Review of Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) Fluids Proposals (ASEB)

This letter report provides technical evaluations of research proposals submitted to the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) in the area of fluids. It is part of a project to provide these evaluations in the areas of combustion and diagnostics, and space power and propulsion. Each research proposal was reviewed by at least four reviewers, typically two panel members and two outside reviewers. A panel met to examine and discuss all review comments to define a consensus assessment for each proposal.

Review of Proposals for NASA’s Intelligent Propulsion Systems Foundation Technology (IPSFT) Program (ASEB)

NASA requested the NRC to review technical proposals received by NASA for the Intelligent Propulsion Systems Foundation Technology sub-project (IPSFT). A technical panel was used to evaluate proposed low technology readiness level (TRL) work in foundation technologies and rate them based on the adjectival ratings in the research solicitation announcement. These foundation technologies will address adaptive control applications for gas turbine engines for commercial subsonic and supersonic aircraft. This letter report presents a discussion of the NRC process for reviewing the proposals, the members of the reviewing panel, and a summary of the ratings by proposal number.

Utilization of Operational Environmental Satellite Data: Ensuring Readiness for 2010 and Beyond (SSB, ASEB)

The system of satellites in place to provide environmental data—data to monitor events such as forest fires and floods; to make weather predictions; and to assess crops, transportation impacts, fisheries, land-use patterns, sea temperature, and soil moisture, among other things— serves a wide and growing array of users. In the coming years as the next generation of operational environmental satellites in put in orbit, the will be a large expansion in data availability. To ensure that these data serve effectively this broad user community, a new vision for the future of operational environmental satellite data utilization is needed. To help develop approaches for handling this potential data overload, NASA, with technical support from NOAA, asked the NRC to conduct an end-to-end review of issues about the utilization of operational environmental satellite data for 2010 and beyond. This report presents the result of that review. It focuses on ensuring the value of environmental satellite data for addressing specific user needs, distribution of such data, and data access and utilization.

Report Summary

Systems Integration for Project Constellation (ASEB)

NASA has formed a new Exploration Systems Enterprise charged with development of systems to be used in the exploration of the moon, Mars, and other destinations with the announcement of the Vision for U.S. Space Exploration. A key component of that enterprise is Project Constellation which is responsible for all of the systems necessary for human exploration. It is essential that those systems be integrated effectively for the mission to succeed. To assist with this objective, NASA asked the NRC to assess the relative merits of seven approaches for systems integration. This letter report presents this assessment. It provides a list of 21 criteria for judging the capability of each of the approaches to succeed in this complex integration task, and ratings of how well each can fulfill those criteria.

Issues and Opportunities Regarding the U.S. Space Program (SSB, ASEB)

Ever since the completion of the Apollo program, there has been a lack of consensus about the future of human spaceflight. The Columbia tragedy in February 2003 rekindled public debate about this question. In November 2003, the Space Studies Board and the Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board organized a workshop to explore aspects of the question, what should be the principal purpose, goals, and priorities of the U.S. civil space program? This report presents a factual summary of that workshop, which identified past lessons learned and guiding principles for the future of the civil space program. Seven broad themes emerged from the workshop, and these themes are highlighted in the report. The report also presents discussions of strategies for the human spaceflight program and guiding principles of and boundary conditions for a 21st century space policy.

Vehicle Systems Panel Report on Status of NASA’s Vehicle Systems Program—Letter Report (ASEB)

In November 2003, ASEB released a report, An Assessment of NASA’s Aeronautics Technology Programs. After the release, NASA requested the NRC to reconvene the Panel on Vehicle Systems Program, which had been established as part of the study infrastructure for the report. Specifically, NASA wanted an evaluation of the progress made by the Program in formulating and directing its activities over the past nine months (since March 2003). This letter report presents the findings of that review. In almost all cases, the recommendations contained in this letter report, amplify and reinforce those contained in the full report.

Stepping-Stones to the Future of Space Exploration: A Workshop Report (ASEB)

NASA’s Human Exploration and Development of Space (HEDS) program within the Office of Space Flight has proposed a new framework for space technology and systems development—Advanced Systems, Technology, Research, and Analysis (ASTRA) for future space flight capabilities. To assist in the development of this framework, NASA asked the National Research Council to convene a series of workshops on technology policy issues concerning the relationship of the various stakeholders in advancing human and robotic exploration and development of space. The first workshop, which is the topic of this report, focused on policy issues about the development and demonstration of space technologies. Four policy topics—selected by the project steering committee as the foci of this first workshop—are discussed in the report: the rationale for human and robotic space exploration; technology as a driver for capability transformation; risk mitigation and perception; and international cooperation and competition.

Assessment of Options for Extending the Life of the Hubble Space Telescope-Interim Letter Report (SSB, ASEB)

Following the loss of the Space Shuttle Columbia and subsequent to the report of the board created to investigate the accident, NASA, citing safety reasons, decided to limit shuttle flights to International Space Station missions and to investigate other options for extending Hubble’s life. Congressional concern over this decision prompted it to ask for an independent assessment. In response the chair of the investigative board called for a study of the risks and benefits of using the shuttle for the servicing mission, and NASA subsequently asked the NRC for this study. This letter report presents preliminary findings and recommendations of that study. It urges NASA to commit to the servicing mission, notes that a proposed robotic mission would be quite complex and require significant development, and states that NASA should not preclude a shuttle servicing mission at this time. A final report will be released this fall.

Review of Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) Propulsion Proposals (ASEB)

This letter report provides technical evaluations of research proposals submitted to the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) in the area of propulsion. It is part of a project to provide these evaluations in the areas of combustion and diagnostics, and space power and propulsion. Each research proposal was reviewed by at least four reviewers, typically two panel members and two outside reviewers. A panel met to examine and discuss all review comments to define a consensus assessment for each proposal.

Evaluation of the National Aerospace Initiative (AFSTB)

The National Aerospace Initiative (NAI) was conceived as a joint effort between the Department of Defense (DOD) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to sustain the aerospace leadership of the United States through the acceleration of selected aerospace technologies: hypersonic flight, access to space, and space technologies. The Air Force became concerned about the NAI’s possible consequences on Air Force programs and budget if NAI program decisions differed from Air Force priorities. To examine this issue, it asked the NRC for an independent review of the NAI. This report presents the results of that assessment. It focuses on three questions asked by the Air Force: is NAI technically feasible in the time frame laid out; is it financially feasible over that period; and is it operationally relevant.