Recommendation to Cease NASA Crew Return Vehicle Development

April 29, 2004

Amanda KellyBlake Hajovsky Anthony Pittman

Engineering Technical Communications Presentation

Overview

• Motivation for a CRV

• Feasibility Studies for Crew Escape

• Past and Present NASA CRV Development

• Underlying Ethics

• Recommendation

• Summary

CRV Motivation Feasibility Studies NASA CRV Development Ethics Recommendation Summary

Motivation for a CRV

• Station Mishaps:– Fire

– Computer Malfunctions

– Life Support Systems Failures

– Spacecraft Collisions

• Space Debris Collisions

• Medical Emergencies

To provide a means for escape for 7 crew members in the event of:

Photograph Courtesy of NASA

Blake

CRV Motivation Feasibility Studies NASA CRV Development Ethics Recommendation Summary

• Fire

– Location and magnitude

• Computer Malfunctions

– Loss of gyroscopes

• Life Support Systems Failures

– Oxygen generator failure

• Spacecraft Collisions– Progress supply vehicle collision

Feasibility Studies for Crew EscapeStation Mishaps

Blake

Feasibility Studies for Crew Escape Space Debris Collisions

• Impact on External Pressurized Tanks:

– Immediate detonation of the gas within the tank

– Tank thrust

– Tank rupture

• Direct impact of station module:

– Depressurizing leak

– Risk hypoxia

CRV Motivation Feasibility Studies NASA CRV Development Ethics Recommendation Summary

Photograph Courtesy of NASA

Blake

Feasibility Studies for Crew Escape Medical Emergencies

• In space:

– Heart conditions

– Other life-threatening conditions

• Problems in Antarctica

– Detection of cancer

– Pancreatitis

CRV Motivation Feasibility Studies NASA CRV Development Ethics Recommendation Summary

Blake

CRV Motivation Feasibility Studies NASA CRV Development Ethics Recommendation Summary

Past NASA CRV ProgramsX-38 Vehicle Concept

• Organization:

– Developed by NASA and Dryden in 1995

• X-38 Vehicle Concept:– Based on existing technologies

– Carried to orbit by Shuttle

– Lifting Body

• NASA Investment:– 7 years of engineering work

– Over 1 Billion Dollars

• Program Progress:– Final Stages of Development

Photograph courtesy of NASA

Amanda

Past NASA CRV ProgramsModified Vision for CRV

• Vehicle design specifications to meet multi-purpose objectives

– Independent of Shuttle

– Crew rescue and crew transfer capabilities

– Increased launch probability

– Increased on-orbit maneuverability

– Limited cargo-carrying capability

CRV Motivation Feasibility Studies NASA CRV Development Ethics Recommendation Summary

Amanda

Past NASA CRV ProgramsOrbital Space Plane (OSP) Vehicle Concept

• Organization:– Industry Contract Competition

began in 2003

• OSP Vehicle Concept:– Undecided

• Capsule

• Lifting body

• Winged body

• NASA Investment:– 1 year of engineering work

– Over 1 Billion Dollars

• Program Progress:– Preliminary Design

Photograph Courtesy of Boeing

Photograph Courtesy of Boeing

Photograph Courtesy of Boeing

CRV Motivation Feasibility Studies NASA CRV Development Ethics Recommendation Summary

Amanda

Present CRV DevelopmentCrew Exploration Vehicle

• Vehicle design specifications

– Explore beyond Low Earth Orbit (LEO) to Moon and Mars

– Transporting crew to ISS after Shuttle is retired

CRV Motivation Feasibility Studies NASA CRV Development Ethics Recommendation Summary

Amanda

Ethics for a Rescue Vehicle

• Safety requirements Today– Transportation

– Military Mission

• Crew sense of safety

• Influence of Public Opinion

CRV Motivation Feasibility Studies NASA CRV Development Ethics Recommendation Summary

Anthony

Photo courtesy of eFluids

Ethics for a Rescue VehicleSuccessful Rescues Factors

• Importance for recovery– Crew

– Spacecrafts

• Success depends on:– Extent of Emergency

– Time to Implement

– Working Environment

CRV Motivation Feasibility Studies NASA CRV Development Ethics Recommendation Summary

Anthony

Ethics for a Rescue VehicleReality of Space Rescue

• Crew Understands Danger

• Percentage of Success– Harsh Space Environment

– Types of emergencies

• Cost vs. Benefit

CRV Motivation Feasibility Studies NASA CRV Development Ethics Recommendation Summary

Anthony

CRV Motivation Feasibility Studies NASA CRV Development Ethics Recommendation Summary

Recommendation

• Cease NASA CRV Development– Escape in most situations is not always

feasible or necessary

– Over 2 billion dollars invested into canceled programs

– New NASA focus on Mars and Moon

– Crew understands inherent risks

– Soyuz vehicle can be used as CRV

Anthony

CRV Motivation Feasibility Studies NASA CRV Development Ethics Recommendation Summary

• Motivation for a CRV

• Feasibility Studies for Crew Escape

• Past and Present NASA CRV Development

• Underlying Ethics

• Recommendation

• Summary

Summary

Blake