SECTION I

KSC SPECIFIC ROLES IN SUPPORT OF THE HUMAN EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF SPACE (HEDS) ENTERPRISE

There are specific goals, objectives, and strategies from the HEDS Enterprise Plan which KSC implements or shares responsibility for implementing. KSC implements the HEDS Enterprise goals and objectives through the following:

HEDS ENTERPRISE GOAL 1

Increase human knowledge of nature's processing using the space environment

HEDS Enterprise Objective 1.1:

Understand the fundamental role of gravity and the space environment in biological, chemical, and physical systems

• Investigate processes and phenomena normally obscured by gravity using a peer-reviewed research program
• Explore the effects of gravity on biological systems using a peer-reviewed research program
• In collaboration with the Space Science Enterprise, investigate planetary environments and explore the potential use of locally available resources

KSC Implementation Plans:

• Conduct peer-reviewed research on the effects of microgravity on photosynthesis and plant carbon metabolism
• Provide engineering and science expertise to the Principal Investigators in the development and processing of gravity and biological systems experiments
• Provide laboratory support for gravitational and biological research in pre- and post-flight timetables
• Assist Phase I cooperative efforts with MIR by providing engineering and science expertise to the Principal Investigator's in the development and processing of gravity and biological systems experiments
• Provide engineering and science support to ISS efforts for research in this area
• Provide payload carriers, carrier processing, and integration for launch of these experiments
• Support Agency efforts by providing Shuttle and payload launch and landing services, and associated support
• Support Agency efforts by providing expendable launch vehicles and payload processing services, and associated support

KSC Future Plans:

• Provide engineering and science expertise in future launch vehicle programs
• Develop new processing and launch operations concepts, and introduce the resulting advanced tools and systems for their application to this area

HEDS Enterprise Objective 1.2:

Use HEDS research facilities innovatively to achieve breakthroughs in science and technology

• Conduct a vigorous peer-reviewed basic research program using both flight and ground-based facilities to achieve breakthroughs in science and technology
• Establish a global framework for the integration of research programs and facilities

KSC Implementation Plans:

• Conduct ecological research which will enhance KSC's ability to manage its land
• Conduct research on bioregenerative systems in support of the Advanced Life Support Program
• Conduct research in plant space biology in support of the Gravitational Biology Program
• Utilize KSC-unique facilities and capabilities to develop, verify, and validate new technologies for enhancing ground and launch operations
• Continue to offer and utilize the specialized skill, expertise, and equipment of the KSC Development Testing Laboratory for services such as:
  • Construction of a Russian MIR plant growth chamber mockup for training US astronauts
  • Fabrication of Controlled Ecological Life Support System for KSC biomedical research
  • Development and fabrication of Russian MIR gaseous nitrogen (GN₂) bottle simulator to demonstrate GN₂ transfer and recharge from U.S. equipment to Russian MIR flight hardware
• Support Agency efforts by providing Shuttle and payload launch and landing services, and associated support
• Support Agency efforts by providing expendable launch vehicles and payload processing services, and associated support

KSC Future Plans:

• Enhance a complementary research effort in support of the Ecological Monitoring Program
• Develop an integrated plant research effort in support of both the Advanced Life Support and Gravitational Biology Programs
• Make available KSC-unique resources to developers of science/technologies
  

HEDS ENTERPRISE GOAL 2

Explore and settle the Solar System

HEDS Enterprise Objective 2.1:

Enable human exploration through Space Science Enterprise robotic missions

• Characterize Solar System bodies, including the Moon, Mars, and asteroids, to enable planning for human activities
• Demonstrate technologies required to use extraterrestrial resources

KSC Implementation Plans:

• Perform the Lead Federal Agency role for contingency planning of nuclear-powered payloads
• Continue to provide both expendable vehicle launch and payload processing services to spacecraft developers to ensure safe, efficient, and cost-effective launch site processing
• As Lead Center for Payload processing, continue to provide final payload assembly, test, checkout, and launch vehicle integration and associated support

KSC Future Plans:

• Participate as a support Center to the NASA Center of Excellence for Planetary Robotics

HEDS Enterprise Objective 2.2:

Expand human presence in space by assembling and operating the ISS

• Execute the phase I program of the ISS
• Build and deploy the ISS
• Conduct long-duration utilization and operations as a stepping stone to the space frontier

KSC Implementation Plans:

• Perform Shuttle and payload planning, integration and launch preparation, and provide logistics support for the remaining MIR launches
• Continue ongoing efforts to streamline the processing of MIR science experiments
• Provide laboratory support to Life Sciences flight experiments
• Ensure the processes of the ISS contractors, United States On-Orbit Segments (USOS), and International Partners for planning, scheduling, assembly, integration, test, and verification are performed safely, efficiently, and effectively
• Provide Kennedy Space Center's operational and test expertise in the assembly and checkout of flight hardware to the ISS Program
• Provide test instrumentation and KSC expertise to other Centers and International Partners for factory tests, etc.
• Ensure flight systems are adequately tested and verified to satisfy technical, operational, and safety requirements prior to assembly on-orbit
• Develop, activate, and validate ISS facility systems, ground support equipment, and processes to enable efficient launch site processing
• Provide launch site support to the Space Station assembly flight hardware developers
• Perform Shuttle integration and launch preparation, and provide logistics support for the ISS assembly missions
• Support customers in design and development of ISS hardware elements and utilization experiments to optimize launch site operations
• Perform Mini-Pressurized Logistics Module (MPLM) processing, experiment/rack processing, Shuttle integration and launch operations, and provide integrated logistics support for ISS utilization flights
• Provide unpressurized Payload Carriers hardware in conjunction with the orbiter as a logistics platform to support the ISS Assembly flights
• Develop and implement logistics systems to support the maintenance of flight and ground hardware
• Manage the development of plant flight experiments
• Test lightning, atmospheric control, and nutrient delivery components for ISS plant flight hardware
• Conduct biocompatibility testing of plant flight hardware

KSC Future Plans

• Develop and maintain a core group of flight systems specialists to support problem resolution for ISS on-orbit operations
• Apply KSC operations expertise and lessons learned from the Space Shuttle Program to enable the safest and most effective ISS on-orbit operation phase possible
• Provide program management at launch site for U.S. elements
• As Lead Center for space launch and payload processing, establish partnerships with international groups, industry, and academia to promote the commercialization of space
• Maintain a core group of technical experts within NASA for ground processing (assembly, test and checkout) to support future space flight programs

HEDS Enterprise Objective 2.3:

Develop biomedical knowledge and technologies to maintain human health and performance in space

• Develop systems and procedures to prevent, minimize, or correct the long-term physiological and psychological effects of the space environment on humans
• Conduct research to develop human factors approaches to enhance productivity of humans in space
• Understand the effects of space radiation on biological, chemical, and physical systems and processes

KSC Implementation Plans:

• Continue to perform preflight and postflight astronaut physiological data collection in support of JSC
• Test, checkout, and enhance the Shuttle on-board computer screens
• As a support Center to both Lead Centers - JSC and Ames Research Center (ARC) - for life sciences, support and/or provide flight experiment for research in these areas
• Support Outreach Programs (i.e., Florida Space Institute Microgravity Program) by providing microgravity experiment preparation, test, and integration expertise
• Continue the Bioregenerative Breadboard Project in support of human testing in the Advanced Life Support (ALS) Program
• Utilizing the KSC-developed Biological Research in Canister (BRIC), study the effects of reduced gravity environment on various life forms

KSC Future Plans:

• Develop a diagnostic tool for evaluating contributing causes of human error for future Space Station applications
• Develop a bioregenerative research and technology development effort in support of missions identified by the Advanced Life Support Program

HEDS Enterprise Objective 2.4:

• Establish a human presence on the Moon, in the Martian system, and elsewhere in the inner Solar System
• Develop life support and other human support technologies and advanced systems to achieve exploration goals
• Develop innovative advanced technology to support human exploration
• Conduct prototype, advanced-development demonstrations to ensure feasibility of the exploration strategy

KSC Implementation Plans:

• Develop and bring on-line a new launch processing system which reduces launch processing costs and meets future launch vehicle needs
• Develop tools, techniques, and improved processes to provide more cost-effective payload processing and Space Station resupply/return functions
• Capitalize on synergy between programs to insert technology and develop new tools to improve safety, reliability, and processing time
• Provide an operational environment for concept feasibility assessment, validation, and implementation of advanced technologies
• Using the Advanced Life Support capability developed at KSC, continue to support the Lead Center to gain knowledge of long-term plant growth in space in support of Space Station
• Conduct focused research directed at biological systems for use in regenerative life support systems
• Complete the Breadboard Project for the bioregenerative portion of the ALS Program

KSC Future Plans:

• Apply KSC operations expertise and lessons learned from the Space Shuttle Program to enable the safest and most effective operations phases of missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond
• Develop proof-of-concept automated and intelligent systems tools for vehicle systems performance analysis, operations, and future launch systems evaluation
• Develop and implement an advanced real-time raw and processed data recording, warehousing, and retrieval system that is readily accessible and compatible program-wide
• Provide electronic networked video image transport by implementing digital imaging for image acquisition instruments
• Support advanced technology for propulsion systems in the areas of propellants and radiological power sources
• Conduct research and technology development and manage Agency funded efforts for the bioregenerative portion of the ALS Program
• Participate in Lunar Base return to the Moon studies
• Develop launch structures, systems and operations support equipment for manned and/or remote operations in low gravity environments
• Develop the necessary test facilities, simulators, and analysis tools to demonstrate proof of concept for low gravity launch structures

HEDS Enterprise Objective 2.5:

Develop opportunities for commerce in space as a basis for future settlements

• The HEDS Enterprise...together with the commercial sector, will examine opportunities for space commerce as well as the full range of capabilities required to support them
• The HEDS Enterprise...will support pilot projects to demonstrate the commercial value of space
• Eliminate barriers to viable space commercialization

KSC Implementation Plans:

• Perform Shuttle integration, launch, landing, and recovery operations, and integrated logistics in support of commercial pilot projects
• Support Spaceport Florida efforts to enhance commercial space launch operations by providing expertise in the integration of Shuttle and ELV Payload Operations
• Develop more reliable and cost-effective ground support systems and equipment to ensure U.S. cost competitiveness in world markets for manned space access while reducing accessibility costs for commercial ventures

KSC Future Plans:

• As Center of Excellence for Launch and Payload Processing, establish partnerships with international, industry, and academia to identify and promote the commercial use of space
• Provide on-site design Center support to pilot project organizations to ensure project objectives are met, and operational needs and the ground processing environment are considered
• Study the feasibility of and establish a proposal for utilizing a single entity for launch services
• Pursue new commercial launch service providers for all unmanned operational space launches
  
  

HEDS ENTERPRISE GOAL 3

Achieve routine space travel

HEDS Enterprise Objective 3.1:

Sustain Space Shuttle operations at improved levels of safety and efficiency

• Improve Space Shuttle safety and develop selected Shuttle performance and capability enhancements
• Meet customer requirements
• Reduce operating cost

KSC Implementation Plans:

• Maintain an aggressive, proactive program to identify and correct unsafe conditions and reduce the number of operational mishaps and processing incidents to ensure the highest possible level of safety and quality
• Continue to ensure the highest levels of safety and risk abatement of Shuttle, payload elements and personnel by development and application of improved training methodologies, risk management, and decision making techniques while conducting launch, landing, and recovery operations
• Pursue efforts to increase launch probabilities through the development and implementation of improved launch, landing, and contingency landing capabilities
• Improve operations through implementation of state-of-the-art launch site tools, techniques, and processes to reduce cycle time
• Using industrial engineering and operations research, further streamline the launch processing and payload integration cycles
• Benchmark processes with other Government agencies and private industry
• Assist programs and projects in the resolution of anomalies
• Make the NASA launch vehicle and payload integration process more cost effective with reduced cycle times
• Increase support to the payload customer from payload design through launch site operations, including the coordination of logistics support
• As part of the Shuttle upgrade initiative, lead or participate in the process of identifying and implementing upgrades to the Shuttle systems and ground processing concepts to improve safety, reliability, supportability, and ground operation capabilities, and reduce cycle time. Key areas for improvement include:
  • Replace the LPS with a new CLCS
  • Develop a Vehicle Health Monitoring System Detailed Technical Objective (DTO) in partnership with JSC, leading to a new capability
  • Structures - Standard repair manual, advanced inspection devices, improve fastener logistics and other improvements
  • Thermal Protection System -- critical area mapping, improve waterproofing and other improvements
  • Integrated Logistics -- streamline process certification
• As an essential component for safe and economical access to space, support other NASA Center upgrade activities such as:
  • George C. Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC)
    • Propulsion Systems (RSRM, Solid Rocket Booster (SRB), Engines)
    • New liquid flyback booster
  • JSC - Orbiter
    • Fluid/Mechanical Structures
    • Avionics
    • Human Interface/Automation
    • Cockpit Design
• Continue the transition of day-to-day operations to the prime contractor
• Develop and maintain a critical skill core of project leaders and technical personnel to accomplish and support plans, designs, advanced mission studies, and systems upgrades
• Provide Programmatic Support to Shuttle activities at KSC and manage the program milestone review process, including Flight Readiness Reviews
• Maintain the safe KSC Reliability Centered Maintenance and Predictive Maintenance Programs to maximize equipment life cycle and enable cost-benefit analysis
• Provide integrated work control systems
• Develop and implement advanced instrumentation systems to improve the safety and efficiency of Shuttle and payload processing. For example:
  • Orbiter Automated Window Inspection Device
  • LC-39 Ground Measurement System
  • Hazardous Gas Detection System 2000

KSC Future Plans:

• Develop and implement new obsolescence forecasting and modeling methodologies
• Develop and implement assessment models to optimize repair location philosophies throughout a small fleet life cycle
• Develop and implement a generic "flight certified" depot, including the certification processes and hardware capable of manufacturing, repairing, and servicing flight and ground hardware
• Develop and implement new weather observation and forecast products to improve processing and mission operations
• Develop and Implement Shuttle and infrastructure upgrades to reduce processing time, increase safety and reliability, and support the flight rate through the year 2012 and beyond
• Develop the capability and skills needed to conduct increasingly sophisticated levels of research in industrial engineering, process analysis, and applied technology to enhance launch and payload processing
• Reduce KSC requirements on payload customers which are unnecessarily restrictive
• Work with other Government agencies, contractors and commercial, industrial, and academic institutional sectors to develop, evaluate, and implement automation intelligent system testbeds to improve operations and reduce costs
• Develop, implement, and commercialize advanced sensors and instrumentation systems for Shuttle and payload processing such as hazardous/toxic gas detection, contamination monitoring, field inspection/nondestructive evaluation (NDE) of in-place flight hardware, intelligent data acquisition, weather/lightning hazard instrumentation systems, optical instrumentation, and intelligent transducers

HEDS Enterprise Objective 3.2:

Ensure the health, safety, and performance of space flight crews through space and environmental medicine

• Refine and improve crew health requirements for support of humans in space flight
• Determine requirements and conduct technology demonstration projects to guide the development of crew systems on future space transportation systems

KSC Implementation Plans:

• Continue to perform preflight and postflight astronaut physiological data collection in support of the Lead Center, JSC
• Provide microbiological sampling and analyses of orbiter systems
• Provide clinical laboratory support for flight crew and primary contact evaluations
• Provide occupational health services to support human space flight

KSC Future Plans:

• Support JSC in the development of cutting edge life support technologies

HEDS Enterprise Objective 3.3:

Develop requirements and demonstrate and implement advanced propulsion systems and other advanced space transportation systems and capabilities to enable exploration

• Establish Agency leadership to focus advanced propulsion activities to meet long-term exploration goals
• Explore revolutionary space transportation systems and technologies to improve capabilities and radically reduce the cost of human space flight
• Work with...(Aeronautics and Space Transportation Technology) to demonstrate technology required to enable the development of low-cost, reusable launch vehicles as a means for potentially significant reductions in the cost of access to space

KSC Implementation Plans:

• Utilize KSC's background and experience to support the design and development of new space vehicles, ground systems, logistics, and facilities
• Continue to support X-generation launch vehicle development
• Continue development of advanced hazardous gas and flame detection systems and sensors to support ground testing, launch checkout, and flight operations of advanced propulsion systems
• Continue to provide field support instrumentation and expertise to other NASA Centers and contractors
• Support liquid fly-back booster and nonhypergolic Orbiter Maneuvering Subsystem (OMS) development

KSC Future Plans:

• Provide technical expertise in fluids manufacture, production, transportation, storage, chemical characterization and distribution, and in systems for launch and payload processing to the Lead Center in support of the NASA advanced propulsion initiative
• Provide facilities and experience to assist in the development of launch facilities and systems for future commercially developed space vehicles and payloads
  • Assist the Agency by providing KSC as an operational testbed through use of KSC-unique test facilities and laboratories
  • Provide vehicle processing, payload processing, process analysis, ground systems development, safety requirements and policy, and logistics support expertise
• Support Spaceport Florida Authority to develop facilities for future launch vehicles and programs which will enhance the ability of KSC to support such programs
• Support the definition and new requirements delineation for new space flight vehicles
  

HEDS ENTERPRISE GOAL 4

Enrich life on Earth through people living and working in space

HEDS Enterprise Objective 4.1:

Promote knowledge and technologies that promise to enhance our health and quality of life

• Disseminate scientific, medical, and technological information
• Continue to pursue an active program of technology transfer
• Undertake joint venture in partnership with our key customers and suppliers
• Define concept and develop technologies to enable earthly benefits from space resources and the promise of in-space commerce

KSC Implementation Plans:

• Expand the existing KSC educational outreach program
• Transfer excess computer equipment through the provisions of the Stevenson-Wydler Act to area educational facilities
• Continue to support on-line and interactive educational programs
• Develop a more effective method to portray and disseminate benefits of NASA technology to the general public
• Utilize day-to-day relationship with the resident press corps at KSC to promote media coverage and reporting of NASA scientific, medical, and technological information
• Continue the expansion of the KSC Visitor Center to include more innovative informational exhibits and experiences, including the benefits of NASA technology
• Continue science interactions with tourist attractions in Central Florida
• Publish and disseminate information on ecosystem management technologies developed to enhance threatened and endangered species habitats
• Present Applied Meteorology Unit (AMU) and KSC Weather Office advances in weather support technology in journal and conference presentations
• Expand cooperative agreements with Federal, State, and local environmental agencies to share environmental management information
• Continue to expand support to the Space Life Sciences Training Program and to the National Research Council post-doctoral fellow program
• Continue to support regional environmental protection initiatives such as the Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program
• Expand KSC technology programs and commercialization in the following areas:
  • Dual-use technology development partnerships
  • Technology transfer/commercialization outreach with State of Florida and the U.S. Southeast region
  • Technology outreach and business incubation with Florida's minority universities

KSC Future Plans:

• As the focal point for applied research, KSC will work as a team member with the Agency, Industry, and Academia to transfer and apply NASA-developed technology at KSC, within NASA and to commercial applications
• Disseminate information on advanced technological efforts in environmental remediation, habitat modeling, and groundwater modeling
• Develop a plan to use the citrus resources at KSC as a research testbed and a fund resource

HEDS Enterprise Objective 4.2:

Broaden and strengthen our Nation's achievements in science, mathematics, and engineering

• Provide instructional materials reflecting the discoveries and adventure inherent in space exploration in support of curriculum standards
• Form partnerships with educators to bring space exploration experience into the classroom
• Provide access to flight missions to facilitate and support classroom instruction

KSC Implementation Plans:

• Expand the dissemination of NASA information and materials to educators through the Educators Resource Center
• Host workshops with the American Mathematical Association of Two-Year Colleges to develop a new math curriculum based on actual Shuttle processing activities
• Continue our partnerships with schools (elementary through college)
• Continue to conduct workshops for educators at the Center for Space Education to provide information, techniques, and tools for using space topics to facilitate the teaching of math, science, and technology
• Partner with the State of Florida, Space Grant, and the Astronaut Memorial Foundation to work with K-12 students and to use the Internet to bring our engineers into classrooms geographically distant from KSC
• Team with Ames Research Center to participate in Shuttle Team On-Line, a program that explains Shuttle launch processing to over 5000 schools across the country and around the world
• Manage the Space Life Sciences Training Program by providing hands-on experience to college students
• Expand and improve summer faculty development program
• Expand our Internet capability during on-orbit activity and other targeted Internet capabilities for teachers and students in cooperation with JSC
• Continue to make available KSC-unique expertise to local school systems through personnel appearances, science fair judges, and mentor programs
• Expand our interaction with the National Research Council to continue to support post-doctoral studies in Life Sciences
• Utilize state-of-the-art Information Technology tools, such as desktop video and white board applications, to increase NASA's presence in the Nation's classrooms

KSC Future Plans:

• Through JSC, work with schools to develop small science experiments to launch on future missions
• Develop classroom learning activities to engage students during mission/processing activities
• Work with the Florida Space Institute to develop course curriculum teaching and research facilities, and research projects in space-related topics
• Expand visiting science programs and post-graduate and graduate fellowships

HEDS Enterprise Objective 4.3:

Involve our Nation's citizens in the adventure of exploring space

• Work in partnership with entities outside NASA to bring the space experience to our Nation's citizens
• Engage our Nation's citizens in the space experience as we open the space frontier

KSC Implementation Plans:

• Expand our cooperative efforts with industry to publicize and promote NASA activities, programs, and mission through:
  • Commercial theme parks
  • Motion picture and television production
  • Florida Spaceport Authority
  • KSC Visitor Center expansion
  • Expanded use of the World Wide Web
• Provide speakers for civic, business, and other groups on NASA topics through the KSC Speakers Bureau
• Provide access and a positive experience to the public for launch viewing and other special events
• Increase interactive exhibits and activities at the KSC Visitor Center to allow the public to become participants as well as spectators in NASA programs
• Encourage employees to engage the public on NASA activities during official events/activities
• Utilize day-to-day relationship with the resident press corps at KSC to promote media coverage and reporting of NASA scientific, medical, and technological information
• Support the efforts of Spaceport Florida Authority and the state university system to make the Florida Space Institute a world-class resource in commercial and scientific space research and operations
• Make effective use of an agreement with the Florida university system to utilize the strengths of the state university system to support resolution of KSC mission-related issues and problems

KSC Future Plans:

• Expand and enhance KSC Visitor Center attractions
• Continue to foster public awareness through KSC "open house" for general public
• On a regular basis, publicize KSC's successes and technologies through television, public speaking, space advocacy groups, etc.

HEDS Enterprise Objective 4.4:

Join with other nations in the international exploration and settlement of space

• In cooperation with other nations, design an international strategy for exploring the Moon and Mars

KSC Implementation Plans:

• Continue KSC representation at ISS meetings in foreign countries to establish relationships

KSC Future Plans:

• Support Agency initiatives in the development of joint international ground support architectures
• Make KSC an open Center for research and development for scientists and engineers throughout the world

KSC Implementation Plan Home Page

Author: Saul Barton
Curator: Carol Valdes (Carol.Valdes-1@ksc.nasa.gov)
Updated: June 10, 1997