much of the vehicle. Fuel tankage filled most of its capacious internal volume. This design study took two views regarding the potential performance of its engines. One concept avoided the use of LACE or ACES, assuming again that this craft could scram all the way to orbit. Still, it needed engines for takeoff so turbo- ramjets were installed, with both Pratt & Whitney and General Electric providing Lockheed’s Aerospaceplane concept.
    [Show full text]
  • PRE-X EXPERIMENTAL RE-ENTRY LIFTING BODY: DESIGN of FLIGHT TEST EXPERIMENTS for CRITICAL AEROTHERMAL PHENOMENA Paolo Baiocco
    PRE-X EXPERIMENTAL RE-ENTRY LIFTING BODY: DESIGN OF FLIGHT TEST EXPERIMENTS FOR CRITICAL AEROTHERMAL PHENOMENA Paolo Baiocco * * CNES Direction des Lanceurs Rond Point de l’Espace – 91023 Evry Cedex, France Phone : +33 (0)1.60.87.72.14 Fax : +33 (0)1.60.87.72.66 E-mail : [email protected] ABSTRACT Atmospheric glided re-entry is one of the main key technologies for future space vehicle applications. In this frame Pre-X is the CNES proposal to perform in-flight experimentation mainly on reusable thermal protections, aero-thermo-dynamics and guidance to secure the second generation of re-entry X vehicles. This paper describes the system principles and main aerothermodynamic experiences currently foreseen on board the vehicle. A preliminary in-flight experimentation and measurement plan has been assessed defining the main objectives in terms of reusable Thermal Protection System (TPS) and Aero Thermo Dynamics (ATD) data on the most critical phenomena. This flight aims also to take the opportunity to fly some innovative measurements. A complete system loop has been performed including the operations, ground system assessment, and visibility analysis. The vehicle re-entry point is at 120 km and the mission objectives are fulfilled between Mach 25 and 5. Then the vehicle has to pass to subsonic speeds, the parachute opens and it is finally recovered in the sea. The VEGA and DNEPR launch vehicles are compatible of the Pre-X experimental vehicle. ACRONYMS ACS Attitude Control System AEDB Aero Dynamic Data Base AoA Angle of Attack ARD Atmospheric Re-entry Demonstrator ATD Aero Termo Dynamics ATDB Aero Termodynamic Data Base CDG Centre of Gravity CFA Continuum Flow Aerodynamics CFD Computational Fluid Dynamics CMC Ceramic Matrix Composite C/SiC Carbon / Silicon Carbide FCS Flight Control System FEI Flexible External Insulation GNC Guidance Navigation and Control LTT Laminar to Turbulent Transition LV Launch Vehicle RCS Reaction Control System SEL Electrical System Baiocco, P.
    [Show full text]
  • Unit 5 Space Exploration
    TOPIC 8 People in Space There are many reasons why all types of technology are developed. In Unit 5, you’ve seen that some technology is developed out of curiosity. Galileo built his telescope because he was curious about the stars and planets. You’ve also learned that some technologies are built to help countries fight an enemy in war. The German V-2 rocket is one example of this. You may have learned in social stud- ies class about the cold war between the United States and the for- mer Soviet Union. There was no fighting with guns or bombs. However, these countries deeply mistrusted each other and became very competitive. They tried to outdo and intimidate each other. This competition thrust these countries into a space race, which was a race to be the first to put satellites and humans into space. Figure 5.57 Space shuttle Atlantis Topic 8 looks at how the desire to go into space drove people to blasts off in 1997 on its way to dock produce technologies that could make space travel a reality. with the Soviet space station Mir. Breaking Free of Earth’s Gravity Although space is only a hundred or so kilometres “up there,” it takes a huge amount of energy to go up and stay up there. The problem is gravity. Imagine throwing a ball as high as you can. Now imagine how hard it would be to throw the ball twice as high or to throw a ball twice as heavy. Gravity always pulls the ball back to Earth.
    [Show full text]