The new millennium program: Fast-track procurements

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA's) New Millennium Program (NMP) has embarked on a technology flight-validation demonstration program to enable the kinds of missions that NASA envisions for the 21st century. Embedded in this program is the concept of rapid mission development supported by a fast-track procurement process. This process begins with the decision to initiate a procurement very early in the program along with the formation of a technical acquisition team. A close working relationship among the team members is essential to avoiding delays and developing a clear acquisition plan. The request for proposal (RFP) that is subsequently issued seeks a company with proven capabilities, so that the time allotted for responses from proposers and the length of proposals they submit can be shortened. The fast-track procurement process has been demonstrated during selection of NMP's industrial partners and has been proven to work.     

Advanced flight computing technologies for validation by NASA's new millennium program

The New Millennium Program (NMP) consists of a series of Deep-Space and Earth Orbiting missions that are technology-driven, in contrast to the more traditional science-driven space exploration missions of the past. These flights are designed to validate technologies that will enable a new era of low-cost highly miniaturized and highly capable spacebome applications in the new millennium. In addition to the series of flight projects managed by separate flight teams, the NMP technology initiatives are managed by the following six focused technology programs: Microelectronics Systems, Autonomy, Telecommunications, Instrument Technologies and Architectures, In-Situ Instruments and Micro-electromechanical Systems, and Modular and Multifunctional Systems. Each technology program is managed as an Integrated Product Development Team (IPDT) of government, academic, and industry partners. In this paper, we will describe elements of the technology roadmap proposed by the NMP Microelectronics IPDT. Moreover, we will relate the proposed technology roadmap to existing NASA technology development programs, such as the Advanced Flight Computing (AFC) program, and the Remote Exploration and Experimentation (REE) program, which constitute part of the on-going NASA technology development pipeline. We will also describe the Microelectronics Systems technologies that have been accepted as part of the first New Millennium Deep-Space One spacecraft, which is an asteroid fly-by mission scheduled for launched in July 1998.     

Success criteria for the next generation of space based multimedia systems

It has been almost three years since the great Geostationary Orbit Earth (GEO) Ka-band filing rush concluded at the FCC. The majority of filers have gone on to register their systems with the ITU, creating the most congested new Spectrum band at system startup that the world has ever seen. However, for all the hype, none of the GEO systems are thought yet to have begun to bend metal. All appear consumed with the requirement to find partners with whom to share the business risks, costs and rewards.

This Paper will examine the current state of progress of Kaband systems. Assessments will be made with respect to criteria such as: announced target markets and their appropriateness for the technology proposed; availability of desired technology to enable these systems to achieve their stated goals and a realistic assessment of when these technologies will be deployed; the availability of alternative terrestrial systems to address the same applications and their impact on the GEO Ka-band system target markets; and regulatory issues and paths to insure commercial access.     

A new role for a new millennium? The changing nature of space activities

Space activity has lost the momentum it had in the past. During the Cold War the use of space was constrained by specific political and military conditions which gave it a strong but narrow identity. The aerospace industry, in particular, was in a position to develop protected and exclusive ties with the public sector. These times have passed and diminishing competition between the two main space powers has had consequences for the planning of major space undertakings. Space activity is in the process of being thoroughly transformed as it is forced to become more connected to general economic and industrial activity, especially in the field of information. An opportunity for a sector that has been struggling could also prove to be risky as space activity is losing some of its previously strong identity. Space currently seems to lack the high level of public support from governments it once enjoyed, while not finding an alternative in the industry itself to this declining investment. This situation should lead both the space community and the political authorities to consider new general space applications that will be more in line with the preoccupations of our modern societies and thus contribute to solving the principal global issues of tomorrow.     

Following the water,the new program for Mars exploration

In the wake of the loss of Mars Climate Orbiter and Mars Polar Lander in late 1999, NASA embarked on a major review of the failures and subsequently restructured all aspects of what was then called the Mars Surveyor Program--now renamed the Mars Exploration Program. This paper presents the process and results of this reexamination and defines a new approach which we have called "Program System Engineering". Emphasis is given to the scientific, technological, and programmatic strategies that were used to shape the new Program. A scientific approach known as "follow the water" is described, as is an exploration strategy we have called "seek--in situ--sample". An overview of the mission queue from continuing Mars Global Surveyor through a possible Mars Sample Return Mission launch in 2011 is provided. In addition, key proposed international collaborations, especially those between NASA, CNES and ASI are outlined, as is an approach for a robust telecommunications infrastructure.     

Meeting the needs of the new millennium: passenger space travel and world economic growth

Without doubt, humans’ most urgent need at the start of the new millennium is the continuation of economic growth, which is the only means by which the great majority of the world population can lift themselves out of the poverty in which they live. A sine qua non for continuing economic growth is for the rich countries to continue to develop new industries—as they did throughout the 20th century, thereby creating high-productivity employment for hundreds of millions of people around the world. Arguably the most significant of these thus far is the development of passenger air travel from zero in 1900 to 1.5 billion passengers per year by 2000. It is becoming clear that passenger space travel could grow to reach a similar economic scale—and that no other space activity has comparable potential. The paper describes the potential contribution to world economic growth of passenger space travel; the failure of government space agencies either to aid its development or to make a contribution to economic growth commensurate to their cost; and the value for economic policy of prioritising the realisation of passenger space travel. The faster passenger space travel services grow, the more the space industry will contribute to “Meeting the Needs of the New Millennium”.     

Integrated design systems — capturing, reusing and optimizing design methods in new millennium

An important goal of New Millennium is to research new methods of performing spacecraft and mission design. We have completed the first phase of our effort on how to make design tools such as analysis programs more available. We are now embarking with Stanford University on discovering methods to allow more project history and knowledge to be automatically captured and reused and with Ames Research Center on how to use virtual reality to enhance the visualization of new missions before any hardware exists. We are also trying to capture the design process in an electronic form so that computer aided optimization may lead to a vastly greater search of the possible designs which meet the design requirements.     

积极推进新型运行管理体系建设

在今年全国民航空管系统工作会议上,苏兰根局长所作的工作报告中提出有关加强“三横三纵”体系建设的论述,对空管运行管理体系的建设具有重要的指导意义。各级空管运行管理部门要深入学习空管局下发的《空管系统“三横三纵”体系建设纲要》（以下简称《纲要》）,认真领会加强“三横三纵”体系建设的深刻内涵,严格落实《纲要》的相关要求,积极推进空管运行管理体系的建设。     

Technology readiness and risk assessments: A new approach

Systems that depend upon the application of new technologies inevitably face three major challenges during development: performance, schedule and budget. Technology research and development (R&D) programs are typically advocated based on argument that these investments will substantially reduce the uncertainty in all three of these dimensions of project management. However, if early R&D is implemented poorly, then the new system developments that plan to employ the resulting advanced technologies will suffer from cost overruns, schedule delays and the steady erosion of initial performance objectives. It is often critical for senior management to be able to determine which of these two paths is more likely—and to respond accordingly. The challenge for system and technology managers is to be able to make clear, well-documented assessments of technology readiness and risks, and to do so at key points in the life cycle of the program.Several approaches have been used to evaluate technology maturity and risk in order to better anticipate later system development risks. The “technology readiness levels” (TRLs), developed by NASA, are one discipline-independent, programmatic figure of merit (FOM) that allows more effective assessment of, and communication regarding the maturity of new technologies. Another broadly used management tool is of the “risk matrix”, which depends upon a graphical representation of uncertainty and consequences. However, for the most part these various methodologies have had no explicit interrelationship.This paper will examine past uses of current methods to improve R&D outcomes and will highlight some of the limitations that can arise. In this context, a new concept for the integration of the TRL methodology, and the concept of the “risk matrix” will be described. The paper will conclude with observations concerning prospective future directions for the important new concept of integrated “technology readiness and risk assessments”.     

Design and integration of small RTPV generators with new millennium spacecraft for outer solar system

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s recently inaugurated New Millennium program, with its emphasis on miniaturized spacecraft, has generated interest in a low-power (10–30 W), low-mass, high-efficiency RTPV (Radioisotope Thermophotovoltaic) power system. This led to a Department of Energy (DOE)-sponsored design study of such a system, which was assigned to OSC (formerly Fairchild) personnel, who have been conducting similar studies of a 75 W RTPV system for the Pluto Express Mission, with very encouraging results. The 75 W design employed two 250 W general purpose heat source (GPHS) modules that DOE had previously developed and safety-qualified for various space missions. These modules were too large for the small RTPVs described in this paper. To minimize the need for new development and safety verification studies, OSC generated derivative designs for 125 W and 62.5 W heat source modules containing identical fuel pellets, clads, impact shell and thermal insulation. OSC also generated a novel heat source support scheme to reduce the heat losses through the structural supports, and a new and much simpler radiator structure, eliminating the need for honeycombs and heat pipes.OSCs previous RTPV study had been based on the use of GaSb PV cells and spectrally selective IR filters that had been partially developed and characterized by Boeing (now EDTEK) personnel. They had supplied us with spectral data on filter reflectivities and cell quantum efficiencies. Two sets of data were furnished: one based on actual measurements made in 1993, and a more optimistic set based on projected performance improvements. Even the measured data set yielded significantly better system performance than present thermoelectric systems, but the projected data yielded much better system performance. Because of these encouraging results, OSC in the fall of 1994 initiated an experimental program at EDTEK to develop improved filters and cells, to demonstrate how much improvement can actually be achieved. OSC requested that first priority be given to filter improvements, because our system studies indicated that improved filters would have a much greater effect on system performance than cell improvements. By July 1995 EDTEK had achieved about 90% of the filter performance improvement projected in 1993. Work on further filter and cell improvements is continuing at EDTEK, as part of a joint effort with OSC and with DOE’s Mound Laboratory to develop and test a prototypic RTPV generator, with both an electrical heater and a radioisotope heat source.The improved filter performance data have been applied to the design of low-power (10–30 W) RTPV power systems, for possible application to new millennium spacecraft for missions to the outer solar system, where solar power generation is impractical. The results reported in this paper indicate that such systems can yield very attractive performance with the RTPV generator integrated with the miniaturized new millennium spacecraft.     

On biogenicity criteria for endolithic microborings on early Earth and beyond

Micron-sized cavities created by the actions of rock-etching microorganisms known as euendoliths are explored as a biosignature for life on early Earth and perhaps Mars. Rock-dwelling organisms can tolerate extreme environmental stresses and are excellent candidates for the colonization of early Earth and planetary surfaces. Here, we give a brief overview of the fossil record of euendoliths in both sedimentary and volcanic rocks. We then review the current understanding of the controls upon the distribution of euendolithic microborings and use these to propose three lines of approach for testing their biogenicity: first, a geological setting that demonstrates a syngenetic origin for the euendolithic microborings; second, microboring morphologies and distributions that are suggestive of biogenic behavior and distinct from ambient inclusion trails; and third, elemental and isotopic evidence suggestive of biological processing. We use these criteria and the fossil record of terrestrial euendoliths to outline potential environments and techniques to search for endolithic microborings on Mars.     

航天科技集团公司召开“抓质量、促进度、保成功”专题会议

本刊讯针对当前型号研制中出现的不容乐观的质量形势，航天科技集团公司于１１月２日召开了“抓质量、促进度、保成功”专题会议，再一次向全体员工表明集团公司党组坚持质量第一，坚决不让产品带问题上天的决心，并明确提出在确保质量的前提下，促进型号研制进度，保证飞行试验的成功。国防科工委副主任栾恩杰，解放军总装备部副部长胡世祥，中国工程院院士王永志，航天科技集团公司总经理王礼恒，副总经理胡鸿福、张庆伟、吴卓、马兴瑞，部分航天老专家，各院基地主要领导，部分型号总师及主任设计师等２００多人参加了会议。今年，航天科…     

成败型产品可靠性评定指标与设计指标的关系

根据研制方与使用方在产品可靠性评定中风险率相等的原则，给出成败型产品可靠性评定指标与可靠性设计指标之间的关系，以及由设计指标确定评定旨标和由评定指标确定设计指标的方法。     

Near-critical fluids under microgravity : status of the eseme program and perspectives for the iss

Started 16 years ago, the ESEME program has led to a number of important findings. We note a simple and unified view of phase transitions, which has been applied to the development of biological patterns, and a very fast thermalization mode that we coined the “piston effect”. This effect has been applied to control the cryogenic reservoirs of the Ariane 5 rocket. All these findings have been obtained thanks to the good coordination of the ESA and CNES space facilities and the construction of high technology experimental modules. The future of the program is linked to the CNES DECLIC facility and the ESA Fluid Science Laboratory (FSL). DECLIC has been designed to increase the temperature regulation above the critical point of water (550 K) so as to investigate chemical reactions under conditions of supercritical water, and in relation to the promising applications of waste treatment by supercritical oxidation. Thanks to the construction of a special vibrational Experiment Container for FSL, the thermal and mechanical behavior of fluids under forced vibration can be investigated. The results of such studies will help to estimate the effect of g-jitter on fluids, and control gases and liquids in space.     

Russian space programmes and industry: Defining the new institutions for new conditions

The aim of this article is to define the major elements of the institutional design process for the Russian rocket and space industry, a process which must take account of the changed economic conditions in the country and provide for the industry's integration into the wider national economy. The article does this by demonstrating the features that need to be understood, highlighting the problems that need to be resolved, and arguing that an institutional design process will have to be based on compromise and accommodation of all the different actors involved. The article deals with a number of particular problems challenging the managers and methodologists of the Russian national space programme of today.     

Improvement of the extravehicular activity suit for the MIR orbiting station program

Since 1977, EVA suits of the semi-rigid type have been used to support sorties from Russian orbiting stations. Currently, within the MIR station program, the Orlan-DMA, the latest modification of the Orlan semi-rigid EVA suit is used by crewmembers. Quite some experience has been gained by Russia in operations of the Orlan type suits. It has proved the advantages of the EVA suit of a semi-rigid configuration, featuring donning/doffing through a hinged backpack door with a built-in life support system. Meanwhile there were some wishes and comments from the crewmembers addressed to the enclosure design and some LSS components. Currently a number of ways and methods are being developed to improve operational characteristics of the suit as well as to enhance its reliability and lifetime. The forthcoming EVAs to be performed by the STS-MIR crewmembers and future EVAs from the common airlock of the International Space Station Alpha make implementation of the planned improvements even more consistent. The paper analyzes the experience gained in the Orlan-DMA operation and discusses planned improvements in light of the forthcoming activities. In particular the Orlan enhancement program is aimed to make the donning/doffing easier, enhance enclosure mobility, improve the condensate removal unit, increase the CCC (Contamination Control Cartridge) operation time and simplify the onboard subsystem design concept.     

The dive and ascent satellite program for lower ionosphere research

Lower ionosphere is a transition region from outer-space to low atmosphere and had been unexplored on a continuous basis before Atmosphere Explorer satellites flew in the region. Purpose of a new aeronomy satellite, DAS (Dive and Ascent Satellite) having a capability to control orbits and flying at the very low perigee altitude less than 130 km is to explore the bottomside of ionosphere spreading over between 100 and 300 km altitudes. Preliminary study on the new aeronomy satellite is conducted at National Aerospace Laboratory in cooperation with Radio Research Laboratories and Meteorological Research Institute.This paper reviews the mission design, orbit decay and transfer analysis, typical orbit profile, aerodynamic characteristics and satellite configuration study, aerodynamic heating and thermal control analysis, attitude control analysis, on-board propulsion and power subsystems, and operation analysis with emphasis on their technical feasibility.     

海绵表面张力管理装置的设计与分析

介绍了一种推进剂管理装置——海绵表面张力管理装置。阐述了该管理装置的结构组成和工作原理,对该管理装置进行了设计和分析。概述了相关试验考核情况。试验结果表明：该管理装置的性能满足设计要求。该装置可推广应用于其它类似系统。     

项目成本管理规范化研究

介绍国内外项目成本管理的现状及规范化情况,分析我国航天项目成本管理存在的问题,并从标准化的角度提出我国航天项目成本管理规范化方案,对航天项目成本管理标准体系框架的建立进行了研究。     

以推行质量管理体系为契机 促进各项工作再上新台阶

内蒙古空管分局从ISO9001宣贯至今,已有两年时间,两年来,分局经历了宣贯、编写、内审、试行、外审、运行并改进,年度复审等贯标各阶段工作,我们深切感受到ISO9001质量体系是我们空管行业行之有效的基础管理工具,对切实提高单位管理水平,规范运行,保证持续安全有极大的促进作用。通过建立与实施ISO9001质量管理体系,并与分局实际有效地结合,我们以优异的成绩完成了呼和浩特机场不停航施工、