The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) bears a significant share of the responsibility f... more The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) bears a significant share of the responsibility for ensuring the safety of domestic and international air travel. The NTSB relies on teamwork to resolve accidents; the parties that participate in an investigation may ...
Today, the pace of spacecraft development has accelerated. Some of this pressure comes from reduc... more Today, the pace of spacecraft development has accelerated. Some of this pressure comes from reduced budgets and government mandates to improve efficiency and rely on a greater extent on commercial systems and practices. More importantly, however, and particularly for NASA, the accelerating pace is driven by new opportunities in science and technology. Future systems must respond to requirements to deliver higher resolution, greater responsiveness, and the increased need for interoperability. Additionally, NASA is being asked to field systems in less time and less cost without sacrificing mission reliability. To meet these often contradictory requirements, project managers must find new ways to infUse advanced technologies into spacecraft. As a result, most of NASA's science spacecraft incorporate an unprecedented amount of new technology. The incorporation of advanced technology is indeed a stated goal of some science programs. Announcement of opportunities (AOs) for the Discovery program, for example, encourages the use of new technology. Canhdate missions must identify new systems and components, analyze how the risks associated with new designs are to be mitigated, and identify methods for transferring resultant technology w i h n and outside of NASA. Technology infusion in any application is a complex process. Incorporating an unproven new design into the development of an operational system presents significant cost, schedule, and technical risk. Historically, developers of operational systems have been cautious when incorporating new technology. New designs areoften matured independent of operational systems and brought on-line only when they have proven their mettle. In space systems, demonstrator or precursor missions are used to test new designs before the commitment to a new technology is made. This is usually a very slow process; it can take years or decades to move a technology from the laboratory to fully operational status. The result is a stepwise evolution of capabilityan approach that minimizes risk. Sometimes requirements
RAND is a nonprofit institution that helps improve policy and decisionmaking through research and... more RAND is a nonprofit institution that helps improve policy and decisionmaking through research and analysis. Results of specific studies are documented in other RAND publications and in professional journal articles and books. Abstracts of all RAND documents may be viewed at www.rand.org. RAND ® is a registered trademark.
Small spacecraft have become popular for a number of reasons, most prominently the needs to reduc... more Small spacecraft have become popular for a number of reasons, most prominently the needs to reduce overall cost, be built more quickly, and spread mission risks. NASA has been challenged with crafting a program that continues to produce meaningful science within the ...
Ascendant Visions: Strategies for Achieving a Lean Commercial Spaceport at Wallops Island, 2007
This is the final report of a study conducted by the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) using... more This is the final report of a study conducted by the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) using an independent analytical team to analyze factors associated with expanding existing operations at Wallops. The study was conducted in response to a congressional request to analyze the expansion of operations at Wallops into the "next-generation commercial cargo spaceport." It is first important to realize that, since the establishment of MARS in 1997, a commercial spaceport has existed for over a decade at Wallops. MARS is best characterized as a nascent, but proven, capability that is poised for growth as government and commercial space markets mature. The study team was assembled by MARS to analyze the challenges associated with expanding the spaceport. A great deal of quantitative data was gathered during the course of study. These data were used to create a baseline for current operations at Wallops, and this baseline was used to project future operational models. The study team also analyzed future launch requirements for both government and commercial customers. Attention focused on the roles and missions of MARS and NASA at Wallops because, for the foreseeable future, a strong partnership will be needed. From these elements, the study team was able to synthesize a road map for expansion of the spaceport. As directed, the study team completed the report by including findings and recommendations. The study team reviewed numerous documents and reports and these references are included in an extensive bibliography.
Alternate Trajectories Options for Competitive Sourcing of the Space Shuttle Program, 1999
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has
operated the Space Shuttle for more ... more The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has operated the Space Shuttle for more than two decades. The program has reached the point at which many within the aerospace community believe the Shuttle is ready for a shift away from the government and toward private sector control. In the past, such scenarios were addressed by the terms “privatization” and “commercialization.” Today, the term “competitive sourcing” is used to suggest a broader set of options for management and operational changes to the Shuttle program. This report by the Space Shuttle Competitive Sourcing Task Force examines the future of the Space Shuttle Program (SSP) from the perspective of placing a larger share of responsibility for the system into private sector hands. This report led to the decommissioning of the Space Shuttle System and the creation of the Commercial Orbiting Transportation System that privatized launch and the expansion of commercial space companies like SpaceX, Rocket Lab, and many others.
The Technology Puzzle: Quantitative Methods for Developing Advanced Aerospcae Technology, 2004
Technology infusion in any application is a complex process. Incorporating an unproven new design... more Technology infusion in any application is a complex process. Incorporating an unproven new design into the development of an operational system presents significant cost, schedule, and technical risk. Historically, developers of operational systems have maintained a healthy distance from the realm of technology development. New designs are first matured independent of operational systems and brought on-line only when they have proven their mettle. In space systems, demonstrator or precursor missions are used to test new designs before the commitment to a new technology is made. This is usually a very slow process; it can take years or decades to move a technology from the laboratory to fully operational status. The result is a stepwise evolution of capability – an approach that minimizes risk at the expense of responsiveness.
Safety in the Skies: Personnel and Parties in NTSB Aviation Accident Investigations, 2000
Recent high-profile commercial aviation mishaps have stretched the National Transportation Safety... more Recent high-profile commercial aviation mishaps have stretched the National Transportation Safety Board's resources to the limit and are testing the agency's ability to unravel the sorts of complex failures that lead to tragic accidents. In recognizing the enormous challenges the NTSB faces, agency Chairman Jim Hall sought a critical examination of the NTSB's ability to investigate major transportation accidents, and in particular commercial aviation accidents. The results of that study are contained in this report, the most comprehensive examination of the workings of the NTSB in the 30-year history of the agency. Adopting a multidisciplinary approach, RAND used a variety of quantitative and qualitative research techniques to assess the NTSB's operations and processes. This research, conducted in the RAND Institute for Civil Justice, outlines recommendations aimed at strengthening the party process-which involves manufacturers, operators, and others in the determination of the probable cause of an accident expanding the statement of causation modernizing the NTSB's investigative procedures and streamlining its internal processes managing the agency's resources and staffing more effectively developing training opportunities for NTSB staff improving the agency's R&D facilities.
The Costs, Risks, and Benefits of Human Spaceflight: Summary of Results and Findings from a Recent Study, 2004
A discussion of human space exploration and the roles humans play in expanding into space beyond ... more A discussion of human space exploration and the roles humans play in expanding into space beyond the Moon.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) bears a significant share of the responsibility f... more The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) bears a significant share of the responsibility for ensuring the safety of domestic and international air travel. The NTSB relies on teamwork to resolve accidents; the parties that participate in an investigation may ...
Today, the pace of spacecraft development has accelerated. Some of this pressure comes from reduc... more Today, the pace of spacecraft development has accelerated. Some of this pressure comes from reduced budgets and government mandates to improve efficiency and rely on a greater extent on commercial systems and practices. More importantly, however, and particularly for NASA, the accelerating pace is driven by new opportunities in science and technology. Future systems must respond to requirements to deliver higher resolution, greater responsiveness, and the increased need for interoperability. Additionally, NASA is being asked to field systems in less time and less cost without sacrificing mission reliability. To meet these often contradictory requirements, project managers must find new ways to infUse advanced technologies into spacecraft. As a result, most of NASA's science spacecraft incorporate an unprecedented amount of new technology. The incorporation of advanced technology is indeed a stated goal of some science programs. Announcement of opportunities (AOs) for the Discovery program, for example, encourages the use of new technology. Canhdate missions must identify new systems and components, analyze how the risks associated with new designs are to be mitigated, and identify methods for transferring resultant technology w i h n and outside of NASA. Technology infusion in any application is a complex process. Incorporating an unproven new design into the development of an operational system presents significant cost, schedule, and technical risk. Historically, developers of operational systems have been cautious when incorporating new technology. New designs areoften matured independent of operational systems and brought on-line only when they have proven their mettle. In space systems, demonstrator or precursor missions are used to test new designs before the commitment to a new technology is made. This is usually a very slow process; it can take years or decades to move a technology from the laboratory to fully operational status. The result is a stepwise evolution of capabilityan approach that minimizes risk. Sometimes requirements
RAND is a nonprofit institution that helps improve policy and decisionmaking through research and... more RAND is a nonprofit institution that helps improve policy and decisionmaking through research and analysis. Results of specific studies are documented in other RAND publications and in professional journal articles and books. Abstracts of all RAND documents may be viewed at www.rand.org. RAND ® is a registered trademark.
Small spacecraft have become popular for a number of reasons, most prominently the needs to reduc... more Small spacecraft have become popular for a number of reasons, most prominently the needs to reduce overall cost, be built more quickly, and spread mission risks. NASA has been challenged with crafting a program that continues to produce meaningful science within the ...
Ascendant Visions: Strategies for Achieving a Lean Commercial Spaceport at Wallops Island, 2007
This is the final report of a study conducted by the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) using... more This is the final report of a study conducted by the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) using an independent analytical team to analyze factors associated with expanding existing operations at Wallops. The study was conducted in response to a congressional request to analyze the expansion of operations at Wallops into the "next-generation commercial cargo spaceport." It is first important to realize that, since the establishment of MARS in 1997, a commercial spaceport has existed for over a decade at Wallops. MARS is best characterized as a nascent, but proven, capability that is poised for growth as government and commercial space markets mature. The study team was assembled by MARS to analyze the challenges associated with expanding the spaceport. A great deal of quantitative data was gathered during the course of study. These data were used to create a baseline for current operations at Wallops, and this baseline was used to project future operational models. The study team also analyzed future launch requirements for both government and commercial customers. Attention focused on the roles and missions of MARS and NASA at Wallops because, for the foreseeable future, a strong partnership will be needed. From these elements, the study team was able to synthesize a road map for expansion of the spaceport. As directed, the study team completed the report by including findings and recommendations. The study team reviewed numerous documents and reports and these references are included in an extensive bibliography.
Alternate Trajectories Options for Competitive Sourcing of the Space Shuttle Program, 1999
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has
operated the Space Shuttle for more ... more The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has operated the Space Shuttle for more than two decades. The program has reached the point at which many within the aerospace community believe the Shuttle is ready for a shift away from the government and toward private sector control. In the past, such scenarios were addressed by the terms “privatization” and “commercialization.” Today, the term “competitive sourcing” is used to suggest a broader set of options for management and operational changes to the Shuttle program. This report by the Space Shuttle Competitive Sourcing Task Force examines the future of the Space Shuttle Program (SSP) from the perspective of placing a larger share of responsibility for the system into private sector hands. This report led to the decommissioning of the Space Shuttle System and the creation of the Commercial Orbiting Transportation System that privatized launch and the expansion of commercial space companies like SpaceX, Rocket Lab, and many others.
The Technology Puzzle: Quantitative Methods for Developing Advanced Aerospcae Technology, 2004
Technology infusion in any application is a complex process. Incorporating an unproven new design... more Technology infusion in any application is a complex process. Incorporating an unproven new design into the development of an operational system presents significant cost, schedule, and technical risk. Historically, developers of operational systems have maintained a healthy distance from the realm of technology development. New designs are first matured independent of operational systems and brought on-line only when they have proven their mettle. In space systems, demonstrator or precursor missions are used to test new designs before the commitment to a new technology is made. This is usually a very slow process; it can take years or decades to move a technology from the laboratory to fully operational status. The result is a stepwise evolution of capability – an approach that minimizes risk at the expense of responsiveness.
Safety in the Skies: Personnel and Parties in NTSB Aviation Accident Investigations, 2000
Recent high-profile commercial aviation mishaps have stretched the National Transportation Safety... more Recent high-profile commercial aviation mishaps have stretched the National Transportation Safety Board's resources to the limit and are testing the agency's ability to unravel the sorts of complex failures that lead to tragic accidents. In recognizing the enormous challenges the NTSB faces, agency Chairman Jim Hall sought a critical examination of the NTSB's ability to investigate major transportation accidents, and in particular commercial aviation accidents. The results of that study are contained in this report, the most comprehensive examination of the workings of the NTSB in the 30-year history of the agency. Adopting a multidisciplinary approach, RAND used a variety of quantitative and qualitative research techniques to assess the NTSB's operations and processes. This research, conducted in the RAND Institute for Civil Justice, outlines recommendations aimed at strengthening the party process-which involves manufacturers, operators, and others in the determination of the probable cause of an accident expanding the statement of causation modernizing the NTSB's investigative procedures and streamlining its internal processes managing the agency's resources and staffing more effectively developing training opportunities for NTSB staff improving the agency's R&D facilities.
The Costs, Risks, and Benefits of Human Spaceflight: Summary of Results and Findings from a Recent Study, 2004
A discussion of human space exploration and the roles humans play in expanding into space beyond ... more A discussion of human space exploration and the roles humans play in expanding into space beyond the Moon.
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Papers by Liam Sarsfield
Books by Liam Sarsfield
operated the Space Shuttle for more than two decades. The program
has reached the point at which many within the aerospace community
believe the Shuttle is ready for a shift away from the government
and toward private sector control. In the past, such scenarios
were addressed by the terms “privatization” and “commercialization.”
Today, the term “competitive sourcing” is used to suggest a
broader set of options for management and operational changes to
the Shuttle program. This report by the Space Shuttle Competitive
Sourcing Task Force examines the future of the Space Shuttle
Program (SSP) from the perspective of placing a larger share of
responsibility for the system into private sector hands. This report led to the decommissioning of the Space Shuttle System and the creation of the Commercial Orbiting Transportation System that privatized launch and the expansion of commercial space companies like SpaceX, Rocket Lab, and many others.
have proven their mettle. In space systems, demonstrator or precursor missions are used to test new designs before the commitment to a new technology is made. This is usually a very slow process; it can take years or decades to move a technology from the laboratory to fully operational status. The result is a stepwise evolution of capability – an approach that minimizes risk at the expense of responsiveness.
Talks by Liam Sarsfield
operated the Space Shuttle for more than two decades. The program
has reached the point at which many within the aerospace community
believe the Shuttle is ready for a shift away from the government
and toward private sector control. In the past, such scenarios
were addressed by the terms “privatization” and “commercialization.”
Today, the term “competitive sourcing” is used to suggest a
broader set of options for management and operational changes to
the Shuttle program. This report by the Space Shuttle Competitive
Sourcing Task Force examines the future of the Space Shuttle
Program (SSP) from the perspective of placing a larger share of
responsibility for the system into private sector hands. This report led to the decommissioning of the Space Shuttle System and the creation of the Commercial Orbiting Transportation System that privatized launch and the expansion of commercial space companies like SpaceX, Rocket Lab, and many others.
have proven their mettle. In space systems, demonstrator or precursor missions are used to test new designs before the commitment to a new technology is made. This is usually a very slow process; it can take years or decades to move a technology from the laboratory to fully operational status. The result is a stepwise evolution of capability – an approach that minimizes risk at the expense of responsiveness.