Fri, Feb 21, 2003
NASA released the top level requirements for the
Orbital Space Plane this week. The new ship would be the first of a
next-generation system of space vehicles designed to provide a crew
rescue and crew transport capability to and from the International
Space Station. These requirements set the foundation for the design
of the vehicle and its associated systems.
The Level I requirements for an Orbital Space Plane system were
developed based on NASA's missions as defined in the Integrated
Space Transportation Plan and inputs from the industry and
Department of Defense partners participating in the program. The
requirements were reviewed at multiple levels within the agency.
The final review and approval process included the NASA
Administrator, Deputy Administrator, as well as the Associate
Administrators for the Office of Aerospace Technology and the
Office of Human Space Flight.
"This is an important first step in making the Integrated Space
Transportation Plan a reality," said NASA Deputy Administrator
Frederick Gregory. "The Orbital Space Plane system will give us the
flexibility needed to safely and efficiently get crew to and from
orbit and to provide crew rescue and logistical support to the
International Space Station. These initial requirements help to
outline a comprehensive system that will significantly complement
the capabilities of our existing Space Shuttle fleet."
Any future changes to the Level I Requirements would be
considered by the Orbital Space Plane Program Office and require
approval from the NASA Executive Council.
The program now is in the process of developing Level II
Requirements for the Orbital Space Plane system. Unlike the Level I
requirements, which were defined by NASA, Level II requirements
will be defined at the program level and will be detailed in a
document referred to as the Systems Requirements Document (SRD)
planned for release no later than late this year.
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