Research Partnership Centers Background Mark Nall Space Product Development Program Manager 16 May 2006

Research Partnership CentersBackground

Mark NallSpace Product Development

Program Manager16 May 2006

NASA Space Act (1958) As Amended

“…seek and encourage, to the maximum extent possible the fullest commercial use of space”

Program Background

The RPCs

• Centers for the Commercial Development of Space– Initially established in 1985– Focus on the industrial use of space– NASA could not be a customer– Unique expectations

SPD Realignment Success

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

SPD Projects withother NASA funding

IndustryDriven

Realignment NASA Driven

SPD Heritage

• Put into place the Commercial Middeck Augmentation Module Contract

• Flew 30% of the U.S. research on the International Space Station

• A program of true partnerships between industry, academia and government

• 12 Research Partnership Centers (RPCs)

• Focused on developing technology for use by NASA, as well as by industry

What We Are

Center for Satellite and Hybrid Communications Networks CSCCollege Park MD

WA

OR

CA

NV

ID

MT

UT

WY

AZ

CO

NM

NE

SD

ND

MO

IA

WI

MN

MI

OHINIL

KY

VA

TN

KS

OK

TX LA

AR

MSGA

FL

SCNC

VT

NH

ME

NY

PA

WV

MARI

CT

NJ

DE

MD

DC

AL

Research Partnership CentersCenter for

Microgravity Materials

ProcessingBoston, MA

~Maryland Hybrid Networks Center

College Park, MD~

Medical Informatics& Technology

Applications CenterRichmond, VA

~Center for

Biophysical Sciences & Engineering

Birmingham, AL~

Center for Space Exploration Power

SystemsAuburn, AL

~Imaging Technology

Space CenterBoca Raton, FL

BioServe SpaceTechnologiesBoulder, CO

~Center for Space

ResourcesGolden, CO

~Spacecraft

Technology CenterCollege Station, TX

~Center for Space

Power College Station, TX

~Texas Center for

Advanced MaterialsHouston, TX

~ProVision

TechnologiesStennis Space

Center, MS

• Many have a tradition of working closely with NASA field centers.

• Universities that are leaders in working with industry in applied science and engineering know the top industry players in their fields of technical expertise.

• Bridge the gap between goals of government and goals of industry, provide effective buffer between the two.

• Access to enthusiastic and highly capable students.

• Educate future scientists and engineers.

Why base partnerships at universities?

Industry/University/Government Partnerships

IndustryResourcesExpertiseProductsMarkets

GovernmentResourcesExpertiseMissions

UniversityResourcesExpertiseStudents

Federal Agencies:

DARPA

DOC (NIST)

DOD

DOE

NIH

NSF

USDA

The States:

Broad cross-

section

A Proven Concept

NASA:

The RPCs

Field Centers

Affordable Spaceflight Hardware

Number of Payloads/$Million of FY04 Budget

00.5

11.5

22.5

33.5

Bioastronautics Space Biology MicrogravitySciences

SPD

Division

Rati

o

A 20-year Evolution, from Sounding Rockets to ISS

Dual-Use Technologies

• Advanced Materials

• Autonomous Medical Care

• Biotechnology

• Combustion

• Communications

• Plant Science

• Power and Electronics

• Medical Systems

• Imaging Technologies

• Space Resources and Manufacturing

A 20-year track record, from sounding rockets to ISS, of ground- and flight-based research

• The RPCs have many international industrial partners.

• MITAC regularly applies autonomous medical care technologies in Third-World countries.

• Space-DRUMS™, a commercial payload for ISS and on dock at KSC was built and largely funded by a Canadian company as an RPC industrial partner.

• The Commercial Generic Bioprocessing Apparatus (CGBA) is used on ISS for Japanese crystal growth experiments.

• The RPCs are active in JUSTSAP, a Japan-US cooperative research organization.

International ParticipationThe RPCs are International

Affordable TechnologyThrough Industry/University/Government

PartnershipsR&D Expenditures per Invention Disclosure

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

4.5

RPCs

Cal Tech MIT

Columbia Univ.WARF

U Cal System

Univ. of M

ich.

Harvard Univ.NASA

Mill

ion

s o

f D

olla

rs

(Source: "Technology Transfer: Bringing Innovation to NASA and the Nation." Report of the National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA), November 2004, p. 34.) RPC data for FY03 have been added.

• 86 Industrial, 41 Academic, 39 Government Partners• Leveraging Ratio 2.7 to 1. • 4 Commercial Spin-Off Firms Created• Over $9M Non-SPD NASA Funding• Over $12M Non-NASA Federal Funding• $5.7M Industry Cash, $13.6M Industry In-Kind• 22 Patents Filed, 10 Awarded• 170 Refereed, 80 Non-Refereed Publications• 10 B.S., 22 M.S., 14 Ph.D. Degrees Awarded• Over 170 payloads flown on Shuttle, Mir and ISS

since 1990, with an unblemished safety record.

The Research Partnership CentersPerformance Overview, FY05

Leveraging

• Commercial Generic Bioprocessing Apparatus (CGBA)

• Microgravity Experiment Research Locker INcubator (MERLIN)

• Vortex Phase Separator • Broadband Internet over Wireless Networks • High Data Rate Commercial SatCom • Star Tracker • Hyperspectral Imager • Rocket Engine Controller

Example RPC Products Used by NASA

Supporting Space Exploration

Example RPC Products Used on Earth

• Telemedicine in the Third World (MITAC)• Commercial Pharmaceuticals (BioServe) • Biosensors for Homeland Security (CBSE)• Fire Suppression for Buildings, Ships and Aircraft

(CSR)• Star Trackers for Commercial Satellites (STC)• Advanced Solar Cells (CSEPS)• HDMAX camera for Defense and Homeland

Security (ITSC)• Hyperspectral Imaging for Diagnoses, Meat

Inspection and Forensics (ProVision)• Intelligent and secure space-based sensor and

communication networks (HyNET)

Creating Societal Benefits

• SPD was created to commercialize low-Earth orbit by creating products and services in space.

• Building on that legacy, the RPCs are planning experiments and demonstrations on Lunar landers, in coordination with RLEP, that can result in products and services for NASA and private industry.

• The RPCs are forming alliances with entrepreneurial space companies to build a truly independent space economy.

• The RPCs are planning the first ever commercial demonstrations on the Moon as major players in the Lunar Commerce Executive Roundtable, and the Space Resource Roundtable

Commercial ParticipationFrom Low-Earth Orbit to the Moon, Mars and

Beyond

Space Partnership Development: Providing Leveraged Technology for NASA

RLEP-2SPD Contributions

1. Potential Commercial RLEP-2 PayloadsSeveral SPD candidates have already been identified (ATK, MIT/Lincoln

Laboratories)

2. SPD/RPCs have the opportunity to build instrumentation for the RLEP-2 lander and mobility payloads.

– Payload elements include: Imaging SystemMastNeutron SpectrometerDrillSample Processing SystemGround Penetrating RadarTunable Diode LaserRadarArmScoopParticle Counter

– RPC teams are currently being formed for early proposal development.

The Exploration Vision

• Leverage. As in partnerships. Actively involve industries, universities and governments and the whole international community.

• Use government resources to help establish the infrastructure for a commercial cis-Lunar economy that can be the engine for carrying humanity out into the solar system and returning benefits to people on Earth.

• Space Exploration cannot forever be just a government program. It must spawn truly independent space industries.

How do you make it affordable?

$ in millions

Pres. FY05 Five-Year Budget Plan

Exploration missions – Robotic and eventual human missions to Moon, Mars, and beyondHuman/Robotic Technology – Technologies to enable development of exploration space systemsCrew Exploration Vehicle – Transportation vehicle for human explorersISS Transport – US and foreign launch systems to support Space Station needs especially after Shuttle retirement

NOTE:

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

FY04 FY05 FY06 FY07 FY08 FY09 FY10 FY11 FY12 FY13 FY14 FY15 FY16 FY17 FY18 FY19 FY20

FY05 Budget(inflationary growth post 2009)

RetireShuttle

Complete StationResearch Objectives

Crew Exploration

Vehicle

First Human Lunar Mission

Aeronautics and Other Science Activities

Space Shuttle

ISS Transport

Exploration Missions

Human/Robotic Technology

Crew Exploration Vehicle

International Space Station

Strategy Based on Long-Term Affordability

Lunar Propellant Production

05

101520253035404550

1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002

World Satellite Industry Revenues*

Commerce Potential

Satellite Manufacturing

Ground Equipment Manufacturing

Satellite Services

Launch Industry

Bil

lio

ns

of

Do

llar

s

*by Futron Corp, for Satellite Industry Association in 2002

Possible Commercial Activities• Suborbital tourism• Orbital tourism• ISS cargo transport• ISS crew transport• Space station/hotel• VR Entertainment• Research park• Salvage• Food production

• Cis-Lunar passenger transportation

• Cis-Lunar cargo transportation

• Solar Power Satellite construction/operation

• Lunar tourism• Lunar outpost expansion• Lunar resource development• Satellite servicing • Fuel depot

Terrestrial to Earth Orbital • Earth to LEO Transport • Space Ports• Suborbital Tourism

Earth Orbital to Lunar Surface• Communications Satellites • Solar Power Satellites • Orbital Tourism

Lunar Surface • 3He Harvesting • In-Situ Manufacturing• Lunar Tourism

Beyond• Asteroid Mining • Martian Habitats/Settlements • Outer Planet 3He Propellant Harvesting

Space Commerce Zones

Passenger Orbital

Passenger Suborbital

Zone 1Earth to Orbit

Space Shuttle ISS Crew/Cargo

Crewed LV

Notional NASA/Commercial Planning Milestones

X-Prize

America’s Space Prize

Commercial Space Station Passengers/Cargo

Crew Beyond Minimum for Gov. Assured Access

ISS/Commercial Station CargoCargo

Decision

Zone 2Earth Orbit to Lunar Surface

ISS


Commercial Space Station(s)

Commercial Satellite ServicingOrbital Express

Demo

Commercial Cis-Lunar Cargo Transportation SystemISRU Pilot Plant

Cis-Lunar Passenger Transport. Sys.Outpost

Expansion

Commercial Orbiting Fuel DepotSat. Servicing

Solar Power Sat. ConstructionTerrestrial Energy

Requirements

OrbitalRecovery Satellite Rescue and Station Keeping

Market for Lunar ISRU






Decision on Public / Private Lunar Outpost

Zone 3Lunar Surface


NavCom SurfaceMobility

SurfacePower

SurfacePower

Robotic Precursors

LRO Landing Sites(s)

Decision

2nd Mission

Lunar SortiesLEO

DemosMarsSingle Location Outpost

Public/Private Partnership

Outpost Site ChosenHuman Lunar Landing

Extend. Location Outpost or Global

Mars

Commercial ISRU Demo

Commercial ISRU Pilot

Plant

Commercial ISRU

Production Plant

Commercial Construction

Facility

Full Outpost Privatization

Science & Investment

Orbital Mission

Commercial ISRU Demo

Lunar Resources supporting EarthTerrestrial Energy

Requirements



Decision to Place Commercial Demo’s on Lunar Missions

Decision on Public / Private Lunar Outpost

Zone 4Beyond


NEO ResourcesOutpost

Expansion


Mars Human Mission Cargo Launch

Mars HumanMission Launch

NEO ResourcesEarth Strategic

Metals



New Partnership Opportunities

• Private sector organizations that directly support NASA exploration

• Emerging organizations that if successful will provide the commercial infrastructure that enables exploration

• Potential benefactors from the use of a robust commercial space infrastructure

• Potential “dual use” benefactors of the research, technology and competences developed

Documents

Research Partnership Centers Background Mark Nall Space Product Development Program Manager 16 May 2006