Research Partnership CentersBackground
Mark NallSpace Product Development
Program Manager16 May 2006
NASA Space Act (1958) As Amended
“…seek and encourage, to the maximum extent possible the fullest commercial use of space”
Program Background
The RPCs
• Centers for the Commercial Development of Space– Initially established in 1985– Focus on the industrial use of space– NASA could not be a customer– Unique expectations
SPD Realignment Success
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
SPD Projects withother NASA funding
IndustryDriven
Realignment NASA Driven
SPD Heritage
• Put into place the Commercial Middeck Augmentation Module Contract
• Flew 30% of the U.S. research on the International Space Station
• A program of true partnerships between industry, academia and government
• 12 Research Partnership Centers (RPCs)
• Focused on developing technology for use by NASA, as well as by industry
What We Are
Center for Satellite and Hybrid Communications Networks CSCCollege Park MD
WA
OR
CA
NV
ID
MT
UT
WY
AZ
CO
NM
NE
SD
ND
MO
IA
WI
MN
MI
OHINIL
KY
VA
TN
KS
OK
TX LA
AR
MSGA
FL
SCNC
VT
NH
ME
NY
PA
WV
MARI
CT
NJ
DE
MD
DC
AL
Research Partnership CentersCenter for
Microgravity Materials
ProcessingBoston, MA
~Maryland Hybrid Networks Center
College Park, MD~
Medical Informatics& Technology
Applications CenterRichmond, VA
~Center for
Biophysical Sciences & Engineering
Birmingham, AL~
Center for Space Exploration Power
SystemsAuburn, AL
~Imaging Technology
Space CenterBoca Raton, FL
BioServe SpaceTechnologiesBoulder, CO
~Center for Space
ResourcesGolden, CO
~Spacecraft
Technology CenterCollege Station, TX
~Center for Space
Power College Station, TX
~Texas Center for
Advanced MaterialsHouston, TX
~ProVision
TechnologiesStennis Space
Center, MS
• Many have a tradition of working closely with NASA field centers.
• Universities that are leaders in working with industry in applied science and engineering know the top industry players in their fields of technical expertise.
• Bridge the gap between goals of government and goals of industry, provide effective buffer between the two.
• Access to enthusiastic and highly capable students.
• Educate future scientists and engineers.
Why base partnerships at universities?
Industry/University/Government Partnerships
IndustryResourcesExpertiseProductsMarkets
GovernmentResourcesExpertiseMissions
UniversityResourcesExpertiseStudents
Federal Agencies:
DARPA
DOC (NIST)
DOD
DOE
NIH
NSF
USDA
The States:
Broad cross-
section
A Proven Concept
NASA:
The RPCs
Field Centers
Affordable Spaceflight Hardware
Number of Payloads/$Million of FY04 Budget
00.5
11.5
22.5
33.5
Bioastronautics Space Biology MicrogravitySciences
SPD
Division
Rati
o
A 20-year Evolution, from Sounding Rockets to ISS
Dual-Use Technologies
• Advanced Materials
• Autonomous Medical Care
• Biotechnology
• Combustion
• Communications
• Plant Science
• Power and Electronics
• Medical Systems
• Imaging Technologies
• Space Resources and Manufacturing
A 20-year track record, from sounding rockets to ISS, of ground- and flight-based research
• The RPCs have many international industrial partners.
• MITAC regularly applies autonomous medical care technologies in Third-World countries.
• Space-DRUMS™, a commercial payload for ISS and on dock at KSC was built and largely funded by a Canadian company as an RPC industrial partner.
• The Commercial Generic Bioprocessing Apparatus (CGBA) is used on ISS for Japanese crystal growth experiments.
• The RPCs are active in JUSTSAP, a Japan-US cooperative research organization.
International ParticipationThe RPCs are International
Affordable TechnologyThrough Industry/University/Government
PartnershipsR&D Expenditures per Invention Disclosure
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
4
4.5
RPCs
Cal Tech MIT
Columbia Univ.WARF
U Cal System
Univ. of M
ich.
Harvard Univ.NASA
Mill
ion
s o
f D
olla
rs
(Source: "Technology Transfer: Bringing Innovation to NASA and the Nation." Report of the National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA), November 2004, p. 34.) RPC data for FY03 have been added.
• 86 Industrial, 41 Academic, 39 Government Partners• Leveraging Ratio 2.7 to 1. • 4 Commercial Spin-Off Firms Created• Over $9M Non-SPD NASA Funding• Over $12M Non-NASA Federal Funding• $5.7M Industry Cash, $13.6M Industry In-Kind• 22 Patents Filed, 10 Awarded• 170 Refereed, 80 Non-Refereed Publications• 10 B.S., 22 M.S., 14 Ph.D. Degrees Awarded• Over 170 payloads flown on Shuttle, Mir and ISS
since 1990, with an unblemished safety record.
The Research Partnership CentersPerformance Overview, FY05
Leveraging
• Commercial Generic Bioprocessing Apparatus (CGBA)
• Microgravity Experiment Research Locker INcubator (MERLIN)
• Vortex Phase Separator • Broadband Internet over Wireless Networks • High Data Rate Commercial SatCom • Star Tracker • Hyperspectral Imager • Rocket Engine Controller
Example RPC Products Used by NASA
Supporting Space Exploration
Example RPC Products Used on Earth
• Telemedicine in the Third World (MITAC)• Commercial Pharmaceuticals (BioServe) • Biosensors for Homeland Security (CBSE)• Fire Suppression for Buildings, Ships and Aircraft
(CSR)• Star Trackers for Commercial Satellites (STC)• Advanced Solar Cells (CSEPS)• HDMAX camera for Defense and Homeland
Security (ITSC)• Hyperspectral Imaging for Diagnoses, Meat
Inspection and Forensics (ProVision)• Intelligent and secure space-based sensor and
communication networks (HyNET)
Creating Societal Benefits
• SPD was created to commercialize low-Earth orbit by creating products and services in space.
• Building on that legacy, the RPCs are planning experiments and demonstrations on Lunar landers, in coordination with RLEP, that can result in products and services for NASA and private industry.
• The RPCs are forming alliances with entrepreneurial space companies to build a truly independent space economy.
• The RPCs are planning the first ever commercial demonstrations on the Moon as major players in the Lunar Commerce Executive Roundtable, and the Space Resource Roundtable
Commercial ParticipationFrom Low-Earth Orbit to the Moon, Mars and
Beyond
Space Partnership Development: Providing Leveraged Technology for NASA
RLEP-2SPD Contributions
1. Potential Commercial RLEP-2 PayloadsSeveral SPD candidates have already been identified (ATK, MIT/Lincoln
Laboratories)
2. SPD/RPCs have the opportunity to build instrumentation for the RLEP-2 lander and mobility payloads.
– Payload elements include: Imaging SystemMastNeutron SpectrometerDrillSample Processing SystemGround Penetrating RadarTunable Diode LaserRadarArmScoopParticle Counter
– RPC teams are currently being formed for early proposal development.
The Exploration Vision
• Leverage. As in partnerships. Actively involve industries, universities and governments and the whole international community.
• Use government resources to help establish the infrastructure for a commercial cis-Lunar economy that can be the engine for carrying humanity out into the solar system and returning benefits to people on Earth.
• Space Exploration cannot forever be just a government program. It must spawn truly independent space industries.
How do you make it affordable?
$ in millions
Pres. FY05 Five-Year Budget Plan
Exploration missions – Robotic and eventual human missions to Moon, Mars, and beyondHuman/Robotic Technology – Technologies to enable development of exploration space systemsCrew Exploration Vehicle – Transportation vehicle for human explorersISS Transport – US and foreign launch systems to support Space Station needs especially after Shuttle retirement
NOTE:
0
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
25,000
FY04 FY05 FY06 FY07 FY08 FY09 FY10 FY11 FY12 FY13 FY14 FY15 FY16 FY17 FY18 FY19 FY20
FY05 Budget(inflationary growth post 2009)
RetireShuttle
Complete StationResearch Objectives
Crew Exploration
Vehicle
First Human Lunar Mission
Aeronautics and Other Science Activities
Space Shuttle
ISS Transport
Exploration Missions
Human/Robotic Technology
Crew Exploration Vehicle
International Space Station
Strategy Based on Long-Term Affordability
Lunar Propellant Production
05
101520253035404550
1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002
World Satellite Industry Revenues*
Commerce Potential
Satellite Manufacturing
Ground Equipment Manufacturing
Satellite Services
Launch Industry
Bil
lio
ns
of
Do
llar
s
*by Futron Corp, for Satellite Industry Association in 2002
Possible Commercial Activities• Suborbital tourism• Orbital tourism• ISS cargo transport• ISS crew transport• Space station/hotel• VR Entertainment• Research park• Salvage• Food production
• Cis-Lunar passenger transportation
• Cis-Lunar cargo transportation
• Solar Power Satellite construction/operation
• Lunar tourism• Lunar outpost expansion• Lunar resource development• Satellite servicing • Fuel depot
Terrestrial to Earth Orbital • Earth to LEO Transport • Space Ports• Suborbital Tourism
Earth Orbital to Lunar Surface• Communications Satellites • Solar Power Satellites • Orbital Tourism
Lunar Surface • 3He Harvesting • In-Situ Manufacturing• Lunar Tourism
Beyond• Asteroid Mining • Martian Habitats/Settlements • Outer Planet 3He Propellant Harvesting
Space Commerce Zones
Passenger Orbital
Passenger Suborbital
Zone 1Earth to Orbit
Space Shuttle ISS Crew/Cargo
Crewed LV
Notional NASA/Commercial Planning Milestones
X-Prize
America’s Space Prize
Commercial Space Station Passengers/Cargo
Crew Beyond Minimum for Gov. Assured Access
ISS/Commercial Station CargoCargo
Decision
Zone 2Earth Orbit to Lunar Surface
ISS
Notional NASA/Commercial Planning Milestones
Commercial Space Station(s)
Commercial Satellite ServicingOrbital Express
Demo
Commercial Cis-Lunar Cargo Transportation SystemISRU Pilot Plant
Cis-Lunar Passenger Transport. Sys.Outpost
Expansion
Commercial Orbiting Fuel DepotSat. Servicing
Solar Power Sat. ConstructionTerrestrial Energy
Requirements
OrbitalRecovery Satellite Rescue and Station Keeping
Market for Lunar ISRU
Market for Lunar ISRU
Market for Lunar ISRU
Market for Lunar ISRU
Market for Lunar ISRU
Market for Lunar ISRU
Decision on Public / Private Lunar Outpost
Zone 3Lunar Surface
Notional NASA/Commercial Planning Milestones
NavCom SurfaceMobility
SurfacePower
SurfacePower
Robotic Precursors
LRO Landing Sites(s)
Decision
2nd Mission
Lunar SortiesLEO
DemosMarsSingle Location Outpost
Public/Private Partnership
Outpost Site ChosenHuman Lunar Landing
Extend. Location Outpost or Global
Mars
Commercial ISRU Demo
Commercial ISRU Pilot
Plant
Commercial ISRU
Production Plant
Commercial Construction
Facility
Full Outpost Privatization
Science & Investment
Orbital Mission
Commercial ISRU Demo
Lunar Resources supporting EarthTerrestrial Energy
Requirements
Market for Lunar ISRU
Market for Lunar ISRU
Decision to Place Commercial Demo’s on Lunar Missions
Decision on Public / Private Lunar Outpost
Zone 4Beyond
Notional NASA/Commercial Planning Milestones
NEO ResourcesOutpost
Expansion
Market for Lunar ISRU
Mars Human Mission Cargo Launch
Mars HumanMission Launch
NEO ResourcesEarth Strategic
Metals
Market for Lunar ISRU
Market for Lunar ISRU
New Partnership Opportunities
• Private sector organizations that directly support NASA exploration
• Emerging organizations that if successful will provide the commercial infrastructure that enables exploration
• Potential benefactors from the use of a robust commercial space infrastructure
• Potential “dual use” benefactors of the research, technology and competences developed
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