Collaborative Environmental Governance and Indigenous Governance: A Synthesis

This study addresses a conceptual gap in collaborative environmental governance pertaining to the role of Indigenous peoples. Conventional collaborative approaches to environmental governance include input and resource-pooling by two or more stakeholders. This approach becomes conceptually problematic when the stakeholder view is extended to Indigenous peoples. While experiences vary widely around the world, it is common for Indigenous peoples to assert themselves as existing within self-determining nations within their traditional homelands – rather than as stakeholders or interest groups. This perspective is reflected in the Indigenous governance literature, which provides a window into how Indigenous peoples view themselves. The purpose of this doctoral research was to critically evaluate the extent to which principles and practices of collaborative environmental governance are compatible with the main tenets and advances in Indigenous governance related to self-determination. This was done through an extensive literature review and empirical study in the context of British Columbia, Canada. Through a multi-case study analysis of three regional scale cases, complemented by analysis of a single case at the provincial scale, this research analyzed assumptions and perspectives existing at the intersection of Indigenous governance and collaborative environmental governance. The regional, multi-case study concentrated on the practice of collaboration around governance for water, while the provincial case examined a water policy reform process. The key findings of this research were that non-Indigenous entities and personnel initiating or practicing collaborative environmental governance and engaged in water policy reform tended to hold a stakeholder-view of Indigenous peoples. In contrast, Indigenous peoples and leaders tended to view themselves as existing within self-determining Indigenous nations. These conflicting assumptions led to dissatisfaction for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples with regard to collaboration for water governance and water reform, in terms of both processes and outcomes. This research makes contributions to both scholarship and practice. Conceptually, the research identifies how the assumptions and approaches to collaboration within mainstream collaborative environmental governance scholarship should shift fundamentally in ways that incorporate concepts related to Indigenous governance. This conceptual shift could be applied to the breadth of empirical contexts that are discussed in existing collaborative environmental governance scholarship. The empirical findings of this research provide a robust rationale for the importance of a conceptual bridge between the collaborative environmental governance and Indigenous governance literatures. This bridge would involve creation of a body of collaborative scholarship that addresses self-determination and nationhood when theorizing on collaboration with Indigenous peoples. Additionally, it makes a practical contribution by highlighting ways in which those engaged in collaborative environmental governance and water policy reform can draw on some of the tenets of Indigenous governance scholarship. These recommendations include the following: (1) approach or involve Indigenous peoples as self-determining nations rather than one of many collaborative stakeholders or participants; (2) Identify and clarify any existing or intended (a) environmental governance processes and (b) assertions to self-determination by the Indigenous nation; (3) Create opportunities for relationship building between Indigenous peoples and policy or governance practitioners; (4) Choose venues and processes of decision making that reflect Indigenous rather than Eurocentric venues and processes; and (5) Provide resources to Indigenous nations to level the playing field in terms of capacity for collaboration or for policy reform decision making. Finally, this research suggests that positive outcomes are possible where water governance is carried out in ways that meaningfully recognize and address the perspectives of Indigenous peoples

CHANGO: A Software Tool for Boost Stage Guidance of the Space Launch System Exploration Mission 1

The Day of Launch Initiation Load Update (DOLILU) System is the means by which the Space Launch System (SLS) Vehicle trajectory is designed, verified, and uploaded on the Day of Launch (DOL) in order to ensure a safe flight. Launch vehicles are designed to fly down a narrow angle of attack and sideslip angle corridor in order to keep them within structural load limits. The angle of attack and sideslip angle response to the launch vehicle experiences can vary significantly based upon the winds experienced on the DOL. SLS Boost Stage flight employs an open-loop guidance scheme through Solid Rocket Booster (SRB) separation. In the SLS open-loop scheme, the vehicle will fly a prescribed set of attitudes as a function of the change in altitude since launch. This set of reference attitude values and corresponding altitude reference independent values are designed with ground software using winds measured on the DOL with the goal of minimizing angle of attack and sideslip angle, thereby minimizing related ascent integrated vehicle structural loads. The table of Boost Stage attitude commands as a function of altitude gained since launch is called the chi table. A software tool called CHANGO (Chi Angle Optimizer) designs the Boost Stage chi table which is uploaded to the vehicles flight computer and used during ascent by the flight software (FSW). The wind and atmospheric conditions are measured prior to launch and pre-processed to become input to the CHANGO software along with a set of parameters developed in advance of the DOL. CHANGOs target set consists of the heading and altitude rate at SRB separation determined well before launch by the Program to Optimize Simulated Trajectories (POST). CHANGO consists of a simplified three degree-of-freedom (3-DOF) simulation representing the SLS launch configuration. In general, the launch azimuth is strongly correlated with the heading at SRB separation, and the initial pitchover rate is strongly correlated with the altitude rate at SRB separation. CHANGO uses an adaptation of Powells method to vary the initial pitchover rate and launch azimuth to solve a 2-dimentional minimization problem. CHANGOs trajectory simulation is phase-based, with flight events separating the phases. Each flight phase has different attitude alignment logic. CHANGOs 3-DOF simulation starts when the vehicles thrust-to-weight ratio equals one, and ends at a pre-calculated SRB separation time

Closed Loop Guidance Trade Study for Space Launch System Block-1B Vehicle

NASA is currently building the Space Launch System (SLS) Block-1 launch vehicle for the Exploration Mission 1 (EM-1) test flight. The design of the next evolution of SLS, Block-1B, is well underway. The Block-1B vehicle is more capable overall than Block-1; however, the relatively low thrust-to-weight ratio of the Exploration Upper Stage (EUS) presents a challenge to the Powered Explicit Guidance (PEG) algorithm used by Block-1. To handle the long burn durations (on the order of 1000 seconds) of EUS missions, two algorithms were examined. An alternative algorithm, OPGUID, was introduced, while modifications were made to PEG. A trade study was conducted to select the guidance algorithm for future SLS vehicles. The chosen algorithm needs to support a wide variety of mission operations: ascent burns to LEO, apogee raise burns, trans-lunar injection burns, hyperbolic Earth departure burns, and contingency disposal burns using the Reaction Control System (RCS). Additionally, the algorithm must be able to respond to a single engine failure scenario. Each algorithm was scored based on pre-selected criteria, including insertion accuracy, algorithmic complexity and robustness, extensibility for potential future missions, and flight heritage. Monte Carlo analysis was used to select the final algorithm. This paper covers the design criteria, approach, and results of this trade study, showing impacts and considerations when adapting launch vehicle guidance algorithms to a broader breadth of in-space operations

Closed Loop Guidance Trade Study for Space Launch System Block-1B Vehicle

The Space Launch System (SLS) Block-1B vehicle includes a low thrust-to-weight upper stage, which presents challenges to heritage ascent guidance algorithms. A trade study was conducted to evaluate two alternative guidance algorithms: 1) Powered Explicit Guidance (PEG), based on a modified implementation of PEG used on the Block-1 vehicle, and 2) Optimal Guidance (OPGUID), an algorithm developed for Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) and used on Constellation and other Guidance, Navigation, and Controls (GN&C) projects. The design criteria, approach, and results of the trade study are given, as well as other impacts and considerations for Block-1B type missions

Closed Loop Guidance Trade Study for Space Launch System Block-1B Vehicle

NASA is currently building the Space Launch System (SLS) Block-1 launch vehicle for the Exploration Mission 1 (EM-1) test flight. Since EM-1 has an exo-atmospheric flight profile similar to the Space Shuttle, Block-1 guidance utilizes the shuttle-heritage Powered Explicit Guidance (PEG) algorithm. The Block-1 implementation of PEG has been thoroughly tested, and is robust to certain failure scenarios, including loss of a single core engine

PEG Modifications & Enhancements for SLS Block-1 and Block-1B Vehicles

No abstract availabl

SLS GNC Model-based Design Approach

No abstract availabl

Closed Loop Guidance Trade Study for Space Launch System Block-1B Vehicle

No abstract availabl