The interest on the part of selected U.S. corporation in using the research facilities and capabilities for materials processing in space utilizing the Space Shuttle was assessed. The effectiveness of the interview techniques as a method for gaining insight into the complex array of issues related to materials processing in space was evaluated. The survey, conducted was intended as a random sample of individuals, representing industry, who were currently involved in materials processing in space

Mcdowell, J. R.

English

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https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19790005947 2020-03-22T00:17:27+00:00Z
rpw-
(NASA-CF-158026)
	 RFVI?W OF INDISTRY
	
N79-14118
INTEREST 19 SPACE PROCESS T NG Final Report
(9attellP ro:umbus Labs., Ohio.) 6 p
HC A02/mF A01	 CSCL 22A	 Inc I&-;
G3/12 15321
FINAL. REPORT
on
REVIEW OF INDUSTRY INTEREST
IN SPACE PROCESSING
(Report No. BCL-OA-TFR-78-2)
by
I. R. McDowell
Sponsored by
NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
Office of Space and Terrestrial Applications
(Contract No. NASw-2800, Task No. 20)
April 1978
Approved by:
A. C. kobinson, P.-oject Manager
,
."lOf ^'	 ^,Lv
I3. W. Davis, SccCion Manager
Space Systems and Applications
BATTELLE.
Columbus Laboratorivs
505 King Awnue
Columbus, Ohio 43201
4P
REViklti' OF INDUSTRY INTEREST
IN SPACE PROCESSING
by
J. R. McDowell
INTRODUCTION
The National Aeronautics and Space Agencv has, over a period
of 12 years, exp^ored the phenomenon of weightlessness in space on
materials processes. NASA's Materials Processing in Space (tiPS) Program
orig_.iated in 1966 to investigate the behavior and potential benefits of
materials undergoing physical and chemical changes in the near zero-F,
environment. Materials pr-..essing experimi-nts have been conducted on
manned space flights originating with Apollo 14. Experimentation and
science demonstrations were continued on Skylab missions and the ,joint
U.S. Soviet Apollo-Soyuz Test Project (ASTP). In addition to manned flights,
several sounding rocket flights have been used to conduct research on
certain physical and chemical processes in materials.
The TIPS Program, through the development of space research
facilities and sponsorship of experimentation, encourages basic research
in materials processing for the purpose of acquiring increased knowledge
a this field of science and technology. In addition, by providing demon-
stration products made in space, the program intends to stimulate an
Increasing degree of private industry investment and participation.
Processing of materials in space offers intriguing opportunities for
industry. The Space Shuttle and the Spacelab will provide routine access
to the space environment to support the ultimate goal of commercializing
products manufactured in space.
Although materials processing in space is considered by many to
he in an exploratory stage, with significant potentials for industrial
applications, there is limited inLorest and actual in ,  4 vument by industry
(cspOciall%, the non-aerospricc industr y ) at the prrsent time.	 In view of
This, :;ituation, NASA had Arthur* D. little, Inc., of Cambridge, Massachusetts,
conduct a survev to determine industr y interest in materials urocessins! in
space. The survey involved a series of interviews with personnel from
a group of U.S. corporations that NASA considers as likely candidates
for using; the res,,.cch facilities and capabilities for materials
processing in space utilizing; NASA's Space Transportation System.
The sur^!ey was conducted by A. D. Little (ADL) under a sub-
contract to Battelle's Columbus Laboratories as Task No. 20 of Battelle's
Applications S t udies/New Initiatives contract with NASA (Contract No. NASw-2800 .
Ydlaile Battelle provided contractual direction for the ADI. effort, technical
direction to ADL was provided by NASA. This Task Final Report documents
the survey by providing a brief summary as to how it was cond%,cted and the
organizations interviewed. The ADL final report on the surve y was submitted
directly to NASA and is not included in this Task Report.
SURVEY APPROACH
The primary oZ^jective of the subject survey was to assess the
extant of current interest on the part nf selected U.S. corporations in
using the research facilities and capabilities for materials processing
It	
in space utilizing the Space Shr ► ttle. A secondary objective was to
evaluate the effectiveness of the interview techniques as a method for
gaining insight into the complex array of issues related to materials
processing in space.
The survey, conducted by Arthur D. Little, Inc. (ADL),was
intended as a random sample of individuals, representing industry, who
were currently or had been involved in materials Processing in space. The
survey, as a sample, was intended to be the first step of a much broader
and more in-depth survey as a follow-on task.
The list of organizations to contact for interviews was provided
to ADL by NASA. There was no intent to limit the organizations interviewed
t particular industry sectors nor was there any intent to exclude any
specific industry.	 in most cases, the NASA list identified an individual
name to contact. In some cases, ADL found that the name led to ;another,
more appropriate, individual in the organization. The organizations
intervlCt:Od b%' ADL are as follo. ti:
13
• hell Telephone Laboratories
• General Electric Company
• Grumman Aerospace Corporation
• 1101 Corporation
• 11artin-214arietta Aerospace
• Owens-Illinois
• RCA laboratories
• S. 11. Celles, Associates
• TRW, Inc.
• Westinghouse Research Laboratory
• Kyeth Laboratories, Inc.
ADI, has not listed the names of individuals interviewed, since
they told these people that any information provided would be accurately
reported to NASA, but that interviewee identifications would not he
revealed. Further, the company identification, in most cases, is at the
corporate level, since an operating division and location identification
might tend to correlate informational responses to a specific individual.
The people interviewed, in most cases, were space processing
principal investigators (PI) or potential PIs. One or two R&D managers
or managers of R&D sections were interviewed. In some cases a group
meeting was held. All those interviewed were knowledgeable of the Space
Shuttle, the space program and space processing. The interviewees expressed
personal views, and it was assumed by ADL that they accurately reflected
their respective company's views. Verification of this assumption would
he intended as part of a follow-on survey.
Prior to or during the interview:, ADL did not provide prepared
material or questionnaires nor did they make a statement on NASA's behalf
relative to the manufacturing in space program. 7 -he interview was simply
initiated by a request to discuss viers on the extent of current interest
on the part of each organization in the N`ASA prograri. Again, each indi-
vidual interview ed was promised that his name would not be released nor
would remarks generall y or specificall y he correlated to a particular company
or industry sector.
im
tt
SURVEY FESULTS
The principal industry views found by A. D. Litt It-, Inc., bared
oil the limited sample described above, are summarized below:
• The space materials processing program is at the basic
research level -- at least 15 years away from practical
commercial applications.
• Tile program has suffered from :a lack of coherent direction.
Quality has been lacking, arid there have been too many
changes in direction; pressure for a breakthrough has
been counterproductive.
• Support for the program seems to come only from those
persons and organizations who hope to get NASA funding.
• Sonic interest has been shown by non-aerospace industry
to the extent of keeping informed about progress in space
processing so as co not he left behind.
• Non-aerospace industry is unlikely to use space for full-scale
manufacturing in the near future. Once industry is satisfied
that (a) there are potential benefits and (b) proprietary inter-
interests will be protected, then research, engineerin); feasi-
ability and pilot plant operation can be envisioned.
• Industry invests only a small portion of its R&D funding
in basic research. Within those: research expenditures,
space research gets little attention because the risk is
high, there are numerous technical, legal and administrative
problems as will as danger of loss of intellectual property,
and the payback period is so lung that other investments
are more attractive.
• Calling the currt'nt activities "space manufacturing" has been
an irritant to informed persons In industry.
• Industry does not feel it should invest time convincing NASA
Of the above J10ints.
Add it it , 1t., I background, toget Iier w it I  SOMI" quotat ions f rom Ih'rsons
int. rviewrd, are included in the initial infounal report to NASA by
A. D. Littly.
Letter from C.E.M. Johnson of A. V. I ittl
	 Inc., to Bradford Johnson,
NASA Associate Administrator for Appl icat ions, .lone 15, 1 0 %; .


Review of industry interest in space processing

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