Approximate Trajectories for Thermal Protection System Flight Tests Mission Design

A mission profile for advanced thermal protection system suborbital flight testing is identified. Its main goal is to achieve a constant heat flux at a specific area of the vehicle for a limited amount of time. A tool capable of exploring broad regions of the design space for these missions is developed, aiming at reducing possible design options to an extent manageable by conventional, more accurate, numeric-simulation-based methods. Based on a simplified model of the point mass dynamics, trajectories optimal for thermal protection system testing and compliant with prefixed path constraints are identified. The approximate method is validated comparing the obtained optimal trajectories with numeric-optimized standard solutions on three test cases. Then, to demonstrate the method effectiveness and flexibility, the mission design space is investigated for reasonable ranges of relevant parameters. Results show that increasing the vehicle's ballistic coefficient allows reducing the specific mechanical energy at reentry, and that the maximum admissible dynamic pressure plays a principal role in affecting the attainable testing performances. An illustrative mission design for novel ceramic thermal protection system testing is presented that minimizes in the analyzed design space the specific mechanical energy at the trajectory apoge

A case study for spacegate point-to-point transportation: Evaluation of a reference end-to-end mission operations and assessment of the associated safety aspects

The ALTEC-conducted Spacegate feasibility study addresses the opportunities offered by the sub-orbital flight with special emphasis to future generation transportation. Pursuing the same systemic methodology of the initial Spacegate definition activities, this paper focuses on some specific aspects of suborbital operations and outlines a top level end-to-end operating cycle for a reference suborbital mission spanning from pre-flight, to flight, re-entry and post landing operations and associated Ground Segment. Special focus is given to identification of suitable locations in Italy for suborbital operations, and to liftoff and re-entry phases; the results of specific simulations are also reported, showing some lift off options and the feasibility of the spiral shaped descent maneuver that improves the pilot controllability of the vehicle during the re-entry phase. Further, this paper outlines within the selected reference mission, the main safety aspects considered as driving factors in planning and implementing future generation transportation; areas such as launch/landing range and relevant risk management/mitigation policies, as well as selection of safety driving criteria in the definition of trajectories and space transition corridors, and capabilities to monitor the vehicle ascent and re-entry will be assessed. Safety regulations will also be evaluated to protect launch range, drive spaceport site selection and consequently the ability of the spaceport to accommodate large numbers of passengers and participants, as well as a number of simultaneous operations such as training, vehicle integration tasks, and passenger preparation for flight. For human flight in general, and in particular for commercial point to point activities at this early stage, it is vital to minimize risk since a fatal accident at the very beginning of flights will put the entire business in jeopardy. The regulatory challenges with regards to safety will also be outlined in this paper, related to executing Spacegate activities in Europe and collaborations with the involved Agencies in the USA and Europe (FAA, ENAC, ENAV, SESAR, EASA) will be explored; in particular, some initiatives have already been started, that include active ALTEC participation to the IAASS Space Safety Technical Committee (SSTC) that was created to contribute to the advancement of the Safety in the area of the "Commercial Suborbital Flight"

Space Operations in the Suborbital Space Flight Simulator and Mission Control Center: Lessons Learned with XCOR Lynx

This study was conducted to better understand the performance of the XCOR Lynx vehicle. Because the Lynx development was halted, the best knowledge of vehicle dynamics can only be found through simulator flights. X-Plane 10 was chosen for its robust applications and accurate portrayal of dynamics on a vehicle in flight. The Suborbital Space Flight Simulator (SSFS) and Mission Control Center (MCC) were brought to the Applied Aviation Sciences department in fall 2015 at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach campus. This academic and research tool is a department asset capable of providing multiple fields of data about suborbital simulated flights. This tool will allow flight navigators to assess different aspects of a suborbital flight dynamics and generate various trajectory maps to establish procedures and preventive measures when the vehicle goes through the NAS. It was found that the XCOR Lynx is an unstable platform but has good glide capabilities. This information is useful to pilots who may someday fly the XCOR Lynx as well as air traffic controllers who may have Lynx operations at their airports

Paving the Way: The Influence of Early Research and Development Programs on Apollo, Saturn, and Legacy System Development

As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first successful human landings on the surface of the Moon in 1969, it is insightful to review the many historic accomplishments that contributed to this astounding human achievement. While the Apollo Program officially began following the charge by United States President John F. Kennedy in 1961, much of the foundation for Apollo was already underway with early research and development that began as early as the close of the second World War. Innovations and key decisions prior to the formal initiation of the Apollo Program, and even prior to the formation of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), enabled the relatively rapid development of the Saturn V rocket, the Apollo capsule, and the Lunar Lander systems needed to achieve the goal of landing humans on the Moon and returning them safely to Earth by the close of the 1960s

History of San Marco

A brief history is reported of the first San Marco project, a joint program of the United States and Italy. The Project was a three phase effort to investigate upper air density and associated ionosphere phenomena. The initial phase included the design and development of the spacecraft, the experiments, the launch complex, and a series of suborbital flights, from Wallops Island. The second phase, consisting of designing, fabricating, and testing a spacecraft for the first orbital mission, culminated in an orbital launch also from Wallops Island. The third phase consisted of further refining the experiments and spacecraft instrumentation and of establishing a full-bore scout complex in Kenya. The launch of San Marco B, in April 1967, from this complex into an equatorial orbit, concluded the initial San Marco effort

A prototype computerized synthesis methodology for generic space access vehicle (SAV) conceptual design.

This dissertation presents the development steps required towards a generic (configuration independent) hands-on flight vehicle conceptual design synthesis methodology. This process is developed such that it can be applied to any flight vehicle class if desired. In the present context, the methodology has been put into operation for the conceptual design of a tourist Space Access Vehicle. The case study illustrates elements of the design methodology & algorithm for the class of Horizontal Takeoff and Horizontal Landing (HTHL) SAVs. The HTHL SAV design application clearly outlines how the conceptual design process can be centrally organized, executed and documented with focus on design transparency, physical understanding and the capability to reproduce results. This approach offers the project lead and creative design team a management process and tool which iteratively refines the individual design logic chosen, leading to mature design methods and algorithms. As illustrated, the HTHL SAV hands-on design methodology offers growth potential in that the same methodology can be continually updated and extended to other SAV configuration concepts, such as the Vertical Takeoff and Vertical Landing (VTVL) SAV class. Having developed, validated and calibrated the methodology for HTHL designs in the 'hands-on' mode, the report provides an outlook how the methodology will be integrated into a prototype computerized design synthesis software AVDS-PrADOSAV in a follow-on step.Today's and especially tomorrow's competitive launch vehicle design environment requires the development of a dedicated generic Space Access Vehicle (SAV) design methodology. A total of 115 industrial, research, and academic aircraft, helicopter, missile, and launch vehicle design synthesis methodologies have been evaluated. As the survey indicates, each synthesis methodology tends to focus on a specific flight vehicle configuration, thus precluding the key capability to systematically compare flight vehicle design alternatives. The aim of the research investigation is to provide decision-making bodies and the practicing engineer a design process and tool box for robust modeling and simulation of flight vehicles where the ultimate performance characteristics may hinge on numerical subtleties. This will enable the designer of a SAV for the first time to consistently compare different classes of SAV configurations on an impartial basis

America in space - The first decade. NASA spacecraft

Overview on NASA spacecraft subsystems and performanc

Emerging Issues for the FAA Office of Commercial Space Transportation

The Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Office of Commercial Space Transportation (AST), part of the U.S. Department of Transportation, has licensed over 230 launches since 1989. The FAA licenses, regulates, and promotes U.S. commercial space transportation including expendable launch vehicles, new reusable launch vehicles that can carry people such as Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo and XCOR’s Lynx, and the operation of non-federal launch sites or what are more commonly known as commercial spaceports. There are 9 licensed spaceports in the U.S. Although the FAA licenses launch and reentry for public safety, it does not have authority for in-orbit space transportation. In addition, unlike for passenger aircraft, FAA/AST does not have authority to protect people onboard commercial space vehicles nor does it certify vehicles. In 2014, the FAA issued “Recommended Practices for Human Space Flight Occupant Safety,” a document which could serve as a foundation for future regulations, if needed. There are about 30 “pre-application consultations” that are on-going with AST including proposals for new vehicles, new spaceports, safety approvals and requests for payload reviews. AST staff has grown to 81 people with a budget request to add more in FY 2016. With NASA increasingly shifting to commercial launch services for supply of the International Space Station (and return) and soon for astronaut crew transfer, the visibility of the commercial space transportation industry has increased. Both NASA and FAA have worked closely together to define their respective oversight responsibilities in the successful Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program and are currently working together in the Commercial Crew Program. Separately, the FAA is promoting its regulations for international adoption as suborbital companies market their services outside the United States. All of these indicators are a sign of U.S. industry growth and generate new issues for the FAA. This presentation will cover an introduction to FAA Office of Commercial Space Transportation and policy issues faced by the office and commercial industry including gaps in regulatory authority. The presentation will also include the competitive position of the U.S. in the global commercial launch services market and FAA’s international goals.https://commons.und.edu/ss-colloquium/1053/thumbnail.jp

Public Acceptance of Medical Screening Recommendations, Safety Risks, and Implied Liabilities Requirements for Space Flight Participation

The space tourism industry is preparing to send space flight participants on orbital and suborbital flights. Space flight participants are not professional astronauts and are not subject to the rules and guidelines covering space flight crewmembers. This research addresses public acceptance of current Federal Aviation Administration guidance and regulations as designated for civil participation in human space flight. The research utilized an ordinal linear regression analysis of survey data to explore the public acceptance of the current medical screening recommended guidance and the regulations for safety risk and implied liability for space flight participation. Independent variables constituted participant demographic representations while dependent variables represented current Federal Aviation Administration guidance and regulations for space flight participation. The analysis determined descriptive statistics, polytomous universal, and general linear modeling of the ordinal linear regression of the data. Odds ratios were derived based on the demographic categories to interpret likelihood of acceptance for the criteria. Various ordinal regression modeling techniques were employed to ascertain significant likely acceptance of the guidance and regulation dependent variables as derived from the demographic independent variables. Five of the twelve demographic variables significantly influenced public acceptance of one or more areas of the Federal Aviation Administration guidance and regulations; age, household size, marital status, employment status, and employment class. Specifically, increases in age and household size, as well as those never married, those employed full-time, and the self-employed exhibited significance in increased likelihood of acceptance of one or more areas of the guidance and regulations for space flight participation. The findings are intended to inform government regulators and commercial space industries on what guidance and regulations the different demographics of the public are willing to accept