[FPSPACE] Orbital Space Plane

[Simon Mansfield]

At 11:15 PM 2/19/03 +0100, you wrote:
>NASA's initial requirements for the orbital space plane...
>Any comments?

Wow, so planes can go into orbit now. If this wasn't no serious it would be 
funny.

I like the bit here about,..

 >>"This is an important first step in making the Integrated
Space Transportation Plan a reality," said NASA Deputy
Administrator Frederick Gregory.<<

Nice fancy titles for lots more paper planes.

How long did SLI last. How long will OSP last.

One question though have they dropped the requirement that it must have 
wings yet?

Sorry for the cynicism but what is the ETA on this - 10 years. My god we 
went from zero to the moon in less time than that. The station will be 
approaching its use-by date by the time this thing "flys".

How many billions will go down this rat hole before it also gets canned and 
another fancy name gets thought up for yet another paper project.

Paper projects do not make a space program.

Why don't they just dump this approach, stick with the Soyuz and use the 
money to build some real space ships that can get us back to the Moon and 
on to solid ground. Why are we so besotted with LEO, there's nothing there 
but space junk and the constant tease of "what if" - we had looked higher 
and further. The only point of space travel is to get through it as quickly 
as possible to a tangible destination and is the Space Station a real 
destination or an evolutionary dead end?

simon

>Zeger Nuyens
>dokter.nuyens@pandora.be
>
>>
>>Glenn Mahone/Bob Jacobs
>>Headquarters, Washington Feb. 18, 2003
>>(Phone: 202/358-1600)
>>
>>Kim Newton
>>Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala.
>>(Phone: 256/544-0034
>>
>>RELEASE: 03-073
>>
>>INITIAL REQUIREMENTS SET FOR ORBITAL SPACE PLANE SYSTEM
>>
>>      NASA today released the top level requirements for the
>>Orbital Space Plane (OSP), a next generation system of space
>>vehicles designed to provide a crew rescue and crew transport
>>capability to and from the International Space Station. These
>>requirements set the foundation for the design of the vehicle
>>and its associated systems.
>>
>>The Level I requirements for an OSP system were developed
>>based on NASA's missions, as defined in the Integrated Space
>>Transportation Plan, input from industry and Department of
>>Defense partners participating in the program. The
>>requirements were reviewed at multiple levels within NASA.
>>The final review and approval process included the NASA
>>Administrator, Deputy Administrator, Associate Administrator
>>for the Office of Aerospace Technology, and the Associate
>>Administrator, Office of Space Flight.
>>
>>"This is an important first step in making the Integrated
>>Space Transportation Plan a reality," said NASA Deputy
>>Administrator Frederick Gregory. "The Orbital Space Plane
>>system will give us the flexibility needed to safely and
>>efficiently get crew to and from orbit and to provide crew
>>rescue and logistical support to the International Space
>>Station. These initial requirements help to outline a
>>comprehensive system that will significantly complement the
>>capabilities of our existing Space Shuttle fleet," he said.
>>
>>Any future changes to the Level I Requirements would be
>>considered by the Orbital Space Plane Program Office and
>>require approval from the NASA Executive Council.
>>
>>The program is in the process of developing Level II
>>Requirements for the OSP system. Unlike the Level I
>>requirements, which were defined by NASA, Level II
>>requirements will be defined at the program level and will be
>>detailed in a document referred to as the Systems
>>Requirements Document (SRD) planned for release no later than
>>late 2003.
>>
>>The requirements are available on the Internet at:
>>
>><http://www.nasa.gov/missions/current/MI_FM_osp.html>http://www.nasa.gov/missions/current/MI_FM_osp.html
>>
>>
>>
>>-end-
>>Orbital Space Plane Program Level ­ One Requirements
>>
>>Mission Needs Statement
>>The vehicle(s) and associated systems will support U.S.
>>International Space Station requirements for crew rescue,
>>crew transport, and cargo.
>>
>>Requirements
>>
>>1. The system, which may include multiple vehicles, shall
>>provide rescue* capability for no fewer than four ISS
>>crew as soon as practical but no later than 2010.
>>2. The system shall provide rescue capability that allows
>>the safe return of de-conditioned, ill or injured
>>crewmembers with ongoing treatment until arrival at
>>definitive medical care within 24 hours.  Crew should
>>not require suits in the vehicle, but the vehicle
>>should support crewmembers wearing suits if the
>>situation warrants.
>>3. The system for rescue shall provide for rapid
>>separation from the ISS under emergency conditions
>>followed by return to Earth.
>>4. Safety requirements ­ system for crew rescue:
>>a. The availability (defined as "a full-up vehicle
>>able to perform its mission") for the escape
>>mission shall be at least:
>>Objective:  99%
>>Minimum Threshold:  95%.
>>b. The risk of loss of crew shall be, with high
>>confidence, lower than the Soyuz for the rescue
>>mission.
>>5. The system shall provide transportation capability for
>>no fewer than four crew, to and from the International
>>Space Station, as soon as practical, but no later than
>>2012.
>>6. Safety requirement ­ system for crew transport:  The
>>risk of loss of crew shall be, with high confidence,
>>lower than the Space Shuttle for the transport mission.
>>7. The system shall be designed for minimum life cycle
>>cost.
>>8. The system shall meet all applicable ISS requirements
>>for visiting and attached vehicles.
>>9. Compared to the Space Shuttle, the system shall require
>>less time to prepare and execute a mission and have
>>increased launch probability.
>>10. Compared to the Space Shuttle, the system shall
>>have increased on-orbit maneuverability.
>>
>>Operations Concepts
>>
>>1. The vehicle(s) shall initially launch on an ELV.
>>2. The system shall be operated through at least 2020.
>>However, the system should be designed so that it
>>could be operated for a longer time.
>>3. NASA envisions that the systems for crew rescue and
>>crew transport could be different versions of the
>>same vehicle design.
>>4. The system shall provide contingency capability for
>>cargo delivery to or from the ISS to support a
>>minimal level of science.
>>5. The system shall support a nominal ISS crew rotation
>>period of 4-6 months.
>>* Rescue includes medical evacuation and emergency
>>evacuation.