National Aeronautics and Space Administration · 2004-11-30 · 1.1 The Role of Johnson Space Center 7 1.2 Accomplishment of the NASA Vision and Mission 8 2. JSC Customers: Enterprises

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Johnson Space Center2004 Implementation Plan



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Message from the Center Director

On February 1, 2003, the Johnson Space Center tragically lost seven courageous and dedicated membersof our family. Rick. Willie. Mike. K.C. Dave. Laurel. Ilan. Since the Columbia accident, our communityhas received the generous support of federal, state and local officials; volunteers from across the nation; andour international partners. The Johnson Space Center is deeply indebted to the selfless efforts of all thosewho committed their time and their lives in search of recovering the Columbia and her crew.

The Johnson Space Center is resolute in our commitment to safely pursue human space flight to furtherthe noble efforts of the Columbia, Challenger and Apollo 1 crews. We dedicate our efforts to the memoriesof these valiant men and women who devoted their lives to scientific knowledge, education and explo-ration. We will not only fix the problems that were identified by the Columbia Accident InvestigationBoard; we will also rely on our integrity, respect, professional excellence and commitment to identify andcorrect other technical and cultural issues so that we may safely return the Space Shuttle to flight and safe-guard the Expedition crew on board the International Space Station.

Our greatest tribute to our heroic colleagues and our nation is to persevere in the quest for scientific knowl-edge, education and exploration. The Johnson Space Center will continue to make unique contributionsacross the world to improve life on Earth. We look forward to sharing our endeavors with you, and we wel-come you as you read about our exciting capabilities and plans for the future.

Jefferson D. Howell, Jr.DirectorLyndon B. JohnsonSpace Center

Mission patches for Apollo 1 (AS-204), Challenger (STS-51L) and Columbia (STS-107).



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Table of ContentsMessage from the Center Director 11. The Johnson Space Center: Enabling the NASA Vision and Mission 7

1.1 The Role of Johnson Space Center 71.2 Accomplishment of the NASA Vision and Mission 8

2. JSC Customers: Enterprises and Themes 112.1 Space Flight Enterprise 14

2.1.1 JSC’s Role in the Space Flight Enterprise 142.1.2 Space Shuttle Program 142.1.3 International Space Station Program 162.1.4 Rocket Propulsion Test Program 172.1.5 Crew Health and Safety Program 17

2.2 Biological and Physical Research Enterprise 172.2.1 Bioastronautics Research 17

2.3 Aerospace Technology Enterprise 182.3.1 Orbital Space Plane 182.3.2 Innovative Technology Transfer Partnerships 19

2.4 Space Science Enterprise 192.4.1 Solar System Exploration 192.4.2 Mars Exploration 20

2.5 Education Enterprise 20

3. JSC Workforce and Facilities 233.1 The JSC Workforce 23

3.1.1 Benefiting the Local Economy 253.1.2 An Active Community, Business and Education Partner 25

3.2 JSC Facilities 253.2.1 Real Property 263.2.2 Plans for JSC Facilities 273.2.3 JSC Communications Infrastructure 283.2.4 Unique Facilities 29

4. Capabilities for the Future: JSC Products and Services 414.1 JSC Goals and Strategic Alignment 424.2 Human Spacecraft Design and Development 42

4.2.1 Project Management and Subsystem Engineering 424.2.2 GFE Hardware and Flight Crew Hardware Development

and Maintenance 444.2.3 Robotics Technology 464.2.4 Software Development and Implementation 464.2.5 Safety and Mission Assurance Products 484.2.6 Hazardous Materials Testing 504.2.7 Rocket Propulsion Test Program Support 514.2.8 Advanced Space Propulsion Laboratory 514.2.9 Orbital Space Plane Program Support 52


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4.3 Human Operations in Space 524.3.1 Crew Selection and Training 524.3.2 Aircraft Operations and Training 534.3.3 Mission Planning, Training and Operations 534.3.4 Extravehicular Activity Planning, Training and Operations 54

4.4 Bioastronautics, Space Science and Astromaterials 564.4.1 Crew Health and Safety Program 564.4.2 Bioastronautics 574.4.3 Biological Sciences and Applications 584.4.4 Biomedical Experiments and Technologies 594.4.5 Astromaterials Research and Exploration Sciences 60

4.5 Education and Scientific Knowledge Advancement 614.5.1 Education and Student Programs 614.5.2 Technology Transfer 63

4.6 Unique Center Support Services 634.6.1 Imagery and Publishing 634.6.2 Procurement 644.6.3 Budget/Financial Planning 64

5. Implementing Strategies (IS) 67IS-1: Achieve management and institutional excellence comparable

to NASA’s technical excellence 67

IS-2: Demonstrate NASA leadership in the use of information technologies 68

IS-3: Enhance NASA’s core engineering, management and science capabilities and processes to ensure safety and mission success, increase performance and reduce cost 69

IS-4: Ensure that all NASA work environments, on Earth and in space, are safe, healthy, environmentally sound and secure 71

IS-5: Manage risk and cost to ensure success and provide the greatest value to the American public 75

6. Acronyms 77


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11 The JohnsonSpace Center:Enabling theNASA Vision and Mission


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The Johnson SpaceCenter: Enabling the NASA Vision and Mission

11The Role of Johnson Space Center 1.1For more than four decades, NASA’s JohnsonSpace Center (JSC) has led the United States andthe world in human exploration, discovery andachievement. JSC plays a vital role in transcendingthe physical boundaries of Earth, furtheringknowledge and enhancing the quality of life.

The Center’s team of dedicated professionals hasmade major advances in science, technology, engi-neering and medicine that enable humans to explorethe world and universe as never before and to deriveunparalleled benefits from that exploration.

The Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in Houston,Texas, was established in 1961 as the MannedSpacecraft Center. In 1973, it was renamed inhonor of the late President and Texas nativeLyndon B. Johnson. Since its founding, JSC hasbeen a pioneer in human space exploration andhas led the nation’s human space flight programsand projects, including Mercury, Gemini, Apollo,Skylab, Apollo-Soyuz, Space Shuttle, Shuttle-Mirand the International Space Station (ISS).

The Space Shuttle Discovery’s cargo bay, the ISS and the Earth’s horizon are reflectedin the helmet visor of Astronaut Paul W.Richards, STS-102 mission specialist, whileparticipating in an extravehicular activityduring the flight’s second spacewalk.


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Among many other disciplines, the Center alsoleads worldwide research in extraterrestrial materi-als and the interaction between humans androbotics, as well as the biology and physiology ofhumans in space.

JSC’s propulsion systems test facilities and many ofits materials testing laboratories are located at theWhite Sands Test Facility (WSTF) in Las Cruces,New Mexico. This facility expands the Center’sengineering capability with expertise in hazardsassessment, rocket propulsion and chemical andphysical properties testing of materials.

As one of NASA’s ten field centers, JSC providesproducts and services that directly support NASA’sefforts in scientific research and technologydevelopment.

Accomplishment of the NASA Visionand Mission 1.2The NASA Strategic Plan establishes the strategicdirection of the Agency and defines the alignmentof its strategic and implementing documentation.The JSC Implementation Plan is part of this docu-mentation.

The JSC Implementation Plan documents the rolesand responsibilities of the Center, and provides adetailed review of the products and services that itprovides in support of the Agency’s programs andprojects.

Government employees and contractors worktogether at JSC to contribute to the NASA visionand mission as One NASA. As a NASA field cen-ter, JSC also collaborates with other NASA fieldcenters and NASA Headquarters, federal agencies,industry and academia to achieve the Agency’svision and mission.

NASA also establishes Agency goals based on theNASA vision and mission in the NASA StrategicPlan. NASA’s Enterprises, and the field centers suchas JSC that support these Enterprises, are responsi-ble for achieving the NASA goals. The NASAEnterprises are guided by the NASA goals and areassigned to achieve these goals based on their corecapabilities.

The NASA VisionTo improve life here,

To extend life to there,

To find life beyond.

The NASA MissionTo understand and protect our home planet,

To explore the universe and search for life,

To inspire the next generation of explorers

. . . as only NASA can.


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22 JSC Customers:Enterprises and Themes


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JSC Customers:Enterprises and Themes

22The NASA Enterprises manage programs and proj-ects organized by “Themes” that serve to achieveAgency goals. Although the Enterprises manage thework performed by the programs, various NASAfield centers such as JSC provide products and serv-ices in support of the programs.

Every NASA Enterprise has published anEnterprise Strategy that describes its functions,roles, responsibilities and strategies for achievingthe NASA goals and objectives. For more informa-tion related to the Enterprises, refer to the mostrecent Enterprise Strategy.

Figure 1 depicts the primary functions for whichJSC provides products and services to the NASAEnterprises and Themes, and then aligns thosefunctions with NASA’s goals.

With his feet secured on a platform connected to theremote manipulator system (RMS) robotic arm of theSpace Shuttle Columbia, Astronaut Michael J. Massimino,mission specialist, hovers over the Shuttle’s cargo baywhile working in tandem with Astronaut James H.Newman, mission specialist, during the STS-109mission’s second day of extravehicular activity.


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All elements of NASA work together to achieve Agency goals, demonstrating the One NASA philosophy. The Agencygoals are listed below, and all Themes are listed by Enterprise (at right). Elements of the matrix indicate each Theme’sprimary (�) and supporting (�) contributions and the Center’s primary (�) and supporting (��) contributions.

NASAMission

Understandand protectour home

planet

Explore theuniverse

and search for life

Inspire thenext

generation of explorers

Enabling Goals

NASA Goals

Figure 1: Johnson Space Center Alignment with the NASA 2003 Strategic Plan

1 Understand Earth’s system and apply Earth system-science to improve the prediction of climate, weather, and natural hazards.

Enable a safer, more secure, efficient, and environmentally friendly air transportation system.

Create a more secure world and improve quality of life by investing intechnologies and collaborate with other agencies, industry, and academia.

Explore the fundamental principles of physics, chemistry, and biology through research in the unique natural laboratory of space.

Explore the solar system and the universe beyond, understand the origin and evolution of life, and search for evidence of life elsewhere.

Inspire and motivate students to pursue careers in science, technology,engineering, and mathematics.

Engage the public in shaping and sharing the experience of exploration and discovery.

Ensure the provision of space access and improve it by increasing safety,reliability, and affordability.

Extend the duration and boundaries of human space flight to create new opportunities for exploration and discovery.

Enable revolutionary capabilities through new technology.

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4

5

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NASA

Goal

s

NASA Enterprises

Space ScienceEarth

ScienceBiological and

Physical ResearchAeroTech Ed Space Flight Aerospace

Technology

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Mar

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Sun-

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(SEC

)

Eart

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stem

Sci

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(ESS

)

Eart

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ns(E

SA)

Biol

ogic

al S

cien

ces

Rese

arch

(BSR

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Phys

ical

Sci

ence

s Re

sear

ch(P

SR)

Rese

arch

Par

tner

ship

s an

d Fl

ight

Sup

port

(RPF

S)

Aero

naut

ics

Tech

nolo

gy (A

T)

Educ

atio

n Pr

ogra

ms

(EP)

Inte

rnat

iona

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ce S

tatio

n(IS

S)

Spac

e Sh

uttle

Pro

gram

(SSP

)

Spac

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Sup

port

(SFS

)

Spac

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unch

Initi

ativ

e (S

LI)

Mis

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Sci

ence

Mea

sure

men

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hnol

ogy

(MSM

)

Inno

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chno

logy

Tran

sfer

Par

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ship

s (IT

TP)

Astr

onom

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Sea

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Orig

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Stru

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Enterprise/Theme Primary JSC Primary

JSC SecondaryEnterprise/Theme Supporting

Color and Symbol Key:


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The following section lists the Enterprises that JSCsupports and describes the programs the Centersupports in more detail.

Space Flight Enterprise 2.1

JSC’s Role in the Space FlightEnterprise 2.1.1JSC is one of four NASA field centers that are man-aged by the Space Flight Enterprise. The Centerworks closely with the other three field centers toachieve the primary goals supported by the SpaceFlight Enterprise.

The Director of JSC and the Directors of the otherfield centers managed by the Space FlightEnterprise serve on the Leadership Council for theSpace Flight Enterprise. In this capacity, the fieldcenters contribute to the overall direction and lead-ership for the Enterprise.

The Space Flight Enterprise has established fourareas of emphasis that JSC is committed to sup-porting. These areas include:

Commitment to FlightJSC’s commitment to space flight is resolute.Through the Center’s systematic safety and engi-neering practices, JSC will work with the rest of theAgency to fix the problems that were identified bythe Columbia Accident Investigation Board andwill correct other technical and cultural issues sothe nation may safely return to flight.

Space Shuttle Program 2.1.2The Space Shuttle is the most complex space vehi-cle ever designed and operated. It lifts off like arocket, carries people and cargo into Earth orbitand lands on a runway like an airplane. After beingserviced, the vehicle can fly again. This space trans-portation system has transformed the space frontier.

The Space Shuttle Program (SSP) system consistsof the Space Shuttle Vehicle (SSV) elements, theShuttle Carrier Aircraft, payload accommodationsand ground support systems. The SSV consists of areusable Orbiter vehicle with three installed SpaceShuttle Main Engines, two reusable Solid Rocket

• Ensure and improve space access. (Goal 8)

• Extend the duration and boundaries of human space flight. (Goal 9)

• Enable revolutionary capabilities throughnew technology. (Goal 10)

The Space Flight Enterprise’sPrimary Contributions to NASA Goals

Corporate FocusJSC is part of an integrated organization with acommon purpose. JSC will work with NASAHeadquarters and other NASA field centers as OneNASA to provide space flight capabilities that fur-ther NASA’s goals, now and in the future.

Management ExcellenceJSC, like the rest of NASA, is guided by the princi-ples of the President’s Management Agenda. JSC iscommitted to enabling constructive leadership andexecution of its programs and projects througheffective and efficient resource allocation.

Reaching for a Vibrant FutureThrough commitment to space flight, a refinedcorporate focus and management excellence,NASA will be better enabled to develop the foun-dation for our future. JSC will enhance itscapabilities to respond when new opportunities forexploration arise.

JSC’s commitment to these areas of emphasis isdocumented throughout this JSC 2004 Implemen-tation Plan.

Many of the Enterprise’s programs are resident atJSC. Although these programs are managed by theSpace Flight Enterprise, JSC plays a significant rolein directly providing the programs with productsand services, which are described in more detail inChapter 4. Detailed descriptions of these programsfollow.


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Boosters and reusable Solid Rocket Motors, and anexpendable External Tank. The Program’s func-tions, production and processing are performed inseven states and in Washington, D.C.

The Space Shuttle is designed to carry 55,000pounds of cargo and seven people into space.Space Shuttle can perform a variety of missions,including:

• ISS assembly and support.

• Deployment and/or retrieval of payloads.

• Logistics transport and resupply.

• ISS crew rotation.

The Orbiter serves as a science and technology plat-form, can rendezvous and dock or berth, and cansupport missions of 16-plus days. The astronautcrewmembers can also perform spacewalks (alsoknown as extravehicular activities (EVAs)) from theOrbiter to assemble, repair and service payloads inEarth orbit.

From its first flight in April 1981, the Space Shuttlehas flown 113 flights. The Shuttle fleet has spentmore than two-and-a-half years of total time inorbit and 15 years of passenger hours in flight.

More than 850 payloads have flown, 65 payloadshave been deployed, and more than 28 payloadshave been retrieved, repaired, serviced and/orreturned. The Shuttle has supported the RussianMir space station and the ISS. There have been a total of five Orbiters in the history of the SpaceShuttle fleet. Due to the Challenger and Columbiaaccidents, there are three Orbiters remaining:Discovery, Atlantis and Endeavour.

Although it has flown for more than two decades,the Space Shuttle still has three-quarters of itsdesign life remaining. To maintain safe, robustcapabilities in the Shuttle systems, the Program hasinitiated a Service Life Extension Program (SLEP).The SLEP policy is to assure safe and effectiveimprovements to extend the Shuttle’s useful life.

SLEP will identify and integrate issues and con-cerns across the SSP to establish a priority ofinvestments required to fly safely. The focus ofSLEP will be on safety and sustainability upgrades,as well as on infrastructure revitalization.

Return-to-flight (RTF) activities are currentlyunder way. NASA will be guided by the ColumbiaAccident Investigation Board’s (CAIB’s) formal

The Space ShuttleEndeavour approaches the International SpaceStation. The Multi-Purpose Logistics Module,known as Leonardo, isvisible in Endeavour’spayload bay.


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recommendations, which may be found on theInternet at http://www.nasa.gov/.

NASA’s Implementation Plan for Space ShuttleReturn to Flight and Beyond (the RTFImplementation Plan) documents correctiveactions to address the CAIB recommendations andother critical actions that have been identified byNASA to enhance safety. The RTF ImplementationPlan may also be found on the Internet athttp://www.nasa.gov/. The RTF ImplementationPlan is a living document and will be regularlyupdated with progress. As such, it will guideNASA’s efforts to return to flight and to safelyresume missions.

International Space Station Program 2.1.3The ISS is a scientific laboratory orbiting 240 miles(390 kilometers) above the Earth that serves as ahome to an international crew. Led by the UnitedStates, the ISS represents a global communityunited by the common goal of expanding humanpossibilities.

It is the most complex, international scientific andtechnological endeavor ever undertaken, involvingfive space agencies representing 16 nations workingtogether in one of the greatest nonmilitary efforts

in history. Once it is completed, this research labo-ratory in space will include contributions from theU.S., Russia, Canada, Japan, Brazil, Belgium,Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands,Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and theUnited Kingdom.

The elements of the ISS have been manufactured infacilities around the world. Assembly of the ISS ele-ments in orbit began in 1998. Today, the ISSprovides crewmembers with interior living and work-ing space equal to that of a typical three-bedroomhome. As a laboratory, the ISS serves as a test bed forfuture technologies; and its crews conduct scientificresearch on new, advanced industrial materials, com-munications technology, medical research and more.

Established as an unprecedented, state-of-the-art,orbiting laboratory, the ISS continues to expand theboundaries of space research. Its unique laboratorycapabilities will lead to discoveries that will benefitpeople all over the world, now and for the future.

Since the Columbia accident, the assembly of theISS has been discontinued until safe Shuttle flightscan be resumed. However, the ISS continues toserve as a platform for scientific research, whilemaintaining a focus of safe operations with a crew

Backdropped against theblackness of space andEarth’s horizon, theInternational Space Stationwas photographed throughan aft flight deck windowfollowing separation fromthe Space Shuttle Atlantis.


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of two. When the Shuttle can be safely returned toflight, ISS assembly will continue to expand thecapabilities of the orbiting laboratory.

Rocket Propulsion Test Program 2.1.4The Rocket Propulsion Test Program provides thecore engineering and technology base to operate,maintain and enhance test facilities, rocket enginesand engine components used in current flight vehi-cles, including the Space Shuttle and commercialvehicles. This program also tests future rocketpropulsion technologies and systems.

Crew Health and Safety Program 2.1.5The Crew Health and Safety Program protects theastronauts from the hazards of space travel andidentifies methods that allow them to improve theirperformance. This program also systematicallyidentifies and assesses critical health and safety risksand develops risk management solutions thatenhance human health, safety and performance.

Biological and Physical ResearchEnterprise 2.2

The Biological and Physical Research Enterprise hasa unique role in all aspects of the Agency’s vision andmission. Its fundamental and commercial researchallows new knowledge, technologies and industriesto improve life on Earth. Strategic research seeksinnovation and solutions to enable the extension oflife into deep space safely and productively. TheBiological and Physical Research Enterprise sponsorsinterdisciplinary research in the unique laboratory ofmicrogravity to address opportunities and challengeson Earth as well as in space environments.

Strategic research addresses topics such as radiationhealth and protection, bioastronautics and humansupport technologies aimed at sustained humanexploration of space. For humans to venturebeyond where we have been in space, NASA mustprovide the same kind of safe haven for spaceexplorers that Earth provides. Understanding thechallenge of adaptation of humans and other lifeforms to the effects of space flight is a critical rolefor the Biological and Physical Research Enterprise.

JSC provides products and services, described inmore detail in Chapter 4, in support of the follow-ing program.

Bioastronautics Research 2.2.1NASA is leading the world in exploring and under-standing the space frontier, and in understandingthe opportunities and the challenges this frontierpresents for human exploration. Bioastronautics is afocused effort to enable the human exploration ofspace through effective risk management solutionsand innovative, scientific and technological discover-ies. It is NASA’s vision to reach beyond the currentboundaries of human space flight, to steadfastlyensure the safety, health and productivity of its spacecrews, and to use the knowledge gained in this questto improve life on Earth.

Bioastronautics is the study of biological and medicaleffects of space flight on human systems. It establishes tolerance limits to the extreme environ-ments of space and develops efficient and effectivecountermeasure strategies to overcome those limita-tions. Bioastronautics spans the research, operationaland policy issues related to human space flight.

• Create a more secure world and improvethe quality of life by investing in tech-nologies and collaborating with otheragencies, industry and academia. (Goal 3)

• Explore the fundamental principles ofphysics, chemistry and biology throughresearch in the unique natural laboratoryof space. (Goal 4)

• Extend the duration and boundaries of human space flight to create newopportunities for exploration anddiscovery. (Goal 9)

The Biological and PhysicalResearch Enterprise’s PrimaryContributions to NASA Goals


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NASA envisions an outcome-driven program basedon the Bioastronautics Critical Path Roadmap,which can be found on the Internet at http://criti-calpath.jsc.nasa.gov/. This program is designed toensure the safety, health and optimum perform-ance of astronauts through systematic identification,assessment and management of critical risks associ-ated with human space flight.

Realization of this program will provide the Agencyand its stakeholders with risk management solu-tions for all mission scenarios, including SpaceShuttle, extended-duration habitation of the ISSand future exploration missions. In addition, thispursuit will yield new opportunities for scientificdiscoveries and advanced technologies for under-standing and overcoming human limitations to thehazardous environment of space.

Aerospace Technology Enterprise 2.3The Aerospace Technology Enterprise has a signifi-cant role to play in meeting the challenges facingaerospace transportation. Advanced physics-basedmodeling, simulation, new materials and structuralconcepts, and other technologies will enable safer,more robust and affordable aircraft and spacecraft.

• Enable a safer, more secure, efficient and environmentally friendly air transportation system.(Goal 2)

• Create a more secure world and improve the quality of life by investing in technologies andcollaborating with other agencies, industry and academia. (Goal 3)

• Ensure the provision of space access and improve it by increasing safety, reliability and afford-ability. (Goal 8)

• Extend the duration and boundaries of human space flight to create new opportunities forexploration and discovery. (Goal 9)

• Enable revolutionary capabilities through new technology. (Goal 10)

The Aerospace Technology Enterprise’s Primary Contributions to NASA Goals

NASA has always been a leader in applyingadvanced technologies. The Aerospace TechnologyEnterprise applies technologies that enable safe,simplified space transportation and robust designand operating margins. These technologies allowthe continued expansion of human and roboticexploration throughout the solar system. JSC pro-vides support, discussed in more detail in Chapter4, to the following programs.

Orbital Space Plane 2.3.1NASA is revolutionizing our space transportationsystems to significantly increase safety and reliabil-ity, while reducing cost, through its Space LaunchInitiative. The design and development of a next-generation crew rescue and crew transportvehicle—an Orbital Space Plane (OSP)—is one ofthe objectives of the Space Launch Initiative. TheOSP Program will develop more than a vehicle; itwill develop the entire space transportation system,including ground operations and all supportingtechnologies needed to conduct missions to andfrom the ISS.

The ISS is a valuable resource for both scientificresearch and operational experience in the spaceenvironment. Access to the ISS is critical and, as


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experienced after the Columbia accident, vulnerableto disruption. To ensure access to space for thenation, the Aerospace Technology Enterprise hasestablished the OSP Program, which is focused ondeveloping technology for a crew return vehicle.Through an evolutionary development process, theOSP Program will continue with the developmentof a crew transfer vehicle to send humans into spaceand return them safely to Earth.

The strategy of the OSP is to accelerate technologydevelopment through flight demonstrators that willmeet the most challenging aspects of developing acrewed space vehicle, including approach and land-ing, autonomous rendezvous and crew escape.

Innovative Technology TransferPartnerships 2.3.2The Innovative Technology Transfer Partnerships(ITTP) Theme serves all of the NASA Enterprisesand supports their missions by facilitating the devel-opment of new technologies through partnershipswith U.S. industry. The ITTP Theme consists ofthe Technology Transfer Activity, the Small BusinessInnovative Research (SBIR) program and the SmallBusiness Technology Transfer (STTR) program.

The Technology Transfer Activity contributes to theEnterprise’s needs, as well as to national economicstrength, through innovative technology partnershipswith non-aerospace industries. NASA will supportefforts to document and license technologies and tomake them available to the private sector. Further,the Agency will continue to advise entrepreneurs oftechnology offerings available for licensing and willsolicit partnerships to meet Enterprise technologyneeds through the use of the Internet.

In 1982, Congress established the SBIR program toprovide increased opportunities for small businessesin research and development, increased employmentand competition. Specific program objectives are tostimulate U.S. technological innovation, to use smallbusinesses to meet NASA’s research and developmentneeds, to increase private sector commercialization ofinnovation derived from federal research and devel-opment, and to foster and encourage participation bysocially disadvantaged businesses.

The STTR program awards contracts to small busi-ness concerns for cooperative research anddevelopment with a research institution such as auniversity. The goal of Congress in establishing theSTTR program is to facilitate the transfer of tech-nology developed by a research institution throughthe entrepreneurship of a small business.

Space Science Enterprise 2.4The Space Science Enterprise at NASA seeks toanswer certain profound questions, namely:

• How did the universe begin and evolve?

• How did we get here?

• Where are we going?

• Are we alone in the universe?

The Space Science Enterprise is responsible forNASA’s programs relating to astronomy, the solarsystem and the Sun and its interaction with Earth.JSC supports this Enterprise by providing productsand services, described in more detail in Chapter 4,to the following Themes.

Solar System Exploration 2.4.1Fundamental research performed by the SolarSystem Exploration Theme seeks to understand the:

• Understand the Earth system and applyEarth system science to improve predic-tion of climate, weather and naturalhazards. (Goal 1)

• Explore the solar system and the universebeyond, understand the origin and evolution of life, and search forevidence of life elsewhere. (Goal 5)

The Space Science Enterprise’sPrimary Contributions to NASA Goals


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• Nature and history of our solar system,and what makes Earth both similar to and different from its planetary neighbors.

• Origin and evolution of life on Earth.

• External forces, including comet andasteroid impacts, that affect life and the habitability of Earth.

Mars Exploration 2.4.2NASA seeks to understand whether Mars was, is orcan be a habitable world. To find this out, the MarsExploration Theme is conducting research tounderstand how geologic, climatic and otherprocesses have worked to shape Mars and its envi-ronment over time, as well as how these processesinteract today. The key to understanding the past,

present or future potential for life on Mars can befound in four broad, overarching goals for Marsexploration. These are to:

• Determine whether life ever existed on Mars.

• Characterize the climate of Mars.

• Characterize the geology of Mars.

• Prepare for human exploration of Mars.

Education Enterprise 2.5From the excitement of the countdown to awe-inspiring images of planets and galaxies, space

• Inspire and motivate students to pursuecareers in science, technology, engineeringand mathematics. (Goal 6)

• Engage the public in shaping and sharingthe experience of exploration and discov-ery. (Goal 7)

The Education Enterprise’sPrimary Contributions to NASA Goals

By establishing education as a part of our core mission, we will help to counter the general decline in math and science skills that threatens the prosperity and security of future generations of Americans.

Sean O’Keefe, NASA Administrator

exploration has a unique capacity to capture theimaginations of young and old alike. But the roadto the planets does not begin at the launch pad; itbegins at the classroom door.

In a world economy increasingly driven by infor-mation and technology, the U.S. capability in thefields of science, technology, engineering and math-ematics will continue to serve as the cornerstone ofmuch of our strength. At the same time, colleges inthe U.S. are reporting a significant decline indegrees awarded in math, engineering and technol-ogy (source: U.S. Dept. of Education: TheCondition of Education, 2002, page 197, NCES2002-025). The United States needs the children oftoday to become the inventors of tomorrow, andNASA needs them to explore new worlds andimprove life here on Earth.

If the United States is to lead in the scientific andtechnological advancements of the 21st century,NASA must focus on educating our young peo-ple—and inspire them to pursue the careers thatmake these accomplishments possible.

JSC provides products and services to theEducation Enterprise through several activitiesdescribed in more detail in Chapter 4.


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33 The JSCWorkforce and Facilities


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JSC Workforce and Facilities33JSC is a positive force in the community. A largeworkforce of federal and contract employees greatlyinfluences the local economy. This workforce alsoenhances the quality of life in the area throughcommunity service, partnerships with industry andeducation programs.

The JSC Workforce 3.1JSC boasts a committed and capable workforcepoised to fulfill NASA goals in the areas of:

• Human Spacecraft Design and Development.

• Human Operations in Space.

• Bioastronautics, Space Science and Astromaterials.

• Education and Scientific KnowledgeAdvancement.

The expertise of the JSC workforce is concentratedin these four primary areas, which encompass JSC’score capabilities. The workforce, facilities, productsand services of the Center are managed within thisgeneral structure.

Center management continues to assess the skills itneeds to support future opportunities in JSC’s corecapabilities, such as the OSP, the SLEP, the HumanResearch Institute and the Space RadiationInitiative. Readiness for the future is ensured byimplementation of a hiring strategy consistent withthe Center’s evolving goals and missions; recruit-ment and retention of the best employees;

The flight director andCAPCOM (capsule com-municator) are pictured onconsole during the flightof STS-113.


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development of leaders; supplementation of thecivil service workforce through partnerships withacademia and private industry; and implementa-tion of the Agency’s Strategic Human Capital Plan.

JSC’s workforce is primarily made up of scientistsand engineers. The average age of the overall work-force is 45.8 years with about 20.3 percent of theworkforce eligible to retire by 2006. Given the cur-rent trends, about 13 percent of the Center’sworkforce is expected to turn over by 2006.

In 2003, JSC conducted a workforce and compe-tency assessment to identify critical needs for theCenter to meet its future challenges. As a result ofthis assessment, JSC will focus its efforts on miti-gating skill gaps in areas related to:

• Space Shuttle RTF activities.

• Mission execution.

• Bioastronautics.

• Astromaterials and space sciences.

• Design, development and systems engi-neering.

• Business and technical support.

Secretarial and Administrative

Technicians

Scientists and Engineers

Professional Administrative6%

1%27%

66%

Secretarial and Administrative

Technicians

Scientists and Engineers

Professional Administrative

71%

2%

7%20%

14%

10%

8%

Retirement Eligiblein FY 2003

Over age 60 Under age 30

Occupational Sources ofProjected TurnoverThrough 2006

Major OccupationalGroupings at JSC in 2003

JSC Workforce Age Profilein 2003


25

To address these gaps and to maintain the excellenceof the workforce, JSC will apply an integrated set ofhuman capital tools. Use of these tools will ensurethat the Center has a committed, capable and diverseworkforce in place to accomplish the technical andbusiness management objectives set by the Agency.

Benefiting the Local Economy 3.1.1Texas ranks first in total NASA dollars spent. In fis-cal year 2000 (FY 2000), the Center contributedmore than $2 billion to the local economy, largelythrough worker salaries, contracts, grants and localpurchase of goods and services. Studies show that16 percent of the local workforce is directlyemployed in the aerospace industry. JSC and con-tractor personnel are educated and highlyskilled—84 percent have a bachelor’s degree and 31percent also hold at least one graduate degree.

At the end of FY 2000, 2,894 civil servants and13,357 contractors were employed at or near JSC.A total of 633 companies and organizations workedon Center contracts, grants and agreements thatyear, including awards equaling $34 million toTexas colleges and universities and $3.6 million tononprofit institutions.

An Active Community, Businessand Education Partner 3.1.2JSC plays a major role in community activities. TheCenter participates in technical expositions withindustry, university and other professional groupsto share and explore advanced technologies withtheir potential for wider commercial, governmentor academic use.

The human space flight mission provides an inspi-rational environment in which to learn engineeringconcepts, science and math. The Center’s educationprograms for teacher development and studentenrichment include partnerships with public andprivate schools and universities. In teacher work-shops, hundreds of teachers from around thenation are given access to NASA resources and aretrained in techniques for teaching science andmath. Students find exciting, hands-on learningopportunities in special projects such as a robotics

engineering competition, a Mars-Base Developmentactivity and the KC-135 Reduced Gravity StudentFlight Opportunity Program.

JSC Facilities 3.2Development of the Lyndon B. Johnson SpaceCenter began in September 1961. JSC is located inHouston, Texas, with facilities situated on its maincampus near Clear Lake and with other facilitieslocated at Ellington Field. JSC also manages testfacilities at the WSTF located in Las Cruces, NewMexico.

Students participating in experiments as part of their studies in the KC-135 Reduced GravityStudent Flight Opportunity Program.


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Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center

Real Property 3.2.1The primary site of JSC is located on 1,580.8 acresof land in Houston, Texas. The Center, which has165 buildings that provide for 3.7 million squarefeet, has a net worth of $466.1 million. The JSCfacilities at Ellington Field are situated on 50.7 acres,and include 30 buildings comprising 543,451 squarefeet and a net worth of $58.8 million.

A comparison of real property at JSC and at WSTFto the total values for all NASA field sites is shownin Table 1.

The majority of JSC facilities were built in the mid-1960s, with some minor facility additions over thenext 30 years. The most recent addition was theSouth annex to the Mission Control Center, whichwas constructed in the mid-1990s. Due to theaging infrastructure at JSC and to the reduced lev-els of maintenance funding over the past decade,JSC has seen a substantial increase in its backlog ofmaintenance and repair (BMAR).

The Agency facility condition index (FCI), whichis a five-point scale of facility condition, is used to


27

Table 1: Comparison of Real Property

Real Property JSC % JSC Rank WSTF % WSTF RankCompensation of NASA of 13 NASA of NASA of 13 NASAof NASA Field Site Total Field Sites Total Field Sites

Total Land 0.5% 8 16.8% 3

Buildings 7.6% 5 3.4% 12

Facility Net Worth 7.8% 5 1.0% 12

Population 12.8% 2 1.0% 13

Table 1: Comparison of Real Property

Real Property JSC % JSC Rank WSTF % WSTF RankComparison of NASA of 13 NASA of NASA of 13 NASAof NASA Field Site Total Field Sites Total Field Sites

develop major facility repair requirements. In theFCI assessment in 2002, JSC scored 3.5 out of 5.0,where the NASA average is 3.6. JSC is ranked eighthof the 13 NASA centers in terms of average FCI.

The Center facilities maintenance budget is part ofthe facilities service pool that pays for a number ofinstitutional services including maintenance andrepair. Maintenance and repair is the top priorityfor this pool after other fixed costs, such as utilities,are budgeted.

A study initiated in 2002, currently under finalreview, was funded to provide a program and sched-ule for the total planned refurbishment of interiorsof all office buildings at JSC. The study provided acomprehensive review of existing conditions of aselected prototype structure. Recommendationswere provided for upgrading all building systems tocurrent technology, which will extend the useful lifeof all buildings for another 40 years. The totalNASA refurbishment program calls for the renova-tion of approximately 1.4 million square feet at acost of $240 million.

JSC is planning for demolition of some facilities inFY 2004, FY 2005, FY 2006 and FY 2007. Somemaintenance and repair funds will be saved as thesefacilities are demolished. The savings will enablethe Center to better maintain existing facilities.

Plans for JSC Facilities 3.2.2

Internal Planning JSC has been working to improve efficiency withinits maintenance and repair program and to main-tain its facilities in a more cost-effective manner byperforming reliability centered maintenance (RCM).The Center has also requested and received a main-tenance and repair funding augmentation to applytoward the reduction of BMAR. BMAR growth atJSC will be curtailed as a result of this funding aug-mentation, combined with the implementation ofRCM.

In addition to the maintenance and repair fundingaugmentation, JSC has the means to demolishunessential facilities through the availability of anAgencywide demolition fund. JSC is planning fordemolition of several facilities in the next four fiscalyears, and some maintenance and repair funds willbe saved as these facilities are demolished. Thesesavings will enable the Center to better maintain itsremaining essential facilities.

A study, initiated in 2002, was funded for the totalplanned refurbishment of interiors of all officebuildings at JSC. The study, which provided acomprehensive review of existing conditions of aselected prototype structure, resulted in a recom-mendation to refurbish, rather than demolish and


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• Thermal Vacuum Test Complex

– Chamber A

– Chamber B

• Electronic Systems Test Laboratory

• JSC Avionics Engineering Laboratory

• Energy Systems Test Area

• Electromagnetic Interference/Compatibility

Laboratory

• Vibration and Acoustic Test Facility

Human Spacecraft Designand Development Facilities

rebuild, panel office structures. Recommendations,which will extend the useful life of all buildings foranother 40 years, were provided for upgrading allbuilding systems to current technology. Based onthe results of this study, JSC has also produced a20-year refurbishment plan for these facilities. Totalfacility refurbishments will include architecturalupgrades, bringing JSC facilities current withAmericans with Disabilities Act standards; totalmechanical and electrical upgrades, which willincrease energy efficiency; and upgrades to fire pro-tection and asbestos and lead paint removal, whichwill improve the overall safety and reduce currentmaintenance and repair costs of the facilities.

External Partnership Opportunities As part of the planning process, JSC’s infrastructureis analyzed for its ability to support modificationsto existing facilities or the building of new facilities.This information is documented in a MasterDevelopment Plan. Recommendations from out-side entities help the Center to assess future uses ofour capabilities, such as enhanced use leasing(EUL) and partnering with industry or universities.

By using Space Act Agreements and by proposingEUL strategies and public-private partnerships,JSC will maximize use of its non-NASA capitalassets. Potential partners, such as contractors, localdevelopers, universities and outside investors, andstrategies are being identified for implementingopportunities, including the lease of land or facili-ties for the mutual benefit of both parties onfacilities projects.

JSC’s infrastructure will require a substantialamount of investment over the next several yearsto ensure its ability to support the Center’s cus-tomers. The Real Property Business Plan identifiesopportunities and provides the foundation for astrategy that will assist JSC in making the transi-tion from an aging infrastructure to a highlysupportive infrastructure.

Several opportunities were highlighted in the RealProperty Business Plan. These opportunities, ifimplemented, will use existing underused land atJSC. Other opportunities exist for facilities and asset

management. JSC can renovate an existing facility,relocate an off-site contractor and use the EUL pro-ceeds to begin renovating other on-site facilities.

JSC Communications Infrastructure 3.2.3The JSC communications infrastructure is com-prised of voice and data network links and routingdevices. The voice network was completely reno-vated within the last three years. Low-levelmaintenance is planned at a static level within cur-rent budgets. A major Centerwide upgrade ofnetwork systems, involving standards conversionand bandwidth increases, is currently 60 percentcomplete. Maintenance costs for the data networkare approximated from historical and vendor dataas 20 percent of the total value of the network.

JSC also manages an imaging services infrastructurethat includes traditional analog and digital videosystems, wet film chemical systems and digital stillimagery systems. The Center thus provides thehuman space flight programs with direct missionsupport, including downlinked, or returned, videoand still photography. The JSC video network iscurrently being serviced, and upgrades are plannedover the course of the next several years. Upgradesto the cable television system are being planned to


29

allow for larger channel capacity and features suchas video-on-demand. Plans are also being devel-oped to increase bandwidth to allow for standardand high-definition digital signal distribution.Maintenance costs for the video network areapproximated from historical and vendor data as 20percent of the total value of the network.

Unique Facilities 3.2.4Human Spacecraft Design and DevelopmentJSC has several facilities that provide engineeringdesign, development and test support to human-rated spacecraft, including the Space Shuttle andthe ISS Programs. Some of these facilities aredescribed in more detail below.

The Thermal-Vacuum Test Complex consists oftwo chambers, Chambers A and B. The facility pro-vides full-scale testing of large systems, as well ashuman testing and training in a high-fidelity, sim-ulated space environment. In addition to thechambers, a high bay area supports test articlebuildup and preparation for installation into thechambers. To support test articles, the facility hasnumerous thermal carts that are capable of provid-ing precise thermal control to temperatures as lowas 144 Kelvin.

Chamber A is the largest of the JSC thermal-vacuum test facilities. Its usable test volumeand high-fidelity space simulation capabili-ties are adaptable for thermal-vacuum testingof a wide variety of test articles.

Chamber B, which has roughly one-tenth ofthe internal volume of Chamber A, can han-dle a variety of smaller-scale tests moreeconomically and with faster response. It isthe only human-rated thermal vacuumchamber in the world; and it continues to beused regularly to verify the viability of EVAconstruction activities. This is the onlychamber in which procedures and design canbe verified on large EVA flight hardware atfull thermal and vacuum conditions, using asuited crewmember. This facility provides thehighest fidelity simulation of the actual hard-

ware conditions that can be achieved on theground. Results of these tests are used to planEVA procedures and to correct hardwareflaws before they are launched.

The Electronic Systems Test Laboratory is aunique NASA facility in which multi-element,crewed spacecraft communications systems areintegrated and tested using relay satellites andground elements in a controlled radio frequencyenvironment. This facility is used for design eval-uation, radio frequency interface compatibilityand system performance verification testing ofspacecraft radio frequency communications sys-tems and their interfaces with external elements,such as ground stations, relay satellites anddetached payloads.

The JSC Avionics Engineering Laboratory(JAEL) is an engineering facility designed to sup-port avionics flight system hardware and softwaredevelopment and evaluation. JAEL can supportinformal engineering evaluation as well as formal,configuration-controlled verification testing ofboth flight and non-flight hardware and software.JAEL provides a “bench”-level test environmentand a flight-like environment that is capable ofsupporting both individual flight system compo-nent-level testing and integrated system-leveltesting of flight system components.

The Energy Systems Test Area (ESTA) is a multi-facility complex that provides environmental testservices for hardware evaluation and problem solv-ing. The ESTA facilities have remote control andsensing features and built-in blast protection thatallow both development and out-of-limits testing.The facilities include many of the high-energysystems used in crewed spacecraft and planetarysystems, such as fluid systems, cryogenics, pyro-technics, batteries, fuel cells, chemical processes forin-situ resource utilization, electromechanicalactuation, hydraulics and high-pressure hydrostaticand pneumostatic testing of components and fluidsystems.

The Electromagnetic Interference/Electromag-netic Compatibility (EMI/EMC) Laboratory is


30

Astronaut Joseph R. (Joe)Tanner, STS-115 missionspecialist, uses the Sky-genie to lower himselffrom a simulated trouble-plagued Shuttle in anemergency egress trainingsession in the SpaceVehicle Mockup Facility at JSC. (At right)

An overall view of theReturn to Flight RepairDemonstration inJohnson Space Center’sSpace EnvironmentSimulation Laboratory.Chamber A can be seenin the background.(Above)


31

Crew Training• Jake Garn Training Facility

• Space Vehicle Mockup Facility

• Space Station Training Facility

• Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory – Sonny Carter Training Facility

• Systems EngineeringSimulator – SpacecraftDynamics Simulation

• Mobile Remote ManipulatorDevelopment Facility

• Dexterous Manipulator Trainer

• EVA/RMS Virtual RealitySimulation Trainer

Crew Training andHardware Certification• Space Station Airlock Test

Facility

• Shuttle Environmental ControlLife Support System TestArticle and the Shuttle AirlockTest Article

• Eleven-Foot Chamber

• Eight-Foot Chamber

• Two-Foot Thermal-VacuumSpacesuit Boot/Glove TestChamber

Ground Crew Training and Operations• Mission Control Center

• Electrical Power SystemsLaboratory

• Intelligent Systems Laboratory

• Software TechnologyLaboratory

• Integrated Planning System(IPS) and Flight Data FileProduction Facility

Human Operations in Space Facilities

comprised of two EMI test chambers. TheEMI/EMC Laboratory provides technical servicesto evaluate and certify flight hardware, groundsupport equipment and commercial off-the-shelfequipment for both the Shuttle and the ISS toachieve compliance with EMI requirements andEMC requirements at the component level.

The Vibration and Acoustic Test Facility is usedto empirically evaluate and certify hardware struc-tural design and workmanship. It is capable oftesting spacecraft components that are rigidlybolted to a planar interface on a single shaker andare subjected to a random vibration equivalent to aShuttle or an ISS environment. The vibration envi-ronment can simulate broadband random vibrationsinduced in spacecraft by external acoustic or aerody-namic pressure, exert shock pulses to simulateground handling and transportation, and identifyresonance and broadband random environmentsother than mission conditions used to predictimpending failures due to workmanship defects.

Human Operations in SpaceDesigning a training program to prepare astronautsfor the unique challenges of working in micrograv-ity presents its own set of challenges. Trainers mustnot only familiarize astronauts with complex andhighly specialized flight vehicles, equipment andsuits, but they must do this so as to simulate amicrogravity working environment. Each of thetraining facilities is also used for on-orbit proceduredevelopment and validation.

Descriptions of the crew training facilities follow.

High-fidelity mockups housed in both the JakeGarn Training Facility and the Space VehicleMockup Facility are used to train astronauts invehicle operations. Astronauts prepare for launch,landing, payload operation and rendezvous activi-ties in the Garn Facility. A motion-based trainersimulates the vibrations, noise and views that astro-nauts will experience during launch and landing. Afixed-base simulator is used for rendezvous and


32

Astronauts Robert L.Curbeam, Jr., and ChristerFuglesang, STS-116 mis-sion specialists, wearingtraining versions of theextravehicular mobilityunit (EMU) spacesuit,participate in an underwa-ter simulation ofextravehicular activityscheduled for the 19thShuttle mission to theInternational SpaceStation. Curbeam andFuglesang are dwarfed byStation truss segments inthis overall view of thesimulation conducted inthe Neutral BuoyancyLaboratory. Fuglesang rep-resents the EuropeanSpace Agency.

payload operations training. Typically, Shuttlecrews get 350-400 hours of Garn Facility trainingfor each flight.

The Space Vehicle Mockup Facility is home totwo full-sized mockups of the Shuttle flight deckand middeck, as well as one full-sized Shuttlemockup. ISS mockups in this facility provide astro-nauts with a training environment similar to thatthey will experience in orbit. Before their first mis-sion, astronauts typically spend a combined 300hours in these training simulators.

A companion to the Garn Facility is the SpaceStation Training Facility (SSTF), which is a high-fidelity, flight software-based simulator that is usedto prepare ISS and Shuttle astronauts for theirinteraction with the ISS. The SSTF is the only sim-ulator in the ISS Program that brings togethersimulations of all International Partner elementswith a representative selection of payloads and pro-

vides the astronauts and flight controllers with aunique, full-task simulation environment. ISScrewmembers receive 75-150 hours of training inthe SSTF to prepare for their missions.

The world’s largest indoor swimming pool is JSC’sNeutral Buoyancy Laboratory (NBL), which ispart of the Sonny Carter Training Facility. Itholds 6.2 million gallons of water and is more than200 feet long and 40 feet deep. The NBL simulatesthe weightless environment of space. Astronautstrain on full-sized replicas of the ISS, Hubble SpaceTelescope and other payloads. They spend approxi-mately 10 hours under water for every hour theywill spend walking in space.

The Systems Engineering Simulator (SES)Spacecraft Dynamics Simulation (SCDS) pro-vides a real-time, crew-in-the-loop engineeringsimulator for Space Shuttle, ISS and advanced pro-grams. It provides the ability to test changes to


33

Astronaut Donald R.Pettit, Expedition Sixflight engineer, participatesin an extravehicularmobility unit spacesuit fit check in a SpaceStation Airlock TestFacility at JSC.

existing space vehicles and flight software, to testthe interaction of a new vehicle system with exist-ing systems, to create models of new vehicles forengineering analysis, and to evaluate displays andcontrols concepts and modifications. All of thesefunctions are performed in a controlled, flexibledevelopment environment. In addition to engi-neering analysis work, the SES SCDS supportsSpace Shuttle and ISS crew training for the RemoteManipulator System (RMS), Space Station RemoteManipulator System (SSRMS) and rendezvous/proximity operations.

The Mobile Remote Manipulator DevelopmentFacility is a ground-based, full-scale, hydraulicallydriven replica of the SSRMS. It supports flight crewtraining, systems development and operations sup-port activities.

The Dexterous Manipulator Trainer is a hydrauli-cally driven, full-scale replica ISS Special PurposeDexterous Manipulator System simulation facilityfor flight crew training, systems development andoperations support activities.

The integrated EVA/RMS Virtual RealitySimulation Trainer is a real-time, crew-in-the-loop, virtual-reality simulation facility for flightcrew training for integrated EVA/RMS/SSRMSoperations and EVA support activities. This facilityis the only such that is capable of providing an inte-grated environment for simultaneous EVA, RMSand SSRMS operations.

Several crewed-vacuum and thermal-vacuumchambers provide astronaut training and certifica-tion of EVA flight hardware. These chamberscomplement the Thermal-Vacuum Test Complex.

The Space Station Airlock Test Facility producesa vacuum environment in which to expose EVAequipment and human-occupied spacesuits. Thefacility has two chambers with two closed-life-sup-port systems that enable shirtsleeve operations atreduced pressure and simulate high altitude. Thepressure can be reduced to simulate the vacuum ofspace. EVA crews are trained in the operations ofthe ISS airlock and their spacesuits in the SpaceStation Airlock Test Article.


34

The Shuttle Environmental Control and LifeSupport System Test Article and the ShuttleAirlock Test Article are test complexes that havethe interior geometrical configuration of the Shuttlecabin with an airlock attached to the cabin pressurebulkhead. The complexes are primarily used forShuttle EVA crewmember training and testing ofhumans in a reduced-pressure environment.

The Eleven-Foot Chamber is a spacesuit develop-ment and certification test complex that has thefeatures of a treadmill, crew weight relief and thenecessary support systems for reduced pressurecrew operations. During the vacuum portion oftraining, the crew spacesuits (also known as extrave-hicular activity mobility units (EMUs)) are given afinal readiness check. Upgrades and recertificationsof spacesuits are first tested without humans in theEight-Foot Chamber before they are tested withhumans in the Eleven-Foot Chamber. Each space-suit receives a vigorous, six-hour treadmill workoutin vacuum conditions to demonstrate its ability tohandle the actual metabolic loads of a typical EVA.

The Two-Foot Thermal-Vacuum SpacesuitBoot/Glove Test Chamber provides an environ-ment for evaluating spacesuit boots and gloves. Itcan also be used to provide profiles of outgassing,water boil-off and leaks for future prototype bootand glove systems. The new Dual GloveboxChamber represents a substantial upgrade to theprevious capabilities of the Two-Foot Chamber.Where previously the function of only a singleEMU glove could be tested, now two gloves can betested simultaneously. This two-handed access tothe vacuum chamber allows for evaluation andcertification of small EVA hand tools at thermal-

Astronaut Franklin R. Chang-Diaz, STS-111 missionspecialist, uses specialized gear in the virtual realitylab at JSC to train for his duties aboard the SpaceShuttle Endeavour. This type of virtual reality trainingallows the astronauts to wear a helmet and specialgloves while looking at computer displays simulatingactual movements around the various locations on theInternational Space Station hardware with which theywill be working.


35

vacuum conditions for considerably less effort, costand time.

JSC also has facilities for ground crews who supportthe flight crews before, during and after spaceflight. These facilities allow the ground crews tomonitor space vehicle systems, to develop proce-dures used for flight, to train for these activities andto document data developed during flight.Descriptions of these facilities follow.

Since 1965, JSC’s Mission Control Center hasbeen the nerve center for America’s human spaceflights. When ISS assembly began in 1998, theCenter became a focal point for human space flightworldwide. The teams who work in MissionControl, Houston, as it is most widely known, havebeen vital to every U.S. human space flight sincethe Gemini IV mission in 1965, including theApollo missions that took humans to the Moonand the 113 Space Shuttle flights since 1981.

Now with a permanent human presence aboard theISS, flight control teams of experienced engineersand technicians are on duty 24 hours a day, 365days a year, monitoring spacecraft systems andactivities. Flight controllers keep a constant watchon crew activities and monitor the spacecraft’sperformance, as well as checking and rechecking alldata to ensure operations proceed as planned.These highly trained flight controllers have theskills needed to closely monitor and maintainincreasingly more complex missions.

The expanded Mission Control Center at JSCincludes the Space Shuttle Flight Control Room,the ISS Flight Control Room, a Training FlightControl Room used to practice simulated spaceflight, a Life Sciences Control Room used to over-see various experiments, and the historic ApolloFlight Control Room—which has been preservedand designated a national historical landmark.Upgraded in the mid 1990s, the newest generationof control rooms is designed with commerciallyavailable computer workstations similar to thoseused in many modern offices. Today, the ShuttleFlight Control Room is staffed by up to 20 flightcontrollers when in operation, and the ISS Flight

Control Room is staffed by up to 12 flight con-trollers at all times. These “front rooms,” as they arecalled, are supported by hundreds of more expertsworking in back rooms located around the perime-ter of the main control rooms.

Electrical Power Systems Laboratory providesthe capability to test the Orbiter electrical powerdistribution and control subsystem using a high-fidelity replica.

The Intelligent Systems Laboratory and SoftwareTechnology Laboratory support integrated vehi-cle-level systems executive and command andcontrol software systems; real-time intelligent mon-itoring and diagnostic software systems; intelligentsystems health and emergency management soft-ware systems; intelligent human/machine interfacesand intelligent mission, system procedure; and dataanalysis software systems and tools.

The Integrated Planning System and FlightData File Production Facility is a robust platformfor mission planning software tools and planningdata. The IPS supports applications such as crewschedules on orbit, flight design and dynamicsplanning and assessment, and mission-specificrobotics analysis for Shuttle and ISS. For ISS, theIPS also supports resource utilization planning,procedures development and control, and inte-grated command and telemetry reconfiguration.The Flight Data File Production Facility producesall procedures, cue cards and other references usedby the astronauts during Shuttle and ISS missionsand during training. Specialized paper copies offlight data files are prepared for crew use duringspace flight in the Flight Data File ProductionFacility.

Bioastronautics, Space Science and AstromaterialsIn addition to human spacecraft design, develop-ment and operations, JSC conducts revolutionaryresearch in the areas of bioastronautics, space sci-ence and astromaterials.

The facilities and laboratories that support thisresearch are described below.


36

The Graphics Research and Analysis Facility(GRAF) uses high-performance computer graphicsworkstations to address human engineering issuesin spacecraft design and analysis. The GRAFenables human modeling, viewing analysis, anima-tion development, lighting evaluation, crewoperations and maintenance analysis, design con-cepts visualization, and virtual-reality applications.

The Anthropometric and Biomechanics Facility(ABF) is used to research and evaluate flight equip-ment, procedures and systems from the perspectiveof biomechanics, human performance andergonomics. For example, ABF personnel havetested and evaluated crew work procedures andequipment, spacesuit design, EVA and intravehicu-lar activity (IVA) human performance issues,EVA/IVA tool design, and EVA/IVA crew-inducedloads. Data gathered by the ABF are used toimprove crew living and working conditions toenhance productivity and operational efficiency.

The Microbiology Laboratory is a level-two facil-ity that is responsible for addressing crew health and

environmental performance issues related to micro-bial infection and contamination. In this facility,staff scientists and visiting researchers conduct oper-ational monitoring and investigative research usingclassical microbiological, advanced molecular andimmunohistochemical techniques. They also inves-tigate the effects of space flight on both crew healthand the microbial ecology of the spacecraft.

The Usability Testing and Analysis Facility(UTAF) provides analysis, evaluation and usabilitytesting of crew interfaces for work areas and equip-ment. It has a unique capability with a staffexperienced in the rigors of both cognitive humanfactors and ergonomic research and evaluations.While the UTAF can act as a stand-alone facility, itis integrated with other facilities, such as the ABFand the GRAF.

The Space Radiation Analysis Group RadiationOperations Support Area describes, models andmonitors the radiation environment; recommendsmethods to mitigate the adverse effects of radiation;and is a key component of the operational radiationhealth plan for all U.S. space flights. The goal ofNASA’s Radiation Health Program is to achievehuman exploration of space without exceedingacceptable risk from exposure to ionizing radiation.

The Water and Food Analysis Lab (WAFL) isresponsible for preflight and postflight analyses ofShuttle water for biocides, organics and metals, andthe postflight analyses of samples of Shuttle watertransferred to the ISS in contingency water con-tainers. The lab supports in-flight use of the totalorganic carbon analyzer on the ISS and performsanalysis of water samples returned from variousports of the ISS water recovery system. The WAFLassists in troubleshooting the cause of off-nominalfindings, conducting studies of the sources of waterpollutants, establishing and promulgating require-ments for water quality, and performing limitednutritional analysis of food to be used in flight.

The Pharmacology Laboratory supports medicalrequirements for the Shuttle, ISS and space explo-ration programs. Activities conducted in this labinclude clinical pharmacy services, pharmacokinet-ics and pharmacodynamics research, therapeutic

• Graphics Research and Analysis Facility

• Anthropometric and Biomechanics Facility

• Microbiology Laboratory

• Usability Testing and Analysis Facility

• Space Radiation Analysis Group Radiation

Operations Support Area

• Water and Food Analysis Lab

• Pharmacology Laboratory

• Nutritional Biochemistry Laboratory

• Lighting Environment Test Facility

• Test Subject Facility

• Bone and Mineral Laboratory

• Human Research Facility

Bioastronautics, Space Scienceand Astromaterials Facilities


37

Astronaut C. MichaelFoale, Expedition Eightmission commander, par-ticipates in a High DensityProtein Crystal Growthpayload training session inthe Space Vehicle MockupFacility at JSC.

drug monitoring, specialized therapeutic monitor-ing for space flight-related pathophysiology, noveldosage form development and pharmaceutical sta-bility assessment.

The Nutritional Biochemistry Laboratory sup-ports operational assessment of crewmembernutritional status as well as ground-based and flightresearch projects. The laboratory supports studies ofthe effects of space flight on energy and nutrientmetabolism, body composition, erythropoiesis, fluidand electrolyte homeostasis and the human muscu-loskeletal system. Dietary intake, body composition,protein, bone, iron, mineral, vitamin and antioxidantstatus are measured in participating crewmembers.

The Lighting Environment Test Facility (LETF)investigates and evaluates proposed lighting systemsfor use on space vehicles to enhance the crews’direct and indirect viewing. This effort includes the

investigation, measurement and analysis of artificiallighting systems such as docking lights, portablelights and navigation lights. In addition, studiesconducted in the LETF include analyses in thereflective characteristics of various materials and theeffects of solar lighting; transmission characteristicsof transparent materials used for visors, displaysand windows; and camera performance for mini-mum and maximum illumination.

The Test Subject Facility provides an ideal environ-ment in which to test and evaluate space hardwareand experimental procedures before launch.Evaluating selected countermeasures to space adap-tation, testing medical devices and equipment, andtraining for microgravity exposure all benefit fromthe ability to simulate microgravity without leavingEarth’s atmosphere. The KC-135, NASA’s modified707 aircraft, flies parabolic arcs to produce episodesof weightlessness lasting from 20 to 25 seconds.


38

Astronaut Edward T. Lu,Expedition Seven flightengineer, participates inHuman Research Facilitytraining in theInternational Space StationDestiny laboratorymockup/trainer at JSC’sSpace Vehicle MockupFacility.

A typical flight lasts from two to three hours andconsists of 30 to 40 parabolas. The KC-135 can alsoprovide short periods of lunar and martian gravity.Over the last 35 years, approximately 100,000parabolas have been flown in support of theMercury, Gemini, Apollo, Skylab, Space Shuttle andInternational Space Station Programs.

The Bone and Mineral Laboratory conductsground-based and in-flight research to determinethe effects of real or simulated space flight on themusculoskeletal system and to develop counter-measures to these effects. Changes in bone mineral

density and quality are measured, as well asdecreases in muscle volume and changes in the sizeand composition of intervertebral discs. State-of-the-art equipment and techniques are used in thislaboratory, including bone densitometry, magneticresonance imaging and ultrasound/acoustic assess-ment of bone quality.

The Human Research Facility (HRF) is a com-plement of hardware and science experimentsdesigned to document and develop countermea-sures for the effects of long-duration space flighton crewmembers.


39

44 Capabilities for the Future: JSC Products and Services


40


41

Capabilities for theFuture: JSC Productsand Services

44

The STS-112 crewmembers inspect flight hardware dur-ing a crew equipment bench review in an off-site facilitynear the Johnson Space Center. From the left areAstronaut Sandra H. Magnus; Cosmonaut Fyodor N.Yurchikhin; Astronauts Pamela A. Melroy; Piers J. Sellers;Jeffrey S. Ashby; and David A. Wolf. Yurchikhin repre-sents Rosaviakosmos, the Russian space agency.

PROFESSIONAL EXCELLENCE: We are dedi-

cated to the achievement of professional and

technical excellence through our knowledge,

discipline and timeliness and the high quality

of our work. We perform our work accurately

and safely.

INTEGRITY: We conduct ourselves with honor,

continuously exhibiting honesty and truthfulness

in all our actions. Developing an environment

of trust and adhering to ethical behavior are

critical to our success.

RESPECT: We respect each other, our counter-

parts and ourselves. From that respect comes

regard and consideration for others.

COMMITMENT: This is the glue that binds our

values together. It comes from our loyalty to

each other and from our passion toward our

endeavors. Commitment gives us the courage

to perform our duty to do the right thing.

JSC’s Guiding Principles


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JSC Goals and Strategic Alignment 4.1

JSC has established a set of goals for the Center thatdirectly aligns with the NASA vision, mission, goalsand implementing strategies. The JSC goals, andtheir alignment to the NASA goals, are describedfurther in the Annual Plan, included as an insert tothis document. In addition, the JSC CenterDirector Metrics are direct performance measuresof the JSC goals that accurately portray the Center’sperformance in support of the Themes andEnterprises.

This chapter will describe JSC’s unique capabilities,and the products and services that JSC provides tothe Themes and Enterprises in much greater detail.

Human Spacecraft Design andDevelopment 4.2JSC provides to its customers human spacecraftdesign and development products and services,including project management and subsystem engi-neering; government-furnished equipment (GFE)

and flight crew hardware development and mainte-nance; robotics technology; software developmentand implementation; safety and mission assurance;hazardous materials testing; rocket propulsion test-ing; advanced space propulsion; and support to theOSP. Each of these products and services is describedin more detail below.

Project Management and SubsystemEngineering 4.2.1JSC’s dedicated team of scientists, engineers andtechnicians has managed the design, developmentand testing of all U.S. human spacecraft—from theGemini spacecraft to the U.S. segment of the ISS.The task of turning the visions of design engineersinto the realities of a functional, orbiting spacecraftcapable of supporting human life is a monumentalone. With Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, Skylab,Shuttle and now the ISS, NASA continues toaccomplish this task.

The success of these programs can be attributed tothe Center’s broad depth of subsystem engineeringexpertise that encompasses all functions related to

Johnson Space Centerpersonnel meet to discusschanges to the site thatwill contribute to enhanc-ing our future capabilities.


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human spacecraft. These functions are:

• Life support systems.• Power systems.• Crew equipment.• Guidance, navigation and control.• Electrical power generation

and distribution.• Cooling systems.• Structures.• Flight software.• Robotics.• Spacesuits and EVA equipment.

The JSC team uses project management and systemsengineering expertise to integrate these subsystemsinto functional spacecraft.

Project ManagementJSC provides expertise in engineering design, devel-opment, analysis and test support, as well as systemand subsystem expertise to the Space Shuttle, ISS,OSP, EVA, bioastronautics and advanced humanexploration programs. JSC provides NASA pro-grams with GFE, including hardware and software;the design, development, manufacture and testingof flight-related hardware; flight system and subsys-tem expertise; engineering analysis and test services;and mission planning and analysis for advancedhuman exploration missions.

JSC provides top-level planning, training andreview of all human space flight projects and serv-ices, including GFE projects, project managementprocesses and project management tools and train-ing. Through these processes, JSC is able to ensurecompliance with project management processrequirements, configuration management require-ments and engineering standards, as well as thecertification and safety of flight projects.

JSC has developed processes to ensure standardiza-tion across flight projects. These include:

• Project approval and implementationprocedures.

• Project management of GFE projects.• Use of off-the-shelf hardware.

• In-flight hardware development.• Use of off-the-shelf software in flight projects.• Flight readiness assessment.

A long-term goal of the Center is to further developconcurrent engineering capabilities, as well as com-mon processes and standards. This goal includesimproved project coordination involving appropri-ate technical disciplines and tools such as theDesign Data Management System. In addition, anoffice has been chartered to monitor both technicaland business project development activities in theareas of process compliance and improvements.

Subsystem EngineeringJSC provides engineering expertise in technicaldisciplines such as:

• Guidance, navigation and control.

• Electrical power generation, storage anddistribution.

• Other avionics systems, including datamanagement, display and control.

• Instrumentation.

• Telemetry and communications.

• Structures and materials.

• Thermal protection and control.

• Mechanical systems.

• Propulsion, fluid management andpyrotechnics.

• Environmental control and life support.

• Spacesuits and EVA equipment.

• Aerodynamics, aerothermodynamics and aeroelasticity.

• Flight software.

• Mission planning and analysis.

• Robotics and advanced automation systems.

• Biomedical systems.

• Overall systems engineering and simulation.

Subsystem experts provide analyses to major pro-gram boards, as well as guidance and oversight forproblem-resolution teams. Subsystem engineeringexpertise is also provided for flight readiness reviewsand mission operations.


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1. JSC supplies crew health care system equipment for the ISS. This equipment provides countermeasuresas well as health and environmental monitoring equipment. The hardware provides the capability forcrewmembers to maintain their physical fitness, to monitor their health and to provide rehabilitation ormedication as required, as well as to provide measurements of the environment in the ISS. This hard-ware and associated software is critical to the continued well-being of the ISS crew, which is a key factorin maintaining the ISS and performing useful science in space.

2. The fluid line repair kit consists of a set of tools required for permanent repairs of damaged fluid lineson the ISS. These tools include a tube cutter to remove a damaged fluid line, a smart seal, which cre-ates a seal for the replacement fluid line section, and a tube marker to mark the correct insertion depthfor the smart seal.

3. Space integrated global positioning system/inertial navigation system (SIGI) uses signals from the globalpositioning system (GPS) constellation of satellites orbiting the Earth to compute the position, velocityand orientation of the ISS. Because the ISS has four GPS antennas, the SIGI can compute the ISS ori-entation by calculating the timing differences between when identical GPS signals reach each of thefour antenna locations. The position, velocity and orientation data from the SIGI are used by the controlsystem of the ISS to keep the ISS correctly pointed and positioned in orbit.

4. The Orbiter aft fuselage gas sampling system collects samples of the atmosphere in the Orbiter’s aft fuse-lage during ascent to determine whether any hazardous gases were present by postflight analysis of thesamples.

5. Due to the highly critical nature of most ISS robotics tasks, a need was identified for some form oftrainer that the crew could use to maintain proficiency between operations. The Robotics On-BoardTrainer (ROBOT) project is intended to provide this training capability by using as much existing hard-ware and software as possible.

6. The manual electrical cable tester is a time domain reflectometer cable tester for the ISS to detect andlocate electrical short and open circuit faults along nonenergized, multi-segment cables. It will initiallybe used to detect faults in primary and secondary ISS power cables.

Representative Examples of JSC’s GFE

GFE Hardware and Flight Crew HardwareDevelopment and Maintenance 4.2.2JSC supports the Shuttle and ISS Programs in avariety of hardware development projects and sus-taining engineering activities. These activitiesinclude, but are not limited to:

• Space integrated global positioningsystem/inertial navigation systems.

• Space-to-space communications.

• Robotic bird’s-eye view software.

• Water transfer equipment.

• Electrical power.

• Video and still cameras.

• Wireless video equipment.

• Laptop computers.

• Biomedical projects.

• Flight crew items.


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A training capability for GFE project developmentis currently being developed to enhance the abilityand efficiencies among resources. In addition to thepersonnel required to execute the project, uniquefacilities are required to manufacture and test GFEdevelopments. Some of these capabilities includevibration stands and thermal and EMI chambers.These facilities, which are required to verify hard-ware characteristics in the various space flightenvironments, are described in more detail inChapter 3.

JSC scientist performing an electromagnetic interferenceexperiment in the Building 14 Thermal EMI Chamber.

JSC also provides sustaining engineering and main-tenance for the hardware that it developed. JSC isexploring more efficient ways of using personnel toperform critical program functions, as well as main-taining hardware data certification status. Aworking group is currently reviewing sustainingengineering activities for improvement.


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Robotics Technology 4.2.3JSC manages and conducts comprehensive, world-class robotics and automation programs required tosupport current and future missions of NASA’shuman space flight activities. These responsibilitiesencompass defining requirements; and analyzing,designing, developing, integrating, testing, verify-ing and operationally supporting current andadvanced software tools, applications and systems,and hardware components and systems in the areasof telerobotics and autonomous robotics systemsfor ground and space flight applications.

1. Robonaut – A highly dexterous humanoid

robotic torso designed to support space

assembly and maintenance activities.

Robonaut is capable of handling tools and

working with the same infrastructure as

crewmembers and handling EVA tools

designed for crewmembers.

2. Mini-AERCam – A prototype free-flying

inspection camera that can be used in either

an autonomous or a tele-operated mode to

capture images from any point in space

around a vehicle. It can be used for a wide

variety of purposes, from inspecting Shuttle

tiles to providing remote sensors for ISS

solar arrays.

3. EVA Robotic Assistant – A mobile robotics

platform that is being used to develop

enhanced human/robot interface protocols

and communication techniques for a wide

variety of human exploration activities.

Current Advanced Robotics Technology Projects

In addition to developing these technologies, theCenter advocates infusing advanced robotics intofuture space missions, sharing technology withother NASA field centers, working with universitiesand developing joint projects with other federalagencies. JSC maintains unique, state-of-the-artfacilities to develop these advanced robotic systems.

Over the next few years, the Center plans to con-tinue enhancing the core technology base used todevelop advanced robotic systems. Particularemphasis will be given to improving autonomouscapabilities for robots, as well as to testing new waysfor humans and robots to work together on complexproblems, including those problems associated withspace assembly and maintenance.

Software Development andImplementation 4.2.4JSC has established a Software Engineering ProcessGroup (SEPG) to maintain and improve the soft-ware development processes and the tools thatsupport them. The SEPG has been using theSoftware Engineering Institute’s Capability MaturityModel (CMM) for software to improve softwaredevelopment capability and maturity. A pilot effortis in progress to evaluate the software CMM forapplication to flight software.

JSC provides software applications developmentand support services to the human space flight pro-grams for the development and sustainingengineering of Internet-based application systems.Software and information management technolo-gies and approaches continue to trend towardcentralization of Internet management resources.JSC’s goal is to maintain a consistent Internet appli-cation infrastructure that can leverage technologiesthat emphasize customer-managed developmentand the use of portal approaches for distributingcontent management responsibility to content own-ers. JSC implements this philosophy by requiringthat a standards-based development methodology,CMM Level 3, be used, which ensures quality andconsistency across development projects. JSC alsorequires adopting tools and techniques that facili-tate the use of this approach.


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Robonaut, one of theadvanced robotics pro-grams for which JSC isresponsible.


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Moreover, JSC provides tailored capabilities todevelop and sustain ground software for humanspace flight operations. JSC software capabilities inhuman space flight operations include flight soft-ware and crew interface requirements, design andassessment. Capabilities for delegated program-matic functions include the development andcontrol of flight software requirements and flightsoftware testing support. Development and evalua-tion of future facility and crew interface softwaretechnologies and designs are provided in a rapidprototyping laboratory.

1. Space integrated GPS/SIGI attitude firmware – JSC has initiated an update to the commercial off-the-

shelf SIGI attitude firmware code to eliminate known problems with the existing code, to make the code

more modular and maintainable for the life of the ISS and to document the algorithms used in the code,

allowing users of the SIGI to understand its theoretical basis. The software has a planned release date of

December 2003. It will undergo unit testing, code inspection and embedded testing. Prior to final release,

the firmware will be tested. Once functional qualification testing is completed, the firmware will be

loaded into the SIGIs on orbit.

2. Advanced Resistive Exercise Device (ARED) – ARED provides the ISS crew the ability to counteract the

effects of microgravity by performing many exercises available in Earth-based gyms. The ARED software

provides a means for doctors on the ground to specify exercise regimens for the crew and to transmit

information related to the regimens to the crew on orbit. It also collects data from numerous sensors dur-

ing exercise to provide feedback to the crewmember and for later analysis by ground-based doctors.

3. The Dynamic Onboard Ubiquitous Graphics (DOUG) – The DOUG application is quickly becoming the

primary 3-dimensional graphical viewing tool at JSC, as well as on board the Space Shuttle and the ISS.

DOUG is the follow-on product to the Display Software Package (DSP) that is installed in all of the major

training facilities at JSC. DOUG extends DSP by increasing the number of platforms on which the soft-

ware will run and by introducing a common user interface. DOUG is now used for ground simulation

scene displays and is also flown on board the Space Shuttle and the ISS. It is used for a situational-

awareness tool during robotic operations, an EVA-planning tool for EVA task reviews, an SSRMS training

simulator and a Simplified Aid For EVA Rescue (SAFER) flight simulator.

Representative Examples of Software Products

Safety and Mission AssuranceProducts 4.2.5The mission of JSC is to assure successful spaceflight and to promote a safe and healthy work envi-ronment. The Center reduces risk by providingtechnical evaluations, assessments and analyticalservices throughout the life cycle of NASA pro-grams and projects.

JSC also provides qualitative and quantitative riskassessments of proposed changes and technical eval-uations for design reviews, systems certification and


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1. Safety Engineering – The application of the systematic, forward-looking identification and control of

hazards throughout the life cycle of an activity, a system, a function, a project or a program.

2. Reliability, Availability, Maintainability and Supportability – Assessment of inherent system design

features that include establishing reliability requirements; selecting measures for design definition and

review; performing quantitative and qualitative reliability analyses and assessments to verify design

characteristics, testing and certifying the design; identifying limited-life items; and participating in

problem resolution and recurrence control.

3. Quality Engineering – Evaluation of the design, manufacturing, testing and refurbishment of space

flight hardware and software to ensure delivery of products in accordance with functional, perform-

ance and design requirements.

4. Quality Assurance – Inspection and surveillance activities performed during production, testing and

operations to reduce the overall risk to a project's cost, schedule and mission success.

5. Software Assurance – Assessment of software to determine whether it meets quality, reliability and

safety requirements, as well as technical and performance requirements.

6. Risk Management – Assessments of and recommendations for a disciplined and documented

approach to ensure risk is identified, evaluated, managed and mitigated throughout the life cycle.

7. Technology Assurance – Analysis and evaluation of a broad range of new and emerging tools,

techniques and processes to complement long-range projects and programs.

8. JSC Analysis and Testing Laboratory – Risk to technical, cost and schedule performance can be

reduced through acquiring timely, reliable performance data and providing required NASA Standards

workmanship training and schedule performance.

9. Independent Assessments – Identification and assessments are provided for technical and program-

matic issues, including observations and recommendations.

Additional products that are provided in support of programs include:

• Probabilistic Risk Assessments, including both tools and methodologies.

• Trade studies.

• Commit-to-flight statements.

• Root cause and corrective action investigations.

Safety and Mission Assurance Products and Services that JSC Provides to the Programs


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risk documentation baselines. Real-time missionsupport on ascent, orbit and entry is provided foroperational risk assessments.

The Center provides safety and mission assuranceresources to all human space flight programs,including the Space Shuttle, the ISS and the OSP,by providing risk assessment expertise on the fol-lowing teams:

• Reliability and Maintainability Panel

• Computer Safety Working Group

• Safety Review Panel

• Safety and Mission Assurance Panel

• Quality Assurance Panel

• Safety Working Group

• Software Assurance Panel

Products provided to these teams include risk assess-ments, safety analyses, design specifications, failuremodes and effects analyses/critical items lists, haz-ard analysis, noncompliances and verifications.

Over the next several years, JSC plans to expand itscapabilities for probabilistic risk assessment, relia-bility and safety analysis support. JSC plans to useand have available for use the latest risk assessmenttools and methodology for performing safety andmission assurance analyses for hardware and soft-ware. Other initiatives include creating a new,better-integrated Preventive and Corrective Actionsystem; continuing to realign, train and hire tomeet the needs of the programs; reinvigorating thelessons learned database; and integrating the ISS’sInternational Partners into real-time operations.

Hazardous Materials Testing 4.2.6WSTF offers extensive capabilities for testing of haz-ardous materials. The hazardous materials that aretested at WSTF are primarily propellants, includingoxygen, hydrogen, unsymmetrical dimethylhy-drazine, monomethylhydrazine, hydrazine, nitrogentetroxide and green or nontoxic propellants suchas hydrogen peroxide, ethanol and hydrocarbons.Also included are other hazardous materials usedon spacecraft, including refrigerants and heatexchange fluids. Testing is performed to determinethe nature and extent of hazards.

The degree of hazards ranges from long-term com-patibility and corrosion, to susceptibility, toignition, to high-energy release reactions that leadto combustion, explosions and detonation. WSTFcapabilities also include determination of hazardsresulting from high potential energy release situa-tions including high or low temperature andpressure and hypervelocity impact.

WSTF uses the extensive information and testresults generated by the testing to provide hazardsevaluation of components and systems planned forcontainment and of the hazardous material.Additional services include the preparation and dis-semination of handbooks and manuals on the fire,explosion, compatibility and safety of the hazardousmaterials, as well as the development and presenta-tion of safety courses on the hazardous materials.

Other federal agencies – such as the U.S. Air Force,U.S. Navy and Department of Energy – and pri-vate industry have access to and are using WSTF

WSTF conducts test of hazardous materials.


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capabilities and services through reimbursableagreements and funding. WSTF is routinely usedby a number of federal agencies and private com-panies to provide safe disposal of propellant fuelsand oxidizers. It is also used as a component andsoft goods field decontamination site.

Rocket Propulsion Test ProgramSupport 4.2.7JSC currently supports propulsion test capabilitiesfor the Shuttle and ISS programs, as well as poten-tial future human exploration missions that requireattitude control systems or planetary surface propul-sion. The Center’s testing capabilities encompassnontoxic gases and liquids; thruster operation andperformance in ambient and simulated thermalenvironments; thruster operation and performancein vacuum environments; propellant storage andfeed system characterization; and integrated systems.

WSTF provides a unique hardware component testcapability for a number of different programs. Forexample, the Space Shuttle auxiliary power unit(APU) gas generation valve module and the APUfuel tank fleet leader test systems are operated atWSTF. These tests may include system-level devel-opment and qualification tests. Similarly, groundsupport equipment development and validationalso occurs at WSTF. Finally, in 1992 WSTF estab-lished a depot refurbishment and repair capabilityfor most of the Shuttle orbital maneuvering systemand reaction control systems.

Advanced Space PropulsionLaboratory 4.2.8The Advanced Space Propulsion Laboratory (ASPL),located at the Sonny Carter Training Facility atEllington Field in Houston, Texas, conducts researchinto advanced plasma rocket technology and otheraspects of advanced propulsion for future humanand robotic missions. ASPL operates a prototyperocket engine that is a demonstration of a variablespecific impulse magnetoplasma rocket (VASIMR).

Long travel times and small payloads have histori-cally been major concerns and drawbacks whenusing conventional rockets in space flight.

• Shuttle ascent/descent pressure profile

and corona test simulation

• Space and Mars surface pressure/

temperature simulation

• Low-thrust cold/warm gas thruster

measurement

• Gaseous propellant storage and distribution

• Cryogenic propellant liquefaction, storage

and distribution

• Remote test cells and chambers designed

for hazardous operations

• Clean room and oxygen cleaning

• Pneumatic and hydraulic pressure

certification testing

Planned enhancements to the JSC propul-

sion testing capabilities that are planned

include:

• Incorporating low-thrust measurement under

vacuum conditions for water-based thrusters.

• The ability to test low-thrust gaseous

oxygen/hydrogen and oxygen/methane

thrusters.

• Incorporating simulated lunar surface

pressure/temperature for hazardous

component and system testing.

• The ability to test integrated water-based sys-

tems involving electrolysis-fuel cell power,

mission elapsed time-water thrusters, and

oxygen/hydrogen thrusters for the ISS and any

future human spacecraft or cargo resupply

vehicles.

Rocket Propulsion Test Facilitiesand Unique Capabilities


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subsystems into the PAD test article and develop-ment of flight- and ground-test procedures andpolicies.

Human Operations in Space 4.3At JSC, human operations in space encompassescrew selection and training; aircraft operations andtraining; mission planning, training and opera-tions; and EVA planning, training and operations.Each of these services is below.

Crew Selection and Training 4.3.1JSC is home to the nation’s Astronaut Corps and isresponsible for preparing explorers from both theU.S. and our International Partner nations for thedemands of living and working in space.Approximately 105 men and women with scien-tific, military and education backgrounds make upNASA’s active Astronaut Corps, with another 35experienced astronauts in leadership positionsthroughout JSC and the Agency.

JSC supports the Space Shuttle and the ISS pro-grams with flight crews that have been carefullyselected and trained to optimize the success of eachmission. A diverse corps of astronauts is essentialfor providing flexibility to all the NASA Enterprisesand to ensure a broad scope of expertise. In addi-tion to mission operations support, the AstronautCorps is also invaluable for providing the crew per-spective to development and testing activities,advanced programs and NASA outreach efforts.

At the Center, potential astronaut candidatesundergo one of the world’s most competitive selec-tion processes. Astronaut candidates spend up totwo years completing classroom training and spe-cialized mission training before they becomeeligible for a flight assignment. During their class-room training, candidates are schooled in SpaceShuttle and ISS systems along with a variety ofother disciplines, including Earth sciences, meteor-ology, space science and engineering. They alsotrain in land and water survival, aircraft operationsand scuba diving to prepare for underwater space-walk training.

The VASIMR engine is not powered by chemicalreactions, as conventional rocket engines are, butby electrical energy that heats a propellant. Thatpropellant is plasma, a gas that reaches extremetemperatures. This new technology, which is pow-ered by nuclear-generated electricity, coulddramatically shorten human transit time betweenplanets. The VASIMR will also be able to propelrobotic cargo missions with very large payloads.

VASIMR has recently been awarded a U.S. tech-nology patent. Future planning includes a possibleflight demonstration project beginning in 2005.Additional activities in partnership with other fed-eral agencies are in development.

Orbital Space Plane Program Support 4.2.9The Aerospace Technology Enterprise manages theOSP Program. The OSP will be used to provide atransportation system for the ISS crew. It will alsoprovide an ISS crew rescue capability, accommo-dating astronauts who are deconditioned due tolong-duration missions or who may be ill orinjured.

JSC provides expertise in support of the design anddevelopment of the OSP spacecraft, as well as inte-gration of the OSP with the ISS and thedevelopment of the OSP flight and mission opera-tions capabilities. JSC provides the flight operationssubsystem expertise for the X-37 program, as wellas the core NASA operations team for the X-37.This team will continue to follow development ofthe atmospheric drop vehicle, and will aid in devel-opment of flight- and ground-test proceduresleading up to the first test flight. JSC also providesexpertise to lead OSP study efforts. These studiesare integral to the development of the OSP and totechnology trades that will be made now and in thefuture.

JSC is also responsible for managing the Pad AbortDemonstrator (PAD) project. JSC provides engi-neering support to the PAD project by providingexpertise in systems engineering and integration, aswell as ground systems and parachute subsystemmanagement. This management support includesdevelopment of flight test objectives, integration of


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• Payload requirements integration

• Trajectory analysis and design

• Flight planning and crew timeline scheduling

• Development, integration and verification of

systems and integrated procedures, including

those for spacewalk activities and robotics

Mission planning capabilities

• Training requirements and curricula definition

• Lesson development

• Simulation scripting and scenario

development

• Training instruction

Training Capabilities

Once astronaut candidates have completed theirtraining period, they are given their missionassignments and are grouped with experiencedastronauts to continue training. The two types ofastronauts, pilots and mission specialists, performdifferent functions. Pilot astronauts are assigned aspilots and, possibly, eventually as mission com-manders; and mission specialists conductspacewalks, perform robotics tasks, engage in sci-entific research and act as flight engineers duringlaunch and landing.

Ensuring crews are well prepared will continue tobe a challenge for the coming years. JSC has plansto modify the astronaut curriculum to accommo-date the multinational and long-duration aspects ofNASA’s evolving programs.

Aircraft Operations and Training 4.3.2JSC manages a variety of aircraft that are essential forflight crew readiness training. These aircraft includethe Shuttle Training Aircraft, NASA’s T-38 spaceflight readiness trainers and the KC-135Microgravity Research Aircraft. Additionally, theCenter operates and maintains other aircraft that areextensively involved in scientific research and tech-nology development, including the WB-57 HighAltitude Research Aircraft. Other aircraft include theShuttle Carrier Aircraft, which is a modified Boeing747 designed to ferry the Space Shuttle Orbiters; theSuper Guppy over-sized cargo aircraft, which isdesigned to transport large hardware; and the mis-sion-management support aircraft.

Pilot astronauts train in a Gulfstream jet aircraftthat has been specially modified to simulate theapproach and landing of the Space Shuttle.Because the Shuttle lands at much higher speedsand at an incline about seven times steeper thanthat of a commercial airliner, this jet provides auniquely intensive training experience that pre-pares astronauts for handling the Shuttle duringlanding. Pilots will fly more than 600 approachesin this aircraft before they land the Shuttle. Allastronauts train in T-38 jets to learn and maintainflight techniques and cockpit management.

Additional support to Shuttle flights is provided byWhite Sands Space Harbor (WSSH). Located inthe middle of the U.S. Army’s White Sands MissileRange, WSSH operates and maintains three run-ways used extensively by the SSP. Approximately 90percent of the Shuttle pilot approach training isconducted at WSSH. This facility has been usedextensively to demonstrate the applicability of land-ing aids that are deployed at numerous landing sitesaround the world. In addition, its runways aremaintained and supported for every Shuttle launchfor a potential emergency landing there.

Mission Planning, Training and Operations 4.3.3JSC provides singular human space flight opera-tions expertise for:

• Mission design and activity planning.

• Flight crew and flight controller training.


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Extravehicular Activity Planning, Trainingand Operations 4.3.4JSC also provides EVA capability to perform on-orbit assembly, maintenance and repair for the ISS,the Shuttle and science payloads, such as theHubble Space Telescope. JSC ensures the future ofNASA’s EVA capabilities and infrastructure that areneeded to lead the next generation of human explo-ration beyond low Earth orbit. JSC provides anintegrated approach to all aspects of EVA planning,training and execution, including the design, devel-opment, testing, certification, refurbishment,provisioning and logistics of all hardware necessary tosupport EVA on existing and future space missions.

Development plans in the next three years includean upgrade to the ISS on-orbit EVA system, such asthe addition of numerous external payload attach-ment sites; the addition of rails for access tooutboard truss segments on the ISS and the transi-tion to sustaining engineering; and chamber testcontrol system upgrades to improve reliability. Atthe Sonny Carter Training Facility, there are plansto upgrade the SSRMS to improve reliability and toadd more mockups to improve training fidelity.

Additional hardware development plans for thecrew’s spacesuits, or EMUs, include the followinghardware components:

• Enhanced caution and warning system

• Lithium ion battery

• Helmet bubble hard coat

• Disposable in-suit drink bag

• Biomedical cable harness redesign

• Replacement of hardware lost in theColumbia accident

• Battery discharge module switch com-mand capability

• Seventy-five-foot safety tether

• Fan-pump-separator electronics redesign

• Water conditioning

• Secondary oxygen pack enhancements

• Mission management.

• Flight execution.

• Operational facilities development andsustaining engineering.

Operations expertise is provided to vehicle design, asboth in-line support and as a check-and-balance toensure vehicle operability.

Real-time mission operations capabilities includethe flight control team, with its leadership andintegration capabilities, and the Mission ControlCenter. Together, these teams and the MissionControl Center provide a flexible and durable capa-bility for simultaneous development and operatortraining, and for real-time command and controloperations for multiple vehicles including dynamicphases, orbital operations and archiving.

As an operational capability to the ISS and Shuttleprograms, JSC develops and controls flight tech-niques and flight rules. JSC engineers andtechnicians provide unique support to launch com-mit criteria evaluation, failure analysis, flighthardware testing, flight manifest evaluation, rangesafety coordination and integration of mission oper-ations flight readiness reviews, including spacecommunications readiness. Capabilities supportiveof safety include analysis and assessment of flightsystems and payloads operations safety, vehicle andflight software changes, test data and postflight data.

As new human space flight programs emerge fromdefinition into development, JSC provides uniqueoperations lessons learned from previous programs,trade studies between vehicle and ground require-ments, operations requirements, design referencemission definition, operations concepts, groundsystems architectures and crew interface designrequirements.


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• Requirements definition and integration

• Tasks and logistics planning

• Hardware development, certification and provisioning

• System testing in vacuum and thermal vacuumchambers

• System testing and task training in zero-gravity(zero-G) conditions in neutral buoyancy and inenvironments with gravity conditions equal toEarth’s gravity (1-G)

The EVA operations and training services andproducts include:

• Flight-to-flight processing and maintenance ofEVA system hardware used to support Shuttleand ISS EVAs.

• Event-to-event processing and maintenance ofEVA system hardware used for EVA training orEVA system testing in zero-G, neutral buoyancyand 1-G environments.

• Real-time mission support in the Mission ControlCenter, Increment Management Center andMission Evaluation Room.

• ISS vehicle EVA hardware analysis, developmenttesting, verification, operations support and sus-taining engineering.

JSC Provides Human Space Flight Programs with Extravehicular Activity

Finally, planned tool enhancements to augment thecrew’s capability to maintain and repair flight hard-ware in orbit include:

• Crew hooks enhancements.

• Pistol grip tool enhanced torque applica-tion capability.

• Orbital replacement unit temporary stowdevice.

• On-orbit quick disconnect trainer

• Extended life slide wire.

Astronauts John B. Herrington and Michael E. Lopez-Alegria, STS-113 mission specialists, work on the newlyinstalled Port One truss on the International SpaceStation during one of the three scheduled sessions of extravehicular activity.


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JSC defines the medical requirements and stan-dards for astronaut selection and retention, as wellas astronaut physiological and psychological sup-port. The Center also delivers medical care to thecrews by providing diagnostic and medical treat-ment to astronauts through all phases of preflighttraining, during on-orbit operations throughtelemedicine, and during postflight recovery andrehabilitation. Finally, it provides continuous mis-sion support from launch to landing formaintenance of crew health and safety.

JSC operates a medical clinic, the Flight MedicineClinic, that provides comprehensive annual med-ical evaluations for all active astronauts andmedically certifies all assigned Shuttle and ISScrewmembers for space flight. In addition, theFlight Medicine Clinic provides medical, dentaland psychological support to all astronauts, astro-naut family members and aircraft operationspersonnel. The Health Stabilization Program ismanaged and implemented through the FlightMedicine Clinic to minimize the affect of com-municable disease on the crews. Retired astronautsare offered an annual comprehensive medical eval-uation as part of the Longitudinal Study ofAstronaut Health program.

Behavioral medicine provides clinical care and clin-ical oversight to astronauts and their dependents.Additionally, contingency support in the aftermathof disasters is offered and delivered to families, edu-cators and casualty assistance control officers. Crewperformance management is offered to all flightcrews, and crew health training and behavioralhealth monitoring are conducted for all NASA ISScrewmembers. Oversight of “human-to-systems”interfaces—including the development and imple-mentation of work-rest recommendations, fatiguemodels, fatigue countermeasures and the assess-ment and recommendations of methods for crewsto maintain skills on orbit—is also provided to theThemes. Similarly, sleep and circadian rhythm rec-ommendations are developed and delivered tooptimize on-orbit schedules and assessment ofworkload limits.

• Environmental standards and requirements

for air, water, microbiology, radiation and

acoustics

• Human systems standards and requirements

• Support to development and operations for

Shuttle, ISS and advanced human space

flight programs

• Flight food systems

• Research and technology development in

environmental monitoring and human factors

Products and Services Related to Human Factors

Bioastronautics, Space Scienceand Astromaterials 4.4JSC conducts internationally recognized research inthe areas of bioastronautics, space science and astro-materials. Specific disciplines include crew healthand safety; bioastronautics; biological sciences andtheir applications; biomedical experiments andtechnologies; astromaterials; and exploration sci-ences. These disciplines and the scientific researchthat is conducted at JSC are described in moredetail below.

Crew Health and Safety ProgramSupport 4.4.1JSC is responsible for optimization of the health,fitness and well-being of flight crews and Centeremployees. Specific responsibilities include provid-ing state-of-the-art programs and evidence-basedmedical care; and defining, implementing andmanaging operational medical research and devel-opment.


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JSC is responsible for ensuring a safe, habitable andproductive environment for human space flightthrough its human factors expertise. The ultimategoal is to identify and control all environmental risksto crew health, and to have a habitat and human-sys-tem interface that enhances crew productivity.

Bioastronautics 4.4.2JSC’s research in bioastronautics—on Earth and inorbit—strives to understand and reduce the barri-ers to human activities in space and on otherplanets. The Center is the implementing NASAcenter for bioastronautics, a coordinated Agencyeffort that spans several Agency Themes.

The Center’s bioastronautics research on the physi-ological effects of space flight is guided by theBioastronautics Critical Path Roadmap (BCPR), aniterative approach of review, analysis and delibera-tion among discipline experts. Jointly developed byNASA and the National Space BiomedicalResearch Institute (NSBRI), the BCPR identifiesand ranks the risks of space flight mission scenariosfor the allocation of resources to minimize the over-all risks of space flight. The original 55 risks and250 critical questions identified in 1997-1998 foran exploration-class mission scenario are currentlybeing updated and refined by NASA and NSBRIscientists, based on recent space flight and groundresults, to be relevant to a one-year ISS mission anda one-month lunar surface mission.

• How does the human body adapt to space flight, and what are the most effective and efficient ways to

counteract those adaptive effects when they are hazardous?

• How can we limit the risk of harmful health effects associated with exposure of human explorers to the

space radiation environment?

• How can we provide an optimal environment to support the behavioral health and human performance

of the crew before, during and after space flight?

• How can we enable the best medical care in space?

JSC performs a wide range of functions to answer critical questions in the area of bioastronautics. These questions include:

Medical personnel practice on a humanpatient simulator to develop proceduresfor the Health Stabilization Program.


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JSC’s biomedical research capability leads and com-plements the NASA-funded efforts of otherscientists and organizations, such as the NSBRI.Scientists at NSBRI conduct physiological researchin cardiovascular, neurovestibular and barothermalphysiology to help answer the critical questions ofbioastronautics. In addition, the Center’s occupa-tional health program provides medical trainingand monitoring for any test or training activitiesconducted in hazardous environments, such as theNBL, the thermal vacuum chambers, the hypobarictraining chambers and the KC-135 aircraft.

To facilitate additional answers to bioastronautics-critical questions, JSC developed the HumanResearch Facility (HRF) to enable life scienceresearchers to study and evaluate the physiological,behavioral and chemical changes in human beingsinduced by space flight. The HRF consists of equip-ment racks containing: an ultrasound imaging

system and a mass spectrometer that can enable car-diopulmonary and metabolic experiments; a spacelinear acceleration mass measurement device thatallows precise measurement of the changes in crewmass; the refrigerated centrifuge that collects physio-logical samples such as blood and urine to becentrifuged in a cooled environment for subsequentstorage until return to Earth; a urine monitoring sys-tem to automatically measure micturitions andenable easy sample collection; and a muscle atrophyand resistive exercise system to measure changes inmuscle strength. These research capabilities willenable researchers to conduct selected investigationsby using equipment already on board the ISS and toreduce cost and development time to flight readiness.

Biological Sciences and Applications 4.4.3JSC is the designated implementation site for basicand applied cellular research, particularly as thisresearch addresses innovation in biotechnology.

Astronauts Kenneth D.Cockrell (left) and Paul S.Lockhart, STS-111mission commander andpilot, respectively, partici-pate in one of the STS-111detailed test objectivesinvolving the biotechnologywater treatment system.The purpose of this test isto produce ultra-purewater from the Shuttle’sfuel cell water. This water,when processed, canreplace manifested ultra-pure water supplies, andsignificantly decrease themass and volume requiredto support biotechnologypayloads.


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Biological Sciences and Applications (BSA) wascreated to facilitate integration of cell-based researchinto the overall strategy of the Biological and PhysicalResearch Enterprise. In this era of molecularapproaches to life systems, it is essential that ourplanning includes an intensified program in cell-based research and molecular biology.

BSA uses an interdisciplinary approach to researchthat entails applying both physical and biologicalsciences to complex problems in biotechnology. Aspart of this approach, it conducts nationally recog-nized efforts in tissue engineering, biomolecularphysics, biophysical separation technology andbiological macromolecule crystallization. BSAcoordinates its research in bioastronautics withNSBRI, the National Institutes of Health, theNational Science Foundation, the Department ofDefense, academic centers, NASA’s Ames ResearchCenter, NASA’s Glenn Research Center and NASAHeadquarters.

BSA will coordinate the research interfaces anddevelop research thrusts that serve the needs ofbioastronautics, enable technology exchanges andadvance NASA technology and science in biotech-nology and biomedicine. These relationships willensure that JSC is an essential participant in thegrowth of the technology industry.

Attainment of these goals is closely tied to theCenter’s commitment of consistent support of BSAto continue to advance technology, to explore newscience fields and to contribute to NASA’s reputa-tion for innovation.

Biomedical Experiments and Technologies 4.4.4NASA has inaugurated a new era in long-durationhuman space flight with the construction and habi-tation of the ISS. With ISS expeditions increasingfrom days to months, crewmembers face a con-comitant increase in the number and complexityof risks to their safety, health and performance. To effectively and efficiently prevent the mostsevere risks of human space flight, JSC develops,evaluates, validates and certifies an integratedcountermeasure approach. Countermeasures may

include pharmacological agents, dietary modifica-tions, exercise, mechanical stimulation, artificialgravity devices, or changes in the crew screeningand selection criteria. In addition to mitigating orminimizing risk, a countermeasure must also meetstringent specifications for use in flight, whereresources and crew time are equally scarce.

All countermeasures first undergo a rigorous cycleof ground-based and flight investigation prior tobeing certified for operational use. Furthermore,countermeasures initially developed for flight mayfurther the development of preventative, diagnosticand medical treatments on Earth. Because of thelimitations of space flight, NASA is particularlyinterested in easily portable, minimally invasivediagnostics and countermeasures. These character-istics are also of great value on Earth totelemedicine centers and clinics that distributemedical care across significant distances to remotelocations. By learning how to counter the mostdetrimental effects of space flight, NASA also fos-ters better treatment methods for the elderly, whoseailments resemble some of the physiologicalchanges manifested by crews after prolonged spaceflight.

JSC also designs, develops and certifies unique bio-medical payloads and countermeasure devices forspace flight, such as the cycle ergometer with vibra-tion isolation system the treadmill with vibrationisolation system, and the interim resistive exercisedevice, to prevent or reduce the adverse adaptivechanges of the human body in a space flight envi-ronment. This design capability provides a flighthardware knowledge base that can be readily andeffectively applied to payloads and experiments.JSC has unique flight hardware laboratories andcontrolled ground support equipment currentlyused for checkout and test of ISS and Shuttle GFE,as well as individual experiments or payloads.

JSC is also responsible for the design and develop-ment of a ground-based equivalent of the on-orbithardware and software for procedure developmentand verification, anomaly resolution, interfaceverification and equipment upgrade testing.Collaborative engineering centers provide the


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capability to perform integrated design from mul-tiple locations, both internal and external to JSC,so that all responsible parties for a particularexperiment or payload development can beinvolved.

Astromaterials Research and ExplorationSciences 4.4.5The Office of Astromaterials Research andExploration Sciences provides products and servicesto the Space Science Enterprise’s Themes, includingSolar System Exploration and Mars Exploration.

Extraterrestrial Materials and ResearchJSC is responsible for curation of all extraterrestrialmaterials returned to Earth by missions. For morethan three decades, JSC has safeguarded andadministered the Lunar Sample Collection returnedto Earth by the Apollo lunar landing missions.

As NASA’s curator of extraterrestrial materials, JSCcurates lunar samples, meteorites and cosmic dust.Included in the Center’s collection are meteoritesgathered in the Antarctic—almost certainly fromMars—that provide fascinating evidence that prim-itive life may once have existed on the Red Planet.

Through an agreement between NASA and theSmithsonian Institution, thousands of meteoritescollected in Antarctica are curated at JSC.Interplanetary dust particles collected in the strato-sphere by high-altitude spacecraft form anotherexotic, but scientifically valuable, collection. Futuremissions returning samples include Genesis, nowstationed between the Earth and the Sun to collectsolar wind particles; and Stardust, now heading fora rendezvous with a comet. Samples from these col-lections are disbursed to scientific investigators afterapproval by scientific peer-review panels and NASAprogram managers.

This close-up view of theeye of Hurricane Isabelwas taken by one of theExpedition 7 crewmem-bers on board theInternational Space Station.


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NASA and teachers share the same mission—to explore, learn, and to share.

–Barbara MorganEducator Astronaut

JSC has a staff of internationally recognizedresearchers in the fields of lunar sample analysis,meteoritics and planetary remote sensing. Centerscientists have been responsible for establishing theprovenance of meteorites from Mars and have pio-neered the field of astrobiology through thediscovery of potential biomarkers within certainmartian meteorites. JSC staff scientists are keymembers of scientific teams for ongoing and futuremissions to Mars and the Moon.

JSC also conducts studies of the implementation ofscience goals in future human missions and theinteraction of human and robots in future plane-tary expeditions.

Earth ObservationJSC contributes to our understanding of the Earth’ssystems by planning and cataloguing on-orbit pho-tography from human crews. Scientists at the Centerstudy the Earth using information that is gatheredby astronauts trained in Earth observations. Whilein orbit, astronauts record data and collect imageryon weather and other Earth phenomena. NASA hascompiled a database of more than 350,000 photosof the Earth taken by NASA astronauts.

JSC leverages its scientific expertise to maintain asignificant education and public outreach effort. Tothis end, it has developed curricula for schools inthe subjects of planetary exploration and mete-orites. The crew Earth-observation database makesa strong connection with the public. During thesummer months, JSC hosts many teachers learningabout planetary science and many students work-ing on research topics.

Orbital DebrisThrough its orbital debris research and its riskassessment team for hypervelocity impacts, JSCalso enhances the safety and reliability of missionsin both low and high Earth orbits. JSC is theunique source of debris environment modeling. Ithas worldwide leadership responsibility in policyand matters of debris mitigation and environmen-tal control. The Center also provides risk and threatassessments, impact testing and shielding develop-ment based on orbital debris research and analysis.

Educator Astronaut Barbara Morgan, ISS spacecraftcommunicator (CAPCOM), is photographed in the ISSflight control room in Houston’s Mission Control Centerduring the STS-105 mission.

Education and Scientific KnowledgeAdvancement 4.5An important component of JSC’s work includeseducation and advancement of knowledge. JSC iscommitted to teaching students and sharing its

research with scientists, students and researchers acrossthe world. The programs that support these activitiesare described below.

Education and Student Programs 4.5.1While education has always been a part of NASA, des-ignating education as a part of the core mission of theAgency allows NASA to emphasize education in a waythat NASA has never done before.


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The Agency’s Education Enterprise has establishedstrategic objectives and specific goals to increaseinvolvement in NASA-related education programsby educators, students and families across thecountry. The ultimate goal of this activity is toincrease the number of students going into sci-ence, technology, engineering and mathematicsprofessions. JSC is deeply committed to support-ing the Agency’s Education mission and will do soby designing and implementing programs to meetthese stated objectives and goals with audiencesrepresentative of America’s diversity.

Specifically, JSC will play key roles in supportingnew Agencywide initiatives such as the EducatorAstronaut and Explorer Schools programs.

Educator AstronautThe Educator Astronaut program is a bold newprogram to send educators into space as fullytrained astronauts. In 1996, the Agency selectedBarbara Morgan to be the first EducatorAstronaut. In the near term, JSC will be responsi-ble for the final selection and training of the nextcadre of Educator Astronauts. This program isabout inspiring future explorers through the

excitement of human space flight and other NASAactivities. JSC will work with the rest of NASAand its partners to build on the current TeachingFrom Space program and to develop a broadEducator Astronaut program that will meetAgency objectives.

Explorer SchoolsNASA has initiated the Explorer Schools Programto strengthen career development in science, tech-nology, engineering and mathematics and to meetindividual needs of schools. Explorer Schoolteams, working with NASA personnel and otherpartners, will develop an action plan that addressesa local need in mathematics, science or technology,incorporating NASA data and materials into thecurriculum. NASA JSC will serve as the residentcenter for five Explorer Schools. In addition, JSCwill serve as one of three hubs of the developingNASA Digital Learning Networks, which willmake use of videoconferencing and other technol-ogy to deliver NASA content to Explorer Schools.This activity has the potential to reach millions ofstudents in addition to the hundreds of otheraudiences already served annually via the DistanceLearning Outpost located at JSC.

Students with an interestin science, technology,engineering and mathe-matics are supportedthrough the Agency’sEducation Enterprise.


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As well as supporting the Agency’s new strategic ini-tiatives, JSC will continue to implement othernational, regional and state-based activities for uni-versity, kindergarten through grade 12 andinformal education audiences. On a national level,programs such as the Graduate Student ResearcherProgram and the KC-135 Reduced Gravity StudentFlight Opportunity Program will continue toengage university students in NASA-relatedresearch. Within an eight-state surrounding region,the Pre-Service Teachers Institute for underservedteacher candidates will continue to prepare educa-tors for their role in the classroom by exposing themto real math and science applications at NASA.Within Texas, the Texas Aerospace Scholars Programwill also continue to encourage students who have adesire to learn more about technical careers, but mayhave not yet decided to pursue a career in the fieldsof science, technology, engineering or mathematics.

Through “real-life” experiences, working alongsideNASA engineers, scientists and business profession-als, JSC’s student employment and recruitmentprograms will continue to develop qualified anddiverse graduates to expand the pool of human cap-ital available to meet the vital workforce needs ofNASA and the United States.

Exemplary Education ProgramsTo ensure alignment of all education programs withthe NASA strategic objectives and desired out-comes, the Education Enterprise established the“Criteria for Exemplary Education Programs.”Every NASA-sponsored education activity will eval-uate its appropriateness and effectiveness in relationto six dimensions. These dimensions are CustomerFocus, Diversity, Evaluation, Partnerships/Sustainability, NASA Content, and WorkforcePipeline. JSC will use these six criteria to continu-ally evaluate its education programs to ensure thatJSC is aligned with the Agency’s overall direction.

Technology Transfer 4.5.2Part of NASA’s purpose is to transfer the technol-ogy it develops to the private sector for applicationsthat will foster U.S. economic growth and develop-ment, and that will benefit people throughout thenation and the world by improving life on Earth.

Space-based technology has already enriched a widerange of human activities, including:

• Communications.

• Information processing.

• Transportation.

• Environmental studies.

NASA technology has improved the quality of lifeon Earth with advances in biotechnology, medicalapplications, agriculture and more.

JSC’s objective is to effectively transfer technologyto the nation, primarily through developmentalpartnerships and licensing agreements with busi-ness and industry. In collaboration with otherNASA field centers, JSC implements the ITTPprogram and manages the Center’s intellectualproperty assets by identifying, capturing, monitor-ing and protecting technology, and by facilitatingthe joint development and transfer of technology atthe earliest feasible point in the development cycle.

Unique Center Support Services 4.6JSC is committed to supporting the NASA initiativeto consolidate common business functions acrossthe Agency as One NASA. The Agency anticipatesconsolidating certain business functions under theNASA Shared Services Center in areas such as facil-ities, human resources, procurement, financial andresources management, and information technology.JSC provides some unique support services for theAgency programs in the areas of imagery and pub-lishing; procurement; and budgeting and financialplanning. These unique services are described inmore detail below.

Imagery and Publishing 4.6.1Imaging technologies are merging at a steady paceand moving toward fully using an informationtechnology platform. Still photography continuesmoving away from chemical-based processing andtoward digital imaging. As recently as two yearsago, only 50 percent of the imaging processing wasconducted using digital systems; today, more than75 percent of image processing is digital, withchemical processing expected to be down to almost


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zero percent in three years. Video media also con-tinues to evolve toward a digital format, as well ascapitalizing on enhanced network capabilities andsystems infrastructure replacement to improverecording and distribution methodologies.

JSC is moving aggressively toward maximizing theuse of new computer-based technologies in itsimaging sciences area. JSC, by working to enhancecapabilities in both video and still photography, ispartnering with its customers, such as the ISS andSpace Shuttle programs, to implement moreefficient digital solutions that bring added capabil-ity with reduced overall operating costs.

JSC also leads NASA in its digital production capa-bility. For the remaining wet-film processing stillbeing performed, JSC, as a direct result of installa-tion of a zero-discharge system, also leads the Agencyin minimizing the chemical waste produced.

Procurement 4.6.2JSC provides procurement products and services insupport of the NASA programs resident inHouston, Texas. It allows the management of anunprecedented number of major program and insti-tutional acquisitions that are increasing thecompetitive base, including small and small disad-vantaged businesses, from which NASA purchasesprogram goods and services. JSC continues toimprove performance, through the use of risk-basedcontract surveillance and management, and theoverall acquisition process, through increased andenhanced contactor communications.

The Center plans to augment its procurement capa-bilities through implementation of e-Governmenttools and to enhance competitive opportunities andefficiencies while maintaining high customer rat-ings. A One NASA acquisition process, which usesprocesses and tools designed to integrate andimprove contract cost as well as technical and man-agement performance, is expected to improvecontract management. JSC will improve its services

to the resident NASA programs through increaseduse of contract and incentive strategies targeted tospecific program goals, and through increased use ofcompetitive sourcing as a way to achieve maximumperformance.

Budget/Financial Planning 4.6.3JSC provides financial planning and budget execu-tion products and services for NASA programsresident at the Center. The Center is responsible forimplementing the financial and resources systemsrequired for proper data collection and reporting aswell as ensuring that Agency- and Center-levelfinancial and resource decisions are implementedproperly. Managers review, approve and implementfinancial and resources policies and integrate theplanning, implementation, management and con-trol of all resources for which JSC is responsible.

Cost estimating and analysis capabilities are pro-vided for all programs that reside at the Center,including Space Shuttle, ISS and Bioastronautics. Inaddition to the actual analysis of project and pro-gram performance, these capabilities promote theeffective use of advanced project management ana-lytical tools and processes for improving cost, lifecycle cost and schedule estimating and assessmentcapabilities. Resources management organizationsare responsible for developing and integrating budg-ets for all projects and program offices that reside atJSC, as well as executing the current year budget.

Over the next three years, the Center plans to fur-ther develop program and project assessmentcapabilities and to continue to emphasize the inte-grated budget and performance analysis. The nextmodules in the Integrated Financial ManagementProgram will be implemented in accordance withthe Agency schedule, including Budget Formulationand Integrated Asset Management. The Agency willbegin full cost operations in 2004, and the Centerwill continue to improve its capabilities to manageand report in full cost.


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55 ImplementingStrategies (IS)


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ImplementingStrategies (IS)

Astronaut Robert L. Curbeam, Jr., spacecraft communi-cator (CAPCOM), monitors data at his console in theShuttle flight control room in Houston’s Mission ControlCenter during the STS-105 mission.

55IS-1: Achieve management andinstitutional excellence comparable to NASA’s technical excellence.

Human Capital ManagementJSC is dedicated to achieving managerial and insti-tutional excellence that is comparable to the highlevel of its trademark technical excellence. TheCenter recently rolled out NASA’s StrategicHuman Capital Plan (SHCP), which established asystematic, Agencywide approach to human capi-tal management that aligns with NASA’s missionand vision. The SHCP provides an integratedapproach that will enhance the Agency’s ability towork together as One NASA. The plan places anemphasis on the fact that people are as importantas other resources.

JSC is currently involved in a number of initiativesin support of the SHCP. JSC:

• Developed the NASA OrganizationalProfile System, a Web-based tool thatextracts key human resources data for JSCorganizations.

• Created the JSC WorkforceRepresentation System, which is a toolthat compares specific diversity elementsof JSC’s current workforce against the rel-evant civilian workforce in the U.S.Census.


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• Is actively involved in the design anddevelopment of the Agency CompetencyManagement System.

• Uses the cooperative education programto address its aging workforce issue.Cooperative education students (Co-ops)comprise the majority of new hires intoentry-level technical and administrativepositions at the Center, accounting for 34percent of FY 2002 hires.

• Is completing the pilot year of its mentor-ing program. This program was created tofacilitate personal and professionalgrowth. Mentors and protégés have theopportunity to share experiences and les-sons learned, as well as to gain newperspectives on the work environmentand to expand networks and relation-ships. Data are being collected onparticipant experiences to improve theprogram for future participants.

• Conducts the Oral History Project, whichcontinues to serve as a component of theCenter’s knowledge management efforts.More than 170 interviews have been con-ducted and archived to date.

• Is implementing a pilot JSC LeadershipDevelopment Program to provide aproactive approach to developing highlytalented people and increasing JSC’sleadership quality.

Competitive AcquisitionJSC routinely conducts competitive acquisitions inproducing products and services at the Center. JSCleverages both industry and academia through cost-effective arrangements to obtain the best value tothe government. JSC is committed to augmentingits use of competitive acquisition procedures toenable efficiencies for the Themes and projects atthe Center.

Streamlined Financial ManagementThe Center plans, implements and evaluates inte-grated financial management program and

financial systems. It is responsible for reporting,controlling and analyzing financial data on a full-cost accounting basis, as well as advising Centerpersonnel on all financial matters. This consulta-tion includes providing financial services,resources control and automated financial systems,as well as cost accounting, reporting and propertymanagement.

IS-2: Demonstrate NASA leadership inthe use of information technologies.

Converged NetworksCurrently, voice, video and data are distributedthroughout JSC over three different systems. JSC’svision is to move these services from three separateinstitutional networks to a single network infra-structure. Media convergence cost savings inproductivity will be realized by simplifying infor-mation access and reducing maintenance.

Network Traffic ShapingJSC is transitioning focus from network connectiv-ity to network management to provide betternetwork performance. This transition requires thedevelopment and implementation of tools for net-work traffic shaping. As new services—such asvideo and voice—are added, these new capabilitiesare needed to assist JSC in monitoring, maintain-ing, troubleshooting and growth planning of itsnetworks. Network slowdown or outage is verycritical for productivity and mission-critical appli-cations. These real-time network diagnostic toolsenable JSC to collect information to obtain the per-formance characteristics of the network.

One NASA MessagingJSC implemented and currently manages Phase I ofthe One NASA Messaging Vision. One NASAMessaging is intended to eventually integrate allNASA personnel within a single electronic messaginginfrastructure. This infrastructure is expected to sim-plify collaboration among NASA field centers andspeed the daily exchange of information. DuringPhase I, JSC removed center-specific designations


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from all NASA email addresses, resulting in simpli-fied @nasa.gov addresses. All NASA external mail isrouted through computer systems at JSC. While itcontinues to maintain this system, JSC is also partic-ipating in Phase II, which is intended to convert theAgency to entirely new messaging software.

Web HostingGrowth in the size and number of general Webapplications has been ten percent per year for themajority of application systems supported by JSC.Server obsolescence and workload consolidation andbalancing are the primary drivers underlying a three-year replacement cycle for processing platforms.

Activities are under way to replace the aging appli-cation server infrastructure with newer, mid-rangeplatforms. Most notably, the architecture is beingrevised to allow for separation of developed andcommercial-off-the-shelf workloads to reduce thenumber and likelihood of integration problems.Staging and integration environments are alsobeing introduced to improve the effectiveness oftesting and the overall quality of productionsystems.

Document and Data ManagementThe Design and Data Management System andElectronic Document Management System repre-sent the most notable areas of growth for JSCapplications support through 2004, with additionalgrowth anticipated in 2004 and beyond. As moreand more interest is focused on the ability to bettermanage the life cycle of engineering design data, aswell as streamlining and improving the methods formanaging documentation life cycles in general, thisinitiative is clearly an area on which JSC plans toplace considerable emphasis.

Efforts are already under way to analyze key activ-ities to develop an overall JSC InformationManagement System. This system will enhance theCenter’s ability to provide timely access to the mostaccurate information from across the Center.Architectural changes in this area will be driven bysystem reliability, availability and interoperabilityrequirements as necessary.

IS-3: Enhance NASA’s core engineer-ing, management and sciencecapabilities and processes to ensuresafety and mission success, increaseperformance and reduce cost.

Collaborative EngineeringJSC has established multiple collaborative engineer-ing centers that make it possible to achieve a highlevel of design fidelity even in the early conceptualstages of a project. This is done by facilitating theparticipation of multiple designers in each phase ofdesign and development. These centers are beingused effectively by diverse and distributed engineer-ing teams to develop integrated design solutions forprojects to conduct integrated engineering analysesand to perform integrated trouble shooting.

Process ManagementJSC is using computer-based workflow and datamanagement tools to streamline multiple technicaland administrative processes. These tools providethe additional benefit of ensuring compliance withestablished procedures and processes, therebyincreasing the quality of engineering products andservices.

JSC’s lessons-learned process has documented criti-cal processes and procedures to capture bothrequirements and “best practices” to improve engi-neering’s technical, cost, schedule and safetyperformance and quality. These processes and pro-cedures are tailored to the needs of all engineeringprojects based on safety, scope, complexity, cost andacceptable risk.

Systems EngineeringJSC is continuously seeking to develop, maintainand enhance its systems engineering and support tothe programs and projects of today and tomorrow.This support includes skills and expertise, technol-ogy and facilities. The Center seeks to provide itscustomer programs and projects with the right:

• Resources by using the required engineer-ing and technology development skills,experience and expertise at the right time.


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Systems test for the MiniAERCam Project.


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• Test, analysis and crew training facilities, atthe right cost and schedule, throughoutthe program or project life cycle.

• Technologies, at the right developmentlevel, at the right time, within cost and onschedule.

Common position skills and expertise criteria wereestablished for each core capability to ensure train-ing and hiring in key areas of immediate needs, to:

1. Implement capability and process changesnecessary for Shuttle RTF and implemen-tation of the CAIB recommendations.

2. Strengthen selected civil service core com-petency skill areas to better supportcurrent and future programs.

3. Provide safe mission operations on timeand within cost for completion of the ISSU.S. Core Complete configuration.

4. Participate in OSP definition and designto assure its operability and efficiency. JSCwill also establish supportive mission oper-ations expertise to accomplish all assignedOSP mission operations functions.

Safety and mission assurance engineers directly par-ticipate in the resolution of hardware and softwareproblems on the ground and on orbit to ensure thatcorrective and preventative action is properly docu-mented and implemented. Early involvement byquality engineering ensures that designs are pro-ducible and testable, and can be manufactured inthe highest quality manner.

Direct involvement in manufacturing and testactivities on site at JSC by the quality assurancefunction ensures that hardware and software pro-duced by JSC conform to all physical andfunctional requirements. Off-site manufacturingand tests are carefully monitored through imple-mentation of surveillance plans and periodic audits.

JSC has developed and implemented a Safety,Reliability and Quality and Mission AssuranceTraining Academy Web site to provide a compre-hensive training resource and tool to identifytechnical and management skill gaps. Available

training and training requirements are identifiedfor the novice, intermediate and expert levels forquality assurance specialists, engineers, technicalleads, managers and administrative support.

Peer ReviewJSC emphasizes maintaining and continuouslyimproving the Center’s core capabilities in science,engineering and technology. Through disciplinedpeer review processes, JSC ensures the quality andintegrity of its scientific research, engineering proj-ects and technology development. This emphasis isreflected in multiple efforts that are and will be pro-viding significant benefits in the reduction of lifecycle costs and technical, cost and schedule risk andin improved quality of scientific research.

IS-4: Ensure that all NASA work envi-ronments, on Earth and in space, aresafe, healthy, environmentally soundand secure.

Safety and Health

JSC is committed to assuring the safety and health ofcrewmembers in space environments by using com-prehensive system safety and risk-managementprocesses throughout program and project life cycles.Hazards to crew health are identified through the sys-tem safety process and are eliminated or controlled toan acceptable level of risk. Existing crew health haz-ards and associated controls are identified in hazardreports. Controls include hardware design and oper-ational procedures such as flight rules and crewprocedures. Design changes that could impact crewhealth are evaluated through the engineering designand verification process. Operational changes thatcould impact existing hazard controls are evaluatedthrough established program change reviewprocesses.

JSC’s ground safety program ensures that all workenvironments are safe, healthy, environmentallysound and secure. The program is third-party certi-fied through the Occupational Safety and HealthAdministration’s Voluntary Protection Program(VPP). JSC was certified as a VPP Star site in 1999,


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recertified in May 2003 and seeks to be recertifiedagain in 2007. The VPP establishes world-class cri-teria for a comprehensive, robust and continuallyimproving safety and health program featuring man-agement leadership and employee involvement.

Many of JSC’s contractors, which are also certifiedas VPP Star sites, are in the mentoring pilot pro-gram pursuing certification or are participating inthe survey/review process. This strong participa-tion increases the effectiveness of the overallprogram. Key elements of the JSC safety andhealth program are:

• Management, labor and employee teaming.

• Finding hazards.

• Eliminating and controlling hazardsthrough risk management.

• Training and equipping employees to worksafely.

Comprehensive training of employees in personalprotective equipment and emergency response pro-cedures ensures that employees are prepared andequipped to work safely. Continuous improvementinitiatives target reducing injury and illness rates,eliminating hazards rather than controlling hazards,and implementing better training techniques tofurther enhance hazard recognition and avoidanceby employees.

JSC offers comprehensive occupational, preventiveand emergency medicine services for eligible civilservant and contractor employees. The Center alsoprovides recognition, evaluation and control ofchemical, physical and biological stressors in theworkplace. This includes, but is not limited to,indoor air quality, potable water quality, ionizingand nonionizing radiation, ergonomics, hazardcommunication and other public health concerns.

Environmental ManagementJSC, including its satellite facilities, is in the processof implementing an environmental managementsystem (EMS) that:

• Provides a systematic evaluation ofenvironmental impacts of our activitiesand programs.

• Evaluates compliance with applicable regu-lations, Agency requirements and ExecutiveOrders though self-evaluation and auditing.

• Supplies a mechanism for implementingand tracking corrective action.

• Accomplishes continuous improvement bysetting objectives and goals for the environ-mental program.

• Includes management review for effective-ness and adequacy.

JSC’s goal is to complete implementation inaccordance with the Agency requirements for anEMS by 2004 and to meet federal EnvironmentalProtection Agency (EPA) Performance Trackrequirements by 2005. WSTF has completedimplementation of an EMS including ISO 14001and EPA Performance Track certifications. Theoverall objective of the EMS is to ensure compli-ance, to reduce any negative effect on theenvironment and to eliminate financial impact byavoiding liability from such action.

JSC provides information on environmental issuesto employees via Centerwide forums such as Safetyand Total Health Day, Contractor AffairsSubcommittees and the Executive Safety Committee.The Center uses a cross-organizational team, the JSCEnvironmental Stewardship Subcommittee, to dis-cuss environmental topics affecting JSC and todevelop strategies to achieve compliance and meetJSC’s environmental objectives.

The environmental office collaborates with otherorganizations to develop and implement pollutionprevention and reduction activities. In addition,JSC is evaluated for compliance though federal,state and local inspections from regulatory agenciesand through periodic NASA environmental func-tional reviews.

SecurityJSC protects its assets by controlling areas throughthe use of perimeter fencing and entrance/exit gateswhere positive identification and badge checks areperformed prior to entering the site. Roving patrolsare used to check the fence, and a project is under


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Astronaut Stephen K. Robinson, STS-114 mission specialist, wears a training version ofthe extravehicular mobility unit spacesuit during an underwater simulation of extravehic-ular activity scheduled for the 17th Shuttle mission to the International Space Station.

way to increase the closed-circuit television (CCTV)system capabilities to more thoroughly survey thegates and fence.

The physical security of JSC has been undergoingsignificant upgrades since September 11, 2001,with increased numbers and proficiency of theguard workforce, additional physical securityequipment, and upgrades to hardware and softwaresecurity systems. JSC officials continually evaluatethe site for additional enhancements.

JSC assesses its infrastructure security using theMinimum Essential Infrastructure (MEI) protec-tion plan. MEI protection planning identifiesmission-critical facilities and determines theresources necessary to ensure sufficient protectionof facilities, systems and personnel. Additional secu-rity measures exist within MEI facilities andlaboratories.

The Center has partnered with local, state and fed-eral officials for both emergency response planning


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Astronauts Jeffrey S. Ashby (left) and Pamela A. Melroy,STS-112 mission commander and pilot, respectively,along with an instructor, are photographed in the cockpitof a KC-135 aircraft at Ellington Field near JSC.Although used primarily for the Reduced GravityProgram at JSC, the large aircraft also fits the bill forheavy aircraft familiarization. Most training for Shuttlelandings takes place in the Shuttle Training Aircraft,which is much lighter in gross weight than the Shuttle.Astronauts practice landings in the KC-135 since it ismore similar in gross weight to a Shuttle.


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and security of the site. JSC security officials attendregular forums with community partners. TheEmergency Operations Center is open to commu-nity partners during times of crisis. Lines ofcommunication are open between JSC and its part-ners; and JSC management is notified of anyconcerns affecting the Center or personnel. JSC isprepared to respond accordingly.

Protection of government property from theft ordamage is performed by securing assets within thecontrolled perimeter of the site. Additional controlsare in place where assets of high value are protectedusing CCTV, additional locks or vaults, and, insome cases, additional guards to control entry/exitfrom these areas. Random vehicle searches are per-formed to ensure no unauthorized property isbrought onto or removed from the site.

Release of government property for off-site use iscontrolled through the use of approval processes,including property release and property ownershiptransfer. Releases of government property aretracked through an inventory tracking system.Annual inventories of government property are per-formed, and results are reported to propertycustodians and Center senior management.Property custodians investigate lost property withthe assistance of the security office. JSC consistentlystrives to meet the Agency goal of less than 0.5 per-cent of lost property.

IS-5: Manage risk and cost to ensuresuccess and provide the greatest valueto the American public.

Risk ManagementA three-year outlook of JSC’s Continuous RiskManagement Program is being developed by theCenter. This will include risk assessment tools, suchas probabilistic risk assessment, for the Themes aswell as training in risk management.

JSC is leading the Continuous Risk ManagementProgram to provide support to all programs and proj-ects at JSC. This initiative was driven by the

requirements given in the NASA Procedures andGuidelines (NPG) 7120.5B, “NASA Program andProject Management Processes and Requirements.”The type and level of risk management supportdepends on program maturity. Routine risk-relatedsupport tasks are provided as an integral part of thegeneral risk management process in mature programssuch as the SSP. For specialized tasks such as proba-bilistic risk assessment, JSC continues to serve as theexperts for leadership and guidance in this area.

Risk management support and project risk man-agement strategy are provided to the OSP Programand Project Office in accordance with NPG7120.5B. A detailed design reference mission prob-ability-of-success analysis is in development for theOSP portion of the program architecture.

As of 2003, risk management training was providedfor over 460 JSC personnel using the ContinuousRisk Management curriculum from NASA’sGoddard Space Flight Center. In addition to pro-viding certified instructors for the courses, thetraining also provides the ability to certify addi-tional instructors as needed.

Cost EstimatingJSC provides cost-analysis services, including costestimates, trade studies, schedule analysis, riskanalysis and phasing, to its customers. Economicanalyses of alternative investments for projectmanagement are also performed. The Centerprepares hardware and software cost estimates forsatellites, launch vehicles, spacecraft and projectsrelated to the ISS, the Space Shuttle and other aero-space projects. JSC continually improves its costmodels through development and modification ofcost-estimating methods, algorithms and cost mod-els required for the development of cost estimatesfor proposed NASA space projects. JSC also col-lects, analyzes, normalizes and maintains historicalcost data for NASA space programs


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A quarter Moon is visiblein this oblique view of Earth’s horizon andairglow, recorded aboardthe Space ShuttleColumbia.


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AcronymsABF Anthropometric and Biomechanics

Facility

APU auxiliary power unit

ARED Advanced Resistive Exercise Device

ASO Astronomical Search for Origins

ASPL Advanced Space PropulsionLaboratory

AT Aeronautics Technology

BCPR Bioastronautics Critical PathRoadmap

BMAR backlog of maintenance and repair

BSA Biological Sciences and Applications

BSR Biological Sciences Research

CAIB Columbia Accident InvestigationBoard

CCTV closed-circuit television

CMM Capability Maturity Model

DOUG Dynamic Onboard UbiquitousGraphics

DSP Display Software Package

EMI/EMC electromagnetic interference/electro-magnetic compatibility

EMS environmental management system

EMU extravehicular activity mobility unit

EP Education Programs

EPA Environmental Protection Agency

ESA Earth Science Applications

ESS Earth System Science

ESTA Energy Systems Test Area

EUL enhanced use leasing

EVA extravehicular activity

FCI facility condition index

FY fiscal year

GFE government-furnished equipment

GPS global positioning system

GRAF Graphics Research and AnalysisFacility

HRF Human Research Facility

IPS Integrated Planning System

ISS International Space Station

ITTP Innovative Technology TransferPartnerships

IVA intravehicular activity

JAEL JSC Avionics EngineeringLaboratory

JSC Johnson Space Center

LETF Lighting Environment Test Facility

MEI Minimum Essential Infrastructure

MEP Mars Exploration Program

MSM Mission and Science MeasurementTechnology

NBL Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory

NPG NASA Procedures and Guidelines

NSBRI National Space Biomedical ResearchInstitute

1-G Earth gravity

OSP Orbital Space Plan

RCM reliability centered maintenance

PAD Pad Abort Demonstration

PSR Physical Sciences Research

RMS remote manipulator system

ROBOT Robotics On-Board Trainer

RPFS Research Partnerships and FlightSupport


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RTF return to flight

SAFER Simplified Aid For EVA Rescue

SBIR Small Business Innovative Research

SCDS Spacecraft Dynamics Simulation

SEC Sun-Earth Connection

SEPG Software Engineering Process Group

SES Systems Engineering Simulator

SEU Structure and Evolution of theUniverse

SFS Space and Flight Support

SHCP Strategic Human Capital Plan

SIGI space integrated global positioningsystem inertial navigation system

SLEP Service Life Extension Program

SLI Space Launch Initiative

SSP Space Shuttle Program

SSRMS Space Station Remote ManipulatorSystem

SSTF Space Station Training Facility

SSV Space Shuttle Vehicle

STTR Small Business Technology Transfer

UTAF Usability Testing and Analysis Facility

VASIMR variable specific impulse magneto-plasma rocket

VPP Voluntary Protection Program

WAFL Water and Food Analysis Laboratory

WSSH White Sands Space Harbor

WSTF White Sands Test Facility

zero-G zero gravity


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Astronaut John B. Herrington (center left frame), STS-113 mission specialist, participates in the mission’sthird spacewalk. The forward section of the Space ShuttleEndeavour, docked to the Pressurized Mating Adapter(PMA-2) on the International Space Station, is visiblecenter frame. The Station’s Canadarm2 appears to standbetween the Shuttle and Herrington.



National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Johnson Space CenterHouston, TX 77058JSC-49896

http://jsc.nasa.gov

The NASA VisionTo improve life here,

To extend life to there,To find life beyond.

The NASA MissionTo understand and protect our home planet,To explore the universe and search for life,To inspire the next generation of explorers

. . . as only NASA can.

Documents

National Aeronautics and Space Administration · 2004-11-30 · 1.1 The Role of Johnson Space Center 7 1.2 Accomplishment of the NASA Vision and Mission 8 2. JSC Customers: Enterprises