Next on our itinerary of space conferences, AIA staff is blogging the American Astronautical Society’s Annual Meeting. This year’s meeting is being held at the historic epicenter of human spaceflight, NASA’s Johnson Space Center (JSC).
Before attending the conference, AIA was able to survey the facilities, capabilities, and assets that make JSC such an important installation – not just for Texas, but also the entire nation.
The photos taken by AIA during the visit (shown below) make clear that this incredible center continues to play an essential role in the world’s premier space program. As other space programs around the world continue to develop their own capabilities, a visit to JSC reminded us that a steady and sustained investment in the civil space program is needed in Washington - if the United States space industry is to remain Second to None.
International Space Station Mission Control Center
The Mission Control Center for the International Space Station (ISS) continuously monitors the health and status of the astronaut crew and space station 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Astonishingly, the ISS has been crewed non-stop for eleven years straight.
The Soyuz Cockpit Mock-Up
Astronaut crews train in this Russian Soyuz cockpit mock-up at JSC. With the retirement of the Space Shuttle, U.S. astronaut crews are wholly dependent upon the Russian vehicle for rides to the ISS.
The Neutral Buoyance Laboratory
The Neutral Buoyance Laboratory at JSC is the world’s largest “zero gravity” training facility in the world. Inside of this 6.2 million-gallon pool is a full size mock-up of the entire ISS. Astronauts in their full space suits train here for complex ISS space walks.
As promised, the second day of the AAS von Braun Symposium focused on the military space sector. The central challenge facing government-run space programs today is providing necessary and adequate capabilities within fiscally constrained budgets, and the military space sector is not immune to this reality.
Panel 1: Military Space Initiatives
With this in mind, the opening panel for the day offered intriguing prospects for delivering high-value capability to the warfighter that reduce cost and increase responsiveness for the military at large. Dr. John London of the U.S. Army’s Space and Missile Defense Command, and author of the book LEO on the Cheap, made the case for developing a low-cost, tactical launch capability for military space programs. London proffered the idea that bread-loaf sized satellites could offer complimentary capability to the government’s more expensive legacy systems; however, for these assets to succeed, they must be launched quickly upon receiving orders – turn around must be days, if not hours – for their capability to be relevant in most cases.
Panel discusses military space capabilities on the second day of the AAS von Braun Symposium.
Obviously, no such responsive launch capability exists today, but impressive progress has been made on the satellite manufacturing side that may soon justify the development of a tactical launch system. Dave Weeks, also from Space and Missile Defense Command detailed recent success with the SMDC-ONE program, which designed and manufactured eight cubesats within one year. Unfortunately, the first completed satellite had to wait another year after final manufacture for launch as a secondary payload. To deploy these satellites faster, Tim Pickens of Dynetics described one concept his company is in the process of designing. Pickens outlined the Multipurpose NanoMissile (MPNM) System, a launch vehicle that he expects will fit inside of a tractor-trailer, launch 10 to 25 kilogram small satellite payloads to low Earth orbit, with no cryogenic motors.
The panel continued with Rich White offering an overview of the Kestrel Eye satellite, a U.S. Army program that seeks to provide the warfighter a ‘jpeg’ image within hours, if not minutes of a request. The Kestrel Eye is a small satellite that aims to provide perhaps the most tactical view from space yet, allowing a soldier to answer the basic but crucial question, “is there an adversary behind this hill?” Lastly, Marty Kress of the Von Braun Center for Science and Innovation offered parting wisdom, by pointing out that the warfighter does not care about the platform, only the data product – a wise thought to remember as the space community looks hard at how it will accomplish its missions in the near future.
Panel 2: National Institute of Rocket Propulsion Systems
The second panel of the morning discussed the all-important issue of space industrial base preservation. Dr. Dale Thomas of the Marshall Spaceflight Center introduced the National Institute of Rocket Propulsion Systems (NIRPS), a venture mentioned in yesterday’s conference session by Marshall Director, Robert Lightfoot. When it comes to space industrial base issues, the NIRPS is aware of numerous national challenges, but the institute is looking “to characterize them accurately and put together a prescription.”
Next on the panel, Brett Alexander, who recently joined Blue Origin, offered his perspective on industrial base impacts from new space company participation. Alexander sees the $1.5 billion investment from state governments and private investors as an opportunity to grow the space industrial base. At the same time, Alexander noted that he wishes this new industrial base could more easily fit the needs of government customers and not just the commercial market, for the benefit of both.
Julie Van Kleeck of Aerojet identified several issues facing the rocket propulsion industrial base: decreases in demand, increases in budget pressure, risk adverse cultures, minimal competition to drive affordability, lack of sustained research and development, and lack of a coordinated approach to propulsion by the government.
A mock-up of von Braun’s crowning achievement, the Saturn V rocket, stands at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville.
Panel 3: Space Policy – Where Are We Now?
The afternoon panel topic allowed for an interesting discussion on space policy observations across the executive and legislative branches. Dr. George Nield, the Associate Administrator for the FAA Office of Commercial Space Transportation, presented on the first 50 years of aviation for comparison to the space industry. He noted that by the 50th anniversary of the Wright Brothers’ first flight, thousands of airports had blossomed across the United States. Unfortunately, we have yet to see a similar proliferation of access to space for the general public. Nield pointed out that human spaceflight celebrated its 50th anniversary just this year.
Senior Adviser on Space and Aeronautics to the U.S. Senate, Jeff Bingham asked the poignant question of “how do we get (space) policy to drive budgets?” Bingham said as of late, NASA formulates programs based on whatever budget it expects to receive, instead of formulating a vision and then requesting whatever funds deemed necessary to execute this vision. Bingham challenged the idea that this status quo is a given. He said a budget increase for NASA, even in an era of fiscal austerity, is not an unreasonable proposition, given the relative low budgets the agency typically sees each year.
Dr. Joan Johnson-Freese, Professor of National Security Affairs at the Naval War College offered her perspective that space exploration will likely continue to take a back seat to other national priorities, regardless of whether that is job creation or another pressing issue. However, she also noted that the space program does at least enjoy bipartisan support in Washington.
John Schumacher, Vice President of Space at EADS North America added that a successful space policy should have a compelling vision, long-term plans, consistent execution, affordability, innovation, industrial competition, and collaboration with international partners.
The first day of the AAS von Braun Symposium focused on NASA human space exploration. AAS President Frank Slazer welcomed conference participants with his opening remarks, noting the inextricable nature of NASA’s civil space program and U.S. military space programs. He highlighted that this year’s von Braun’s symposium will spend a day on each sector, because when it comes to space in the United States, there is “one workforce, and one industrial base.” Slazer, you may recall, is also AIA’s Vice President of Space Systems.
Lightfoot described the uncertainty Marshall had been experiencing prior to the SLS decision, but said happily “we’ve made the decision, now we get to go to work.” Lightfoot was upbeat and excited for Marshall Spaceflight Center to begin design work on the heavy-lift vehicle, which promises to take human crews beyond low Earth orbit for the first time since the Apollo era.
Lightfoot also mentioned efforts by Marshall to ensure the health of the rocket propulsion industrial base. Marshall recently stood up the National Institute for Rocket Propulsion Systems, which will seek to address action items from previous propulsion industrial base studies, and foster dialogue across U.S. government entities that utilize rocket propulsion, to ensure policy makers are making informed strategic decisions.
Next up, NASA Associate Administrator Chris Scolese provided an overview of NASA’s activities from a headquarters perspective. Scolese opened by pointing out that fiscal constraint for the space program is nothing new, and that even at the height of the Apollo era in 1964, budgets were being cut. Nevertheless, NASA has experienced unparalleled success as an agency, and he’s confident in the future because he “knows the capability of the people (at NASA) who can make the impossible, possible.”
Following Scolese was a panel from NASA on the SLS and the Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV). Dan Dumbacher, Assistant Associate Administrator at NASA, said the agency was doing everything in its power to make the NASA Authorization Act of 2010 a reality. Todd May, Manager of the SLS Program at Marshall identified a litany of hardware successes that have already taken place within the program, which include multiple test firings of the J-2X upper stage engine for the SLS, and test firings of the five segment solid rocket booster, which is planned for use on the first few SLS flights.
Five-segment solid rocket motor test.
Mark Geyer, Orion Program Manager at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, outlined key milestones that have taken place with the MPCV, which include abort engine test firings, acoustic tests, and splash down tests of the capsule. The key takeaway from this panel: both the SLS and the MPCV have made important progress in meeting their milestones, and that hardware development is well underway.
MPCV drop test.
The next panel at the symposium sought inputs from the industry on how the exploration program at NASA can be made more sustainable. Cleon Lacefield of AIA member Lockheed Martin noted that the SLS and MPCV program have made intelligent use of existing components from previous programs like the Space Shuttle program. At the same time, there are incremental improvements being made in technologies utilized by these programs. For example, MPCV will feature a new navigation system that utilizes lidar, a technique that was recently tested onboard the Space Shuttle.
A map of the MPCV industrial base and its reach throughout the United States, presented at the von Braun Symposium.
John Elbon of AIA member Boeing pointed out the need for the industry to switch from an operations mind set to a developmental mind set in developing new systems like the SLS, and how such a switch can speed decision-making. Elbon also mentioned the benefit if international collaboration for a sustainable exploration program in the long-term.
Jim Maser, President of AIA member Pratt and Whitney Rocketdyne stated that in order to make exploration programs sustainable, the program should meet stable, national strategic goals, receive adequate funding, come to agreement on risk posture, ramp up execution tempo, and be inspiring.
Mike Rudolphi of AIA member ATK explained that they had already restructured work crews, and streamlined processes and procedures to help ensure programmatic sustainability. Julie Van Kleeck of AIA member Aerojet expressed concern that the current workforce should transfer its hard-fought wisdom to a new, incoming workforce. Moreover, in order to engage future generations on space exploration programs, they must have a compelling vision to be inspired by.
Martin McLaughlin of AIA member Northrop Grumman stated challenges exist in developing a new program (the SLS) with a flat developmental budget, especially when it comes to programmatic stability. Nevertheless, McLaughlin stated incremental improvements to propulsion systems are one possible remedy to this circumstance.
The first afternoon panel was titled, “Energizing Commercial Space.” Much of this panel was marked by discussion of what “commercial” means in the space industry. The term commercial had a variety of meanings to the panelists, although there was some agreement that it at least implies a change in contractual choices and acquisition models for the government.
The panel largely served as an opportunity to highlight the progress of new systems being developed by U.S. companies for delivering crew to the ISS. Among these companies is Boeing; whose Vice President for Commercial Crew, John Mulholland, explained is developing an end-to-end transportation system. Orbital Sciences is also developing the Cygnus spacecraft, a system their Senior Vice President Frank Culbertson Jr., hopes will not only deliver cargo to the ISS, but perhaps even one day serve as a habitation module for the MPCV on flights beyond low Earth orbit. Steve Lindsey, Director of Business Development for AIA member Sierra Nevada, described his company’s approach to crew transportation, with their spacecraft, the Dream Chaser. The Dream Chaser has a long heritage from government research, and the program looks to begin drop tests sometime in the summer of 2012. Lastly, Andrew Aldrin, Vice President of Business Development at United Launch Alliance (ULA) highlighted the long track record of launch success at ULA. Aldrin explained that the company stands ready to serve a number of crew providers when their systems are ready to launch.
Sierra Nevada’s Steven Lindsey outlines partnering organizations on their Dream Chaser program.
The last panel of the day centered on the topic of integrating robotic and human exploration. John Baker of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab noted that robotic exploration systems offer an important precursor to human exploration. For example, in the case of the Mars Science Laboratory (launching in November 2011), the rover will feature a radiation assessment detector. Readings from this instrument will be crucial to understanding the habitability of the Martian environment for future human explorers. Dr. Raymond Clinton of Marshall also explained that depending on what human exploration architecture we choose, robotic systems could fill a number of roles. For example, in the International Space Exploration Coordination Group’s Global Exploration Roadmap, two paths forward for human space exploration are described as a precursor to Mars missions.
The first path involves a human mission to an asteroid, while the alternative path goes to the moon. In the case of an asteroid mission, robotic systems will be essential to characterizing the orbits of potential asteroid destinations, the surface features, the object density, and their shape. In the case of lunar exploration, most of this work has already been accomplished by robotic systems, through missions like Lunar Prospector and the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter. Nevertheless, robotic systems could one day deploy habitats on the lunar surface and conduct surface operations that are too hazardous for human crews. Ultimately, Dr. Clinton points out, robotic systems could serve a variety of important roles facilitating human exploration.
AIA staff is blogging the 4th Annual Werner von Braun Memorial Symposium, an event run by the American Astronautical Society (AAS) and hosted by the University of Alabama at Huntsville. The symposium brings together a cross-section of the space community, both from the civil and military space sector.
The theme of this year’s meeting is “Launching the Future in Space Exploration.” This is no doubt a fitting subject, given the symposium’s namesake. Dr. Werner von Braun of course, is the famed rocket engineer whose expertise made possible the design and manufacture of the Saturn rockets that powered NASA astronauts to the moon.
Famed rocket scientist Dr. Werner von Braun with President John F. Kennedy
With the passage of the NASA Authorization Act of 2010, much of NASA’s future plans for human space exploration were solidified for the foreseeable future. Exactly how this law will be carried out however, has just recently come into focus.
This timely symposium will provide important information on NASA’s new human exploration systems, along with background on new U.S. capabilities to deliver crew and cargo to the International Space Station (ISS). Additionally, the conference promises to provide important presentations on the state of the military space sector, and how synergies between the civil and military sectors offer opportunities and challenges.
Space capabilities in both of these sectors are an important bellwether for U.S. competitiveness. By maintaining our leadership in space, we show the world that the U.S aerospace sector is Second to None.
U.S. Strategic Command Headquarters, Omaha, Nebraska
The closing day of GEOINT 2011 began with two important Capitol Hill speakers. Rep. Mike Rogers (R-MI), Chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI) and Rep. C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD), Ranking Member of the HPSCI both spoke on the importance of maintaining U.S. preeminence in space in a time of reduced budgets.
Rep. Rogers addressed the need to look at how to increase the effectiveness of imagery analysts in order to keep up with the growing amount of information provided from space as well as gain budgetary efficiencies. Even with budgetary pressure, both speakers strongly insisted on the importance of keeping the U.S. the leader in the space business. Rep. Rogers held that the U.S. shouldn’t be second in anything; the U.S. will need to find savings but cannot find all budgetary savings through space and cyber. According to Rep. Rogers there are efficiencies that can be found without impacting our mission – the HPSCI has already found over $1 billion – but we cannot afford to dismantle the important capabilities we have built in the space sector. Rep. Rogers stated that at the end of the day the U.S. Constitution is clear that it is the role of the government to provide for American security and we will continue to need to invest in space technology in order to do so.
Rep. Ruppersberger reminded the audience that the U.S. became the most powerful country in the world in large part due to its ability to control the skies and we will continue to need to lead in space. He indentified six priorities; the need to control space program costs, the need to modernize export control policies for satellites and components, a need to look at commercial satellite resolution restrictions to allow U.S. firms to compete globally, a need to look at launch costs in the U.S., integration of commercial capability, and the lack of a national inter-agency space strategy. Rep. Ruppersberger argued that a national space strategy or plan is needed to maintain the preeminent role of the U.S. in space and help attract more young people to the space industry. According to the congressman, China graduated 450,000 rocket scientists and engineers last year while the U.S. graduated around 46,000.
Gen. C. Robert "Bob" Kehler, Commander of U.S. Strategic Command, also spoke today, with additional perspective with how to maintain U.S. strength during a period of budget constraint. Gen. Kehler described how today’s GEOINT is unparalleled – that the U.S. is collecting 150% more data than from just five years ago. However, the general seemed to agree with Rep. Rogers that there may be ways to improve our ability to utilize this data without simply increasing the amount of analysts. According to Gen. Kehler there is a significant amount of valuable information that has been collected and that should be analyzed. But instead of adding a cost prohibitive amount of new analysts to sort through this data, the general offered that there may be ways for industry to develop automated processes that help augment the capability of an analyst.
The conference closed out with the Honorable Michael G. Vickers, Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence, who provided an outlook on challenges facing the U.S. The Under Secretary offered that the strategic defeat of Al Qaeda is now within our reach and that GEOINT has been absolutely essential to the successes that have led to that scenario. Under Secretary Vickers described that tough choices will need to be made in this budget environment but that a robust national overhead architecture and commercial satellite imagery remains a priority. Specifically, he described the importance of ensuring a healthy industrial base for both national overhead and commercial satellite capabilities. In addition, as the U.S. military adopts a smaller footprint in overseas operations, the Under Secretary argued that technologies with a global reach – like space systems – will become even more important. With regards to GEOINT, Vickers stated that its demand will only be greater in the future and more central to U.S. security.
As a final question, Under Secretary Vickers was asked if the Department was concerned about industrial capacity. The Under Secretary offered a resounding yes; he mentioned that industrial capacity has been relied upon for much of the past century and that we will need to continue to maintain a strong industrial base to meet our national security challenges.
A note to our readers, if you are interested in helping our aerospace and defense sector Second to None, we urge you to visit the AIA website at http://secondtonone.org/ to learn more.
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