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GEM-FLO - Generic Simulation Environment for Modeling Future Launch Operations

A Discrete Event Simulation

2003

The Project ¦ Contact

The Project:

GEM-FLO is a generic but powerful simulation of launch operations processing for space transportation systems. By means of a graphic user interface, an underlying Arena© discrete event simulation (DES) is populated with a description of the system being analyzed.

With GEM-FLO, a user does not have to undergo the tedious process of creating simulation models, flow diagrams, interactions, or logic. An operations expert, who may not be a simulation expert, can use this tool and quickly be producing valuable insight. The generic model, applicable to broad range of concepts, takes care of this automatically. The basic concept is that the processing of a space transportation system has certain generic processes. These processes may vary in details, such as by having more or less resources, or as measured by time, but the relationships are generic and applicable to many flight and ground system architectures.

Example Input Types:

• Process times, such as landing, turnaround, depot cycles, integration sequence of stages, integration time, time on pad
• Probabilities, such as for loss of vehicle, or for the emergency use of alternate landing sites
• Resources, such as the number of certain facilities, or the number of vehicles in a fleet

Number of Required Inputs per Stage:

• ~40

Optional Inputs (for increased fidelity):

• Some probabilities and some resource details within facilities are optional.

Types of Outputs:

• Flights per year, facility utilization, half-widths, min's and max's.

Use:

• Operations analysis, process improvement, system definition improvement and analysis.

ModelCenter Compatibility:

• Yes. Through Arena compatibility with MS Excel.

Status:

• Operational.

Use Case

Input your concept by describing it's processing timelines, resources, and characteristics

Delve into Constraints and Resources

View Output Reports

The Team & Acknowledgements:

• NASA Kennedy Space Center
  • Martin Steele Ph.D. NASA KSC Discrete Event Simulation Lead
  • Grant Cates Ph.D. NASA KSC Shuttle Operations, Discrete Event Simulation
  • Edgar Zapata, COTR, Testing & Analysis

• Productivity Apex Inc.
  • Dr. Mansooreh Mollaghasemi, Chairman and CEO
  • Dayana Cope, Simulation Lead
  • Assem Kaylani, GUI Lead

Milestones:

• 2003 Project released version 2.6.
• 2004-2005 Project enhancement to include add-on for Activity Based Costing capability, version 3.0 release.

Contacts, Further Information, Distribution:

• For further information on this project contact Martin Steele Ph.D. of NASA KSC at martin.j.steele@nasa.gov
• For further information on this product contact Mike Calinan of Productivity Apex Inc. at mcalinan@productivityapex.com

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Also see:

• Other Simulations
• Productivity Apex Inc.
• A Space Shuttle Budget Program Perspective and KSC Launch and Landing (.ppt file)
• Stepping-Stones to the Future of Space Exploration, A Workshop Report, Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board, Division on Engineering and Physical Sciences, THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES PRESS, Washington, D.C. Download (.pdf file). (re. Modeling & Simulation)

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Website Contact: Edgar Zapata, NASA Kennedy Space Center