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NASA Space Technology Roadmaps and Priorities Restoring NASA's Technological Edge and Paving the Way for a New Era in Space (2012) / Chapter Skim
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4 Observations and General Themes
Pages 77-86

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From page 77...
... SYSTEMS ANALYSIS Effective management of NASA's space technology program requires careful consideration of technology priorities, trade-offs, and decision points for down-selecting from competing options, as well as the changing needs of future missions. Technology relationships and planning can be complex.
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From page 78...
... FOUNDATIONAL TECHNOLOGY BASE AND DEVELOPMENT OF LOW-TRL TECHNOLOGY The successful development of game-changing technologies that lead to revolutionary capabilities applicable to a wide range of potential missions is a priority for NASA's space technology program and was treated as such in the roadmap evaluation process. Not to be overlooked, however, is the fact that many of the game-changing breakthroughs emerge only from a sustained level of disciplinary research and its contribution to a foundational technology base.
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From page 79...
... FLIGHT TESTING AND DEMONSTRATIONS AND TECHNOLOGY TRANSITION Testing and demonstrating new space technologies under realistic flight conditions are always desirable. The steering committee makes a distinction between flight testing and flight demonstrations: flight testing deals with acquiring performance data at any TRL below 6 that happens be in flight, and flight demonstration deals with the TRL 6 validation of a system or subsystem performance to confirm technology readiness and level of risk to the satisfaction of those who will decide to incorporate the technology in a mission.
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From page 80...
... from the user. Such co-funding between OCT and the using Mission Directorate in the case of a NASA application is a mechanism for bridging the "valley of death" that often impedes or prevents the transition of advanced technologies from technology development offices and/or organizations to mission development offices and/or organizations.
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From page 81...
... There fore, there is a continued need for exploration surface environment chambers, consisting of both small and large ground-based facilities that simulate space environments in terms of vacuum, CO 2 dust, and solar radiation (but not reduced gravity)
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From page 82...
... COMMERCIAL SPACE The draft roadmaps could be improved by explicitly addressing the needs of the commercial space sector. The National Space Policy affirms the importance of commercial space activities, stating that "a robust and competitive commercial space sector is vital to continued progress in space.
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From page 83...
... support technology advances in other technology areas. The current set of draft roadmaps would be improved if they explicitly and systematically addressed two additional crosscutting technologies: avionics and space weather beyond radiation effects.
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From page 84...
... Number Technology Name Identified Objectives 01: Launch Propulsion Systems 1.4.5 Health Management and Sensors Fault management 03: Space Power and Energy Storage 3.3.1 Fault Detection, Isolation, and Recovery Fault management (FDIR) 04: Robotics, Tele-Robotics, and 4.1.6 Multi-Sensor Data Fusion Processing speed and data Autonomous Systems throughput 4.5.1 Vehicle System Management and FDIR Fault management 4.7.3 On-Board Computing Processing speed and data throughput 08: Science Instruments, 8.1.2 Electronics – Volume, mass, and power Observatories, and Sensor Systems reduction – Integrated capabilities 8.2.5 Wireless Spacecraft Technologies Data throughput 09: Entry, Descent, and Landing 9.4.6 Instrumentation and Health Monitoring Fault management 10: Nanotechnology 10.4.2 Electronics – Volume, mass, and power reduction – Radiation tolerance 11: Modeling, Simulation, and 11.11.1 Flight Computing – Radiation tolerance Information Technology and – Fault-tolerant processing Processing 12: Materials, Structures, Mechanical 12.3.5 Reliability/Life Assessment/Health Fault management Systems, and Manufacturing Monitoring 13: Ground and Launch Systems 13.3.3 Inspection, Anomaly Detection, and Fault management Processing Identification 13.3.4 Fault Isolation and Diagnostics Fault management 13.4.5 Safety Systems Fault management NOTE: Excludes technologies specific to GN&C or scientific sensors.
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From page 85...
... Crosscutting Technologies. Many technologies, such as those related to avionics and space weather beyond radiation effects, cut across many of the existing draft roadmaps, but the level 3 technologies in the draft roadmaps provide an uneven and incomplete list of the technologies needed to address these topics comprehensively.
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Key Terms

  • space technology
  • draft roadmaps
  • fault management
  • technology roadmaps
  • space environment

  • space weather
  • space radiation
  • space sector
  • advanced technologies
  • nasa technology

  • technology base
  • flight testing
  • beyond radiation
  • national space
  • space vehicle

  • foundational technology
  • space industry
  • space policy
  • flight computing
  • cooperative development

  • crosscutting technologies
  • microgravity environment
  • future missions
  • radiation effects
  • avionics technology

  • space environments
  • technology transition
  • nasa mission
  • commercial opportunities
  • commercial goals


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