rlv summit debrief launch operations support working group may 23, 2006

RLVSummitDebrief

Launch Operations Support Working Group

May 23, 2006

2Commercial Space Entrepreneurial RLV Summit

April 3, 2006

Federal AviationAdministration 2

Why an Entrepreneurial RLV Summit

• New National Space Transportation Policy set the policy “playing field”

• Encourages use of U.S. commercial capabilities to meet national needs

• Identifies commercial human space flight sector of industry -- first time

• FAA/AST sought to increase the Air Force’s level of awareness of entrepreneurial space industry capabilities

• AST’s mission is to “encourage, facilitate, and promote” growth of the commercial space transportation industry

• Attempt to highlight new low-cost, rapid-prototype space technologies that may be options for meeting challenging spacelift goals under tight budgets


April 3, 2006


Outline

• Agenda

• Forum

• Format

• Attendees

• Highlights

• Key Discussion Topics

• Way Ahead

XCOR

Masten

t/space

t/space XCOR

Andrews

Starchaser


April 3, 2006


Agenda

• Opening Remarks• Patti Grace Smith, FAA Associate Administrator for Commercial Space Transportation• Dr. Ron Sega, Under Secretary of the Air Force• Lt Gen Frank G. Klotz, Commander of Air Force Space Command

• Entrepreneurial RLV Developer Presentations• XCOR Aerospace• The Rocketplane Kistler Company• Transformational Space (t/Space)• SpaceDev • Masten Space Systems • Interorbital• Andrews Space and Technology • Starchaser Industries• Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX)

• Government Presentations • Assured Access to Space Objectives• Operational Responsive Spacelift Needs• Joint Warfighting Space Objectives


April 3, 2006


Forum• First RLV Summit of its kind, developed by General Lord and Ms.

Smith • To increase awareness at Air Force executive level about

commercial RLV industry capabilities, concepts and designs• Consistent with national policy and increased activity in the

commercial space transportation market

• To discuss and explore the military’s needs, policy direction and potential applications for commercial space launch systems

• Assured Access objectives

• Operationally Responsive Spacelift needs

• Joint Warfighter Space objectives


April 3, 2006


Format

Scope: • FAA/AST and U.S. Air Force jointly hosted an executive-level summit

• Facilitated interaction between emerging RLV developers and the Air Force in an effort to better understand how commercial systems can meet military plans and needs for the future

• Involved developers who have a working relationship with AST and who have shared their development plans

• Many of the developers either hold or are actively seeking a license or permit from AST

Format: • 3 Phases, followed by an Executive Session

• Phase 1- Private industry presentation on capabilities to include concepts, designs and technical objectives

• Phase 2 - Government presentation on needs, policy direction, and potential use of emerging commercial systems

• Phase 3 - Industry and government open discussion on how to meet the nation’s needs through exploitation of reusable launch systems


April 3, 2006


Attendees


April 3, 2006


Summit Highlights

• Observations: • Entrepreneurs want to be recognized for their uniqueness

• Firm, fixed-price contracts vs. cost-plus

• AF needs to visit with entrepreneurial companies• US needs a clear and results producing acquisition strategy

• Nuggets:• Convergence of USAF/Entrepreneurial/NASA sector goals

• AF committed to innovative, complementary technologies • NASA needs satisfied with commercial technologies

• Focus on reusability, turnaround and use of existing technologies in new ways

• Practical solutions near term -- Innovative solutions that can meet near and far term targets

• Technical and launch


April 3, 2006


Summit Highlights (con’t)

• Nuggets: • Perception that only a large company can achieve these goals

Entrepreneurial uniqueness – Taking advantage changes the institutional paradigm

• Streamlined capabilities with low overhead

• Options for horizontal and vertical launch, manned and unmanned

• Government contracting/program delays• Responsive companies w/ staying power

• Insight vs. oversight

• Reconsider approach to risk

• Where can Government afford to take more risks?

• Risk/reward relationship reexamined -- Risk rationale

• Which barriers should be eliminated first?


April 3, 2006


Way Ahead

• Review results with AF and FAA --Share information w/community• Raise issues to the national level -- Stress economic imperative• Agree to follow-on meetings -- Working Level and Executive Level• Gain insight into new technologies that could be incorporated into

science and technology demonstrations• Arrange and establish schedule for visits to entrepreneurial

companies to see hardware and observe where efficiencies are in evidence to produce results

• AST participation in AFRL Technology Exchange with explicit pro-entrepreneurial groups to share and receive insight and information

Lt Gen Klotz: Build national security space community awareness of ongoing entrepreneurial efforts in the commercial spacelift industry

rlv summit debrief launch operations support working group may 23, 2006

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