The KSC Shuttle Process Engineering Directorate (PK) is responsible for the engineering management and technical direction of pre-flight, launch, landing and recovery activities for all space shuttle vehicles and integration of payloads. Our experience covers all aspects of space systems operations. Our experience begins with an insight gained from day to day Space Shuttle operations as we safely and efficiently process the diverse systems and elements for a Shuttle launch. This background provides the foundation for the assessment of future systems in the R&D phase, working closely with design centers and industry to ensure new designs are optimized for ease of operations, low recurring costs and operational affordability.
Our organization is comprised of five divisions. The specialties include fluid systems, such as propulsion, electrical and telecommunications systems, guidance, digital and control systems, mechanical systems and a project management office. Together, we provide the basis for a successful, safe and efficient Shuttle program.
We are responsive to the NASA Vision and the Human Exploration and Development of Space Enterprise. Our Center of Excellence is launch and cargo processing.
As explorers, pioneers and innovators, we boldly expand frontiers in air and space...[NASA Vision]
In the long term, the purpose of the Enterprise are to enable routine operating capability within the inner solar system...In the near term...conduct missions and undertake programs that support the long term purposes of the Enterprise...[NASA Strategic Plan, HEDS]
The KSC Process Engineering Directorate is composed of 5 divisions:
Fluid systems, propulsion systems, power and hydraulics, cryogenic facilities
Guidance, digital and control systems, launch systems software, avionics
Mechanical systems, structures, thermal protections systems, mechanisms
Project management, requirements and payload integration management
These technical and managerial aspects of our organization cover the entire spectrum of launch systems, from the establishment of requirements, to design definition, checkout of complex systems and management of complex projects requiring an understanding of technical interrelationships, actual operations and process control.
The short term and the long term. Process engineering has the unique background that allows the capability to excel in today's mission and to communicate this experience toward enabling low cost access to space.
1.0 Provide launch site engineering support to the agency assessment activities for all phases of R&D in support of our mission.
1.2 Conceptual and architectural definition stage
1.3 Further concept definition
1.4 Program contractual selection stage
1.5 Refine software design
1.6 Refine hardware design
1.7 Provide assessment of on going programs for studies of C of F projects required for support of continuous improvement, obsolete hardware and major repair of facilities.
1.8 Assess transportation systems for payload unique issues and requirements.
The products of this include:
More supportable approaches, architecture level operations insight. More operationally efficient systems that support our mission. Developed program requirements documents. Measurable criteria against which to evaluate systems. A design responsive to operations. Insight into the priority directions that support mission requirements. Planning requirements to support payloads and missions.
2.0 Establish requirements
2.2 Establish vehicle test plan engineering criteria and requirements
2.3 Establish software requirements and spec's.
The products of this include:
Station set requirements documents, ESR's, OMP, OMRSD's, LCC's, SAR's, TCID's.
3.0 Formulate test plans and develop software
3.2 Formulate test and operating plans (vehicle)
3.3 Develop, modify and validate software
The products of this include:
OMI's, TPS's, PR's, JC's, and application software.
4.0 Provide engineering insight into schedules (processing and ground ) in the area of:
4.2 Risks (safety)
4.3 Flow plan development and preparation work schedules
The products of this include:
Improved scheduling and coordination, OIR signoff's , constraints lists, PSP (Processing Support Plan).
5.0 Implement test and operating plans, procedures and software, and sustaining engineering.
5.2 Support vehicle processing activities
5.3 Provide engineering leadership in problem resolution and corrective action
The products of this include:
Completed procedures, applied software, successful completion of acceptance test, accurate, safe, timely completion. Closed IPR's, PR's, DR's, MR's, PER's, OMI's, TPS's. Wealth of expertise in operating complex space transportation systems.
6.0 Certify Readiness for Launch
6.2 of Vehicle for Flight
6.3 Review liftoff films
6.4 Review launch operations data
The products of this include:
Completed and Reviewed procedures and tests, data Buy-off, OMP Buy-off, Scan Buy-off, L-X/FRR Briefs, CoFR.
And of course, the product made manifest is a successful launch, mission and landing of the fleet.
Our strength is our experience.
Our center of excellence is launch processing and cargo integration. We have a wealth of expertise in knowing what it takes to launch a complex semi-reusable launch system. The reusable aspects and the human element are unique in the world. They are also the inevitable direction of future space endeavors. We know what works, what doesn't and what needs improvement.
Consistent with our center of excellence role we also work to communicate our lessons learned to the agency advanced technology initiatives. For example, PK has worked or has people actively working:
*Space Propulsion Synergy Team (SPST) involving other centers, industry and academia
*HRST (Highly Reusable Space Transportation Study) - Active leadership working on SPST/HRST Requirements Task Force as well as sub-teams
*Communication Initiatives: Lessons learned, interfacing with industry and other NASA centers through the AIAA, the SATWG, the SOSTC and making or seizing opportunities as they arise.
All are major government and industry team arrangements. The focus is to positively influence the whole design of future systems toward affordability and availability by harvesting the operational expertise of KSC, particularly the Design Engineering and Process Engineering directorates.
The Product:
Information is the product, information with meaning. We live in a world with an abundance of information available to the aerospace community. Library resources, vast databases, AIAA papers, books, journals, the Internet. Process engineering is fully capable of adding meaning to this information so that it may be understood, quantified and appreciated. Only through learning the lessons of the past will the next generation of space transportation come ever closer to the NASA goal of the Human Exploration and Development of Space - routine, affordable access to space, and beyond.
Return to KSC Next Gen Site
Edgar Zapata, NASA Kennedy Space Center
Shuttle Process Engineering Directorate, Fluid Systems Division