The Way Forward — New Pathways for Human Spaceflight (John Olson)
This session will provide an overview of a number of new initiatives that will ultimately change the way NASA will conduct future exploration missions. Topics to be discussed will include new approaches to space transportation systems that will change the way we provide access to space, an overview of the recently completed study results of space-exploration-system architecture, and a review of a current space-transportation-system study that is defining a next-generation transportation system that will enable exploration beyond low-Earth orbit. The session will also provide an overview of the Administration’s plan to help mature the commercial launch industry for Earth-to-orbit missions following the end of the Space Shuttle era, and to exploit this emerging capability for International Space Station resupply and crew rotations in the coming decade.
John M. Olson is the director of the Directorate Integration Office in the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C. He is responsible for a broad range of exploration integration activities, architectures, processes, plans, and studies that span from international, commercial, interagency, and technology partnerships to synergy between science and exploration.
Related Resources
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Houston, we had a problem…and we learned from it!Space is hard. Inevitably, problems may occur. We can all learn valuable lessons from past events to ensure the safety and success of current and future programs. Enjoy reading and learning from a selection of such events. This booklet produced by the Johnson Space Center Knowledge Management Office contains numerous lesson learned from NASA missions and projects.
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Apollo 1-Challenger-ColumbiaEvery year as we get back in the saddle, our Remembrance Day signals us to think back to the tragic events of Apollo 1, Challenger and Columbia as well as the context surrounding them. We’re accountable for learning from not just what went wrong, but how we recovered. As an example, read these rules recorded by Wayne Hale, former NASA Flight Director and Space Shuttle Program Manager. By actually applying such lessons from the past to your current work, our actions can honor our lost crews beyond silent reflection.
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Shuttle Software AnomalyCase Study–A few minutes after the Shuttle Endeavour reached orbit for STS-126 on Nov. 14, 2008, mission control noticed that the shuttle did not automatically transfer two communications processes from launch to orbit configuration. Primary communications continued to use S-band frequencies after they should have transferred to the more powerful Ku-band. The link between the shuttle and its payload — the Payload Signal Processor (PSP)–remained configured for a radio link rather than switching.
