NASA’s Future PlansHampton Black -- 10/8/12

Any of these sound familiar?

• “Isn’t NASA shutting down?”

• “Since the space shuttle is retired, we’re not going to send any more astronauts up into space.”

• “Obama doesn’t support the space program and is cutting its funding tremendously.”

The Truth:• NASA is focusing instead on manned

deep space exploration:

• “By handing off space station transportation to the private sector, NASA is freed up to carry out the really hard work of sending astronauts farther into the solar system than ever before.” - NASA Administrator, Charles Bolden.

• NASA’s budget is relatively cyclic:• 2007 -- $ 16.8 Billion

2008 -- $17.3 Billion2009 -- $17.6 Billion2010 -- $18.7 Billion2011 -- $18.7 Billion2012 -- $18.7 Billion2013 -- $17.7 Billion

NASA’s current goals

• Revisit the Moon

• Explore an asteroid (by 2025)

• Visit Mars (sometime in the 2030’s)

How?

NASA’s new heavy lift rocket, the Space Launch

System or SLS

Overview of the SLS

• 2 improved solid rocket boosters (similar to ones used on the space shuttle)

• 4 main engines borrowed from space shuttle design

• core stage design stems from Apollo missions with Saturn V rocket

• cryogenic propulsion system for in-space maneuvers

• Orion multipurpose crew vehicle

70 metric ton configuration of SLS

130 metric ton configuration of SLS

http://www.space.com/12946-nasa-heavy-lift-rocket-animated.html

Current progress

•Water-landing tests on the orion space vehicle

•Parachute dynamics testing

•Improvements on design and efficiency in manufacturing solid rocket boosters.

•Langley research center working on aerodynamical improvements of the SLS rocket design.

Additional information• Outsourced Research and development of various systems:

• Academia:

• "High Electric Density Device for Aerospace Applications," Auburn University, Ala.

• "Challenges Towards Improved Friction Stir Welds Using On-line Sensing of Weld Quality," Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, La.

• "A New Modeling Approach for Rotating Cavitation Instabilities in Rocket Engine Turbopumps," Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Mass.

• "Algorithmic Enhancements for High-Resolution Hybrid RANS-LES Using Loci-CHEM," Mississippi State University, Miss.

• "Next Generation Simulation Infrastructure on Large Scale Multicore Architecture," Mississippi State University, Miss.

• "Characterization of Aluminum/Alumina/Carbon Interactions under Simulated Rocket Motor Conditions," Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pa.

• "Development of Subcritical Atomization Models in the Loci Framework for Liquid Rocket Injectors," University of Florida, Gainesville, Fla.

• "Determination of Heat Transfer Coefficients for Two-Phase Flows of Cryogenic Propellants During Line Chilldown and Fluid Transport," University of Florida, Gainesville, Fla.

• "Validation of Subsonic Film Cooling Numerical Simulations Using Detailed Measurements and Novel Diagnostics," University of Maryland, College Park, Md.

• "Validation of Supersonic Film Cooling Numerical Simulations Using Detailed Measurements and Novel Diagnostics," University of Maryland, College Park, Md.

• "Advanced LES and Laser Diagnostics to Model Transient Combustion-Dynamical Processes in Rocket Engines: Prediction of Flame Stabilization and Combustion-Instabilities," University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich.

• "Acoustic Emission-Based Health Monitoring of Space Launch System Structures," University of Utah, Salt Lake City

• Industries

• "Development of a Fluid-Structure Interaction Methodology for Predicting Engine Loads," ATA Engineering, Inc., San Diego

• "Space Launch System (SLS) Advanced Development Affordable Composite Structures," ATK Space Systems, Inc., Clearfield, Utah

• "Ball Reliable Advanced Integrated Network," Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp., Huntsville, Ala.

• “Affordable Structural Weight Reduction for SLS Block 1A," Collier Research and Development Corp., Newport News, Va.

• "DESLA Systems Engineering and Risk Reduction for AUSEP," Exquadrum, Inc., Adelanto, Calif.

• "Space Launch System Program AUSEP LOX Flow Control Valve," MOOG, Inc. Space and Defense Group, Aurora, N.Y.

• "Affordable Upper Stage Engine Advanced Development," Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Redondo Beach, Calif.

• "Hybrid Precision Casting for Regeneratively-Cooled Thrust Chamber Components," Orbital Technologies Corp., Madison, Wis.

• "NASA Space Launch System (SLS) Advanced Development, Affordable Upper Stage Engine Program (AUSE) Study," Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, Inc., Jupiter, Fla.

• "Advanced Ordnance Systems Demonstration," Reynolds Systems, Inc., Middletown, Calif.

• "Cryo-Tracker Mass Gauging System," Sierra Lobo, Inc., Freemont, Ohio

• "Efficient High-Fidelity Design and Analysis Tool for Unsteady Flow Physics in Space Propulsion Geometries," Streamline Numerics, Inc. Gainesville, Fla.

• "Robust Distributed Sensor Interface Modules (DSIM) for SLS," The Boeing Company, Huntington Beach, Calif.

• "Integrated Vehicle Fluids (IVF)," United Launch Alliance, Centennial, Colo.

References: • http://www.space.com/12946-nasa-heavy-lift-rocket-animated.html

• http://www.space.com/17890-leaving-low-earth-orbit-behind-justification-for-sls-video.html

• http://www.space.com/12942-photos-nasa-giant-rocket-space-launch-system.html

• http://www.nasa.gov/externalflash/human_space/

• http://www.nasa.gov/exploration/systems/mpcv/index.html

• http://www.nasa.gov/exploration/systems/sls/sls_wind_tunnel.html

• http://www.nasa.gov/exploration/systems/sls/12-256.html

• http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/664158main_sls_fs_master.pdf

• http://www.nasa.gov/exploration/systems/sls/sls_qualification.html

• http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2012/oct/HQ_12-339_SLS_Awards_Contract.html

• http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2012/sep/HQ_12-333_SLS_Advanced_Development_Proposals.html