STOWG Report on Space Transportation Operations Framework

1. Space Transportation OperationsWorking Group (STOWG)Report to COMSTACOctober 7, 2010Debra Facktor LeporeActing Chair

2. Actions since May 2010 • Held 2 Telecons (July 21 and September 17) • Gathered input on FAA/AST report “CONOPS on Global Space Vehicle Debris Threat Management” • Brainstormed top issues of space transportation operations and need to develop a framework that can be used to capture integrated operations

3. WG Meeting Agenda – Oct 6, 2010 • CONOPS Report on Global Space Debris • Continuation of Discussion & Next Steps • Orbital Debris Compliance • What if voluntary standards become required? • Top 5 Issues and Framework for STOWG • Open Discussion

4. CONOPS for Global Space Vehicle Debris Threat Management • Draft CONOPS report presented to STOWG in May 2010; FAA/AST requested inputs • Complex and “technically dense” report, requires significant attention to read • Subset of broader CONOPS for overall space vehicle operations, originally developed in 2004 (see FAA/AST website) • Proposed CONOPS based on “no closure of airspace” during space vehicle launch and reentry and taking fast and appropriate action in the airspace only when a confirmed anomaly occurs

5. CONOPS Discussion • How to track vehicles above the airspace • How did X-37 handle reentry procedures • Balance of focus on “failure and destruction” vs “normal nominal” operations (and what does that mean) • STOWG needs more views from operators, especially of new operators • No solution yet; ongoing dialogue still needed

6. Recommended Updates for Next Draft of CONOPS Report • Clearly express the context of this CONOPS as a subset within other CONOPS • Consider the following issues • Orbital vs suborbital vehicles • Launch breakup vs reentry breakup • Repeatability of operations • Frequency of operations • Requirements for special equipment onboard new vehicles • Cost and benefits of increased flexibility of not closing the airspace vs the price of that flexibility • Liability insurance

7. Action #1 • Continue to reach out to various associations whose members would be interested in this report • Hold quarterly STOWG telecons, with FAA/AST representatives present, to create a mechanism for open discussion between industry and government

8. Orbital Debris Compliance • In October 2009, joint STOWG / Risk Management WG meeting addressed orbital debris • See presentations on FAA/AST website from Nick Johnson (NASA JSC) and Elizabeth Gonzales • FAA/AST posed 5 questions to industry, broadly focused on what are the costs (economic, business, opportunity, competitive, etc) of complying with voluntary orbital debris standards and what would the costs/effect be if these standards become required • Compliance for post-mission disposal • Cost to maneuver upper stage to an orbit with 25-year lifetime • Cost to move upper stage to storage orbit • Cost to perform controlled deorbit • Impact of eliminating/minimizing debris <5mm that stays on orbit more than 25 years

9. Discussion • Input received to date is anecdotal: • No cost (doesn’t apply to suborbital vehicle) • $1M (cost of adding a solid rocket motor) • Cost already included in price of a launch • Conducting more on-orbit maneuvers impacts launch performance and thus customer/market share • Will there be a level playing field with foreign launchers • New space policy makes waivers harder to get • Compliance with international treaties important, but more interesting is creating incentive for “good behavior” to stop creating more debris • Challenge to get more meaningful input, without disclosing proprietary information in a public forum, and how to measure the data if it could be collected

10. Action #2 • Re-pose the 5 questions with a cover sheet explaining the context of the request and the potential effect • No plan to levy a new regulation, but need to prepare for this eventuality and/or the international community moving toward more enforceable standards and regulations • Query the launch vehicle operators for their reponses • Consider whether this is a task for the new Center of Excellence, e.g., development of cost model and analysis of economic data, and whether launch vehicle operators would be willing to share proprietary data to make the analysis and results meaningful

11. Top 5 Issues for STOWG – From May 2010 1. Commonality/standards/definitions for FAA licensed operations of launch sites – Human – Space vehicle (Spacecraft, capsules, and LV) – Licensing – Spaceports 2. Airspace management – Safety – Integration into current and NextGen airspace – Situational awareness – Reentry Debris (immediate notification) – Orbital Debris (upper stages) 3. Operations – Ground operations – Launch license (to include suborbital) – In-space operations: spaceflight participant/passenger, fuel depot, etc – Return/recovery 4. Market status & capability

12. Proposed Framework for Integrated Space Operations • Discussed draft approach to create a framework for the development of a systems-based, integrated operations framework for suborbital and orbital commercial spaceflight • Need for a “systems of systems” approach for operations • NextGen is also looking at systems of systems – how do space operations fit into that? • Work in progress

13. Action #3 • Distribute draft framework for review, solicit feedback, discuss in the next STOWG telecon

14. Open Discussion • Social problem of orbital debris • National Park / International Park analogy • Removing debris more expensive than not creating it • Next Gen • How space vehicles fit into the evolving system; space industry needs to understand this system to put future CONOPS into context • What is the cost of complying and equipping for NextGen? • FAA/AST role in commercial “human rating” process at NASA

15. Wrap-Up • Recommend a specialized briefing on NextGen to STOWG and full COMSTAC in May 2011 • Update on CONOPS, issues for industry, etc (not a report on process) • Schedule series of telecons (quarterly) to facilitate open dialogue on: • CONOPS (launch/reentry and others) • Orbital debris compliance • Framework for integrated space operations • Current events that may affect space operations • Full COMSTAC members and other WG members welcome to participate • Join the STOWG email distribution list!