commercial space transportation research and development program comstac rlv working group chuck...

Commercial Space TransportationResearch and Development Program

COMSTAC RLV Working Group

Chuck Larsen

October 10, 2007

Federal AviationAdministration

2Commercial Space Transportation Research and Development Activities

COMSTAC RLV WG, Chuck Larsen October 10, 2007

Federal AviationAdministration 2

FAA Commercial Space Transportation R&D Program

• Background• What Is the FAA/AST R&D Program? • How Has It Been Working?• What Difference Does It make?• Future Developments of AST’s R&D Program and Policy

Implications• How Do I Get Onboard?




Background

• Authority• 49 U. S. C. Subtitle IX, Chapter 701 – Commercial Space

Activities• Need for an FAA/AST R&D Program• Plans and Activities to Fill the Need




What Is the FAA/AST R&D Program?

• Charter• Consistent with AST leadership in regulatory activity,

developing a safe, efficient U. S. Commercial Space Transportation industry.

• Institutionalizes AST R&D Advisory Board, and AST R&D Senior Steering Committee (SSC) to manage the process.

• Annually, the Advisory Board identifies, evaluates and recommends a prioritized list of R&D Projects to the SSC for its consideration and portfolio selection.





• AST Research and Development Plan• Establishes a process to receive, evaluate and prioritize

candidate research projects to meet FAA/AST increased safety & greater capacity goals.

• Provide management time frames for decisions that correspond with the FAA budget process.





• AST R&D Plan Overview• Establishes Purpose, Scope and Objectives• Defines Research in the AST Mission Context• Aligns R&D Planning with Budget Process• Establishes a Requirements Process • Defines Research Project Schedule• Allows for Unbudgeted Research Requirements• Provides for periodic review of R&D progress and a way to

recommend and approve changes, as needed




How Has It Been Working?

• The AST R&D Plan Has Provided 3 – 5 Research Projects Per Year That Have Supported The FAA Flight Plan Goals of:

• Increased Safety• Greater Capacity




How Has It Been Working?

• AST R&D Activities FY 2007• AST R&D Advisory Board

- Met monthly to implement its responsibilities

• Held meetings to review changes to FY07 Projects and recommended approval to AST R&D SSC

• Met weekly to review R&D Projects for FY08

• AST R&D Senior Steering Committee (SSC)

- Met quarterly to review progress on FY07 R&D Projects

- Met 6/07, 9/07 to review recommended FY08 R&D Projects

- Selected 3 AST R&D Projects for FY08




What Difference Does It Make?

• AST R&D FY07 Projects

• Historical Database of Failures and Reliability of Rocket-powered Vehicles

• Human Space Flight Training Preparation Survey• Safety Operations Personnel Duty and Rest Analysis

• AST R&D FY08 Projects

• Informed Consent for the Personal Space Flight Industry• Low Cost, Field Portable, High Altitude Wind Profiler• Temporal Winds Database Feasibility Study




Future Developments of AST’s R&D Program and Policy Implications

• Involvement with Other Government Agency R&D Programs• Further Development of Human Space Flight Regulations• Increasing the Importance and Utility of the Commercial Space

Transportation Industry




How Do I Get Onboard?

• Contact AST Through our R&D Website:• http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ast/

about/research_development/• Participate on one of Our Commercial Space Transportation

Advisory Committee Working Groups• Reusable Launch Vehicle Working Group• Launch Operation Support Working Group

• AST Call for FY09 R&D Projects Sent to COMSTAC 9/07• Prioritized List of Candidate Research Projects Due to AST by

January 15, 2008

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