Historically, the United States has been a world leader in aerospace endeavors in both the government and commercial sectors. A key factor in aerospace leadership is continuous development of advanced technology, which is critical to U.S. ambitions in space, including a human mission to Mars. To continue to achieve progress, NASA is currently executing a series of aeronautics and space technology programs using a roadmapping process to identify technology needs and improve the management of its technology development portfolio. NASA created a set of 14 draft technology roadmaps in 2010 to guide the development of space technologies. In 2015, NASA issued a revised set of roadmaps. A significant new aspect of the update has been the effort to assess the relevance of the technologies by listing the enabling and enhancing technologies for specific design reference missions (DRMs) from the Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate and the Science Mission Directorate. NASA Space Technology Roadmaps and Priorities Revisited prioritizes new technologies in the 2015 roadmaps and recommends a methodology for conducting independent reviews of future updates to NASA's space technology roadmaps, which are expected to occur every 4 years. Table of Contents Front Matter Summary 1 Introduction 2 High-Priority Technologies 3 Highest-Priority Technologies 4 Future Independent Reviews Appendixes Appendix A: Statement of Task Appendix B: Comparison of the Technology Area Breakdown Structures for 2010, 2012, 2015 Appendix C: 2012 Review and Prioritization Methodology Appendix D: Committee Member Biographies Appendix E: 2012 Findings and Recommendations on Observations and General Themes Appendix F: Acronyms

As the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) retires the Space Shuttle and shifts involvement in International Space Station (ISS) operations, changes in the role and requirements of NASA's Astronaut Corps will take place. At the request of NASA, the National Research Council (NRC) addressed three main questions about these changes: what should be the role and size of Johnson Space Center's (JSC) Flight Crew Operations Directorate (FCOD); what will be the requirements of astronaut training facilities; and is the Astronaut Corps' fleet of training aircraft a cost-effective means of preparing astronauts for NASA's spaceflight program? This report presents an assessment of several issues driven by these questions. This report does not address explicitly the future of human spaceflight.

JPL spacecraft antennas-from the first Explorer satellite in 1958 to current R & D
Spaceborne Antennas for Planetary Exploration covers the development of Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) spacecraft antennas, beginning with the first Explorer satellite in 1958 through current research and development activities aimed at future missions. Readers follow the evolution of all the new designs and technological innovations that were developed to meet the growing demands of deep space exploration.
The book focuses on the radio frequency design and performance of antennas, but covers environmental and mechanical considerations as well. There is additionally a thorough treatment of all the analytical and measurement techniques used in design and performance assessment. Each chapter is written by one or more leading experts in the field of antenna technology.
The presentation of the history and technology of spaceborne antennas is aided by several features:
* Photographs and drawings of JPL spacecraft
* Illustrations to help readers visualize concepts and designs
* Tables highlighting and comparing the performance of the antennas
* Bibliographies at the end of each chapter leading to a variety of primary and secondary source material
This book complements Large Antennas of the Deep Space Network (Wiley 2002), which surveys the ground antennas covered in support of spacecraft. Together, these two books completely cover all JPL antenna technology, in keeping with the JPL Deep Space Communications and Navigation Series mission to capture and present the many innovations in deep space telecommunications over the past decades.
This book is a fascinating and informative read for all individuals working in or interested in deep space telecommunications.

“An exciting insider’s look at Projects Mercury, Gemini and Apollo . . . NASA’s internal politics, disasters, glitches and close calls� by a pioneering astronaut (Publishers Weekly).   Gordon “Gordo� Cooper was one of the original Mercury Seven astronauts, pilot for Apollo X, head of flight crew operations for the United States’ first orbiting space station, and the last American to venture into space alone. Stretching from the dawning days of NASA to the far reaches of the unknown, Cooper’s distinguished career as a record-setting astronaut helped shape America’s space program and blazed a trail for generations to come.   In this astonishing memoir—written with #1 New York Times bestseller Bruce Henderson—Cooper crosses paths with such aviation luminaries as Amelia Earhart, Wiley Post, and German rocket scientist Wernher von Braun; he shares his early days at Edwards Air Force Base and the endeavors that became the basis for The Right Stuff; he takes us inside NASA with candid accounts of his defeats and accomplishments; he reflects on the triumphs and tragedies of his heroic colleagues; and he finally reveals the reasons behind his belief in extraterrestrial intelligence, including the US military’s long-standing UFO cover-ups.   Buckle yourself in for a breathtaking ride because in Leap of Faith, Gordon Cooper takes readers to places they’ve never been before.  

This book features the latest theoretical results and techniques in the field of guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) of vehicles and aircrafts. It covers a wide range of topics, including but not limited to, intelligent computing communication and control; new methods of navigation, estimation and tracking; control of multiple moving objects; manned and autonomous unmanned systems; guidance, navigation and control of miniature aircraft; and sensor systems for guidance, navigation and control etc. Presenting recent advances in the form of illustrations, tables, and text, it also provides detailed information of a number of the studies, to offer readers insights for their own research. In addition, the book addresses fundamental concepts and studies in the development of GNC, making it a valuable resource for both beginners and researchers wanting to further their understanding of guidance, navigation, and control.

In 2014, the United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) reported that the National Aeronautics and Space Administrations (NASA) major projects continued a general positive trend of limiting cost and schedule growth, maturing technologies, and stabilising designs, but that NASA faced several challenges that could affect its ability to effectively manage its portfolio, such as completing a series of complex and expensive projects within constrained budgets and competing priorities. This book assesses the current performance of NASA's portfolio of major projects; NASA's progress in developing and maturing critical technologies and stabilising design; and NASAs initiatives to reduce acquisition risk and work that remains to strengthen management of the agencys largest, most complex projects. It also provides data on past and current NASA appropriations as well as proposed NASA appropriations for FY2015 and proposed authorisations of NASA appropriations for FY2015 and FY2016.

On 12th April 1981 a revolutionary new spacecraft blasted off from Florida on her maiden flight. NASA's Space Shuttle Columbia was the most advanced flying machine ever built - the high watermark of post-war aviation development. A direct descendant of the record-breaking X-planes the likes of which Chuck Yeager had tested in the skies over the Mojave Desert, Columbia was a winged rocket plane, the size of an airliner, capable of flying to space and back before being made ready to fly again. She was the world's first real spaceship. On board were men with the Right Stuff. The Shuttle's Commander, moonwalker John Young, was already a veteran of five spaceflights. Alongside him, Pilot Bob Crippen was making his first, but Crip, taken in by the space agency after the cancellation of a top secret military space station programme in 1969, had worked on the Shuttle's development for a decade. Never before had a crew been so well prepared for their mission. Yet less than an hour after Young and Crippen's spectacular departure from the Cape it was clear that all was not well. Tiles designed to protect Columbia from the blowtorch burn of re-entry were missing from the heatshield. If the damage to their ship was too great the astronauts would be unable to return safely to earth. But neither they nor mission control possessed any way of knowing. Instead, NASA turned to the National Reconnaissance Office, a spy agency hidden deep inside the Pentagon whose very existence was classified. To help, the NRO would attempt something that had never been done before. Success would require skill, pinpoint timing and luck ... Drawing on brand new interviews with astronauts and engineers, archive material and newly declassified documents, Rowland White, bestselling author of Vulcan 607, has pieced together the dramatic untold story of the mission for the first time. Into the Black is a thrilling race against time; a gripping high stakes cold-war story, and a celebration of a beyond the state-of-the-art machine that, hailed as one of the seven new wonders of the world, rekindled our passion for spaceflight. *With a foreword by Astronaut Richard Truly* `Beautifully researched and written, Into the Black tells the true, complete story of the Space Shuttle better than it's ever been told before.' Colonel Chris Hadfield, former Astronaut and Space Station Commander `Brilliantly revealed, Into the Black is the finely tuned true story of the first flight of the Space Shuttle Columbia. Rowland White has magnificently laid bare the unknown dangers and unseen hazards of that first mission ... Once read, not forgotten.' Clive Cussler

The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) was successfully launched on June 18, 2009 and joined an international eet of satellites (Japan's SELENE/Kaguya, China's Chang'E, and India's Chandrayaan-1) that have recently orbited the Moon for scienti c exploration p- poses. LRO is the rst step to ful ll the US national space goal to return humans to the Moon's surface, which is a primary objective of NASA's Exploration Systems Mission - rectorate (ESMD). TheinitialLROmissionphasehasaone-yeardurationfullyfundedunder ESMD support. LRO is expected to have an extended phase of operations for at least two additional years to undertake further lunar science measurements that are directly linked to objectives outlined in the National Academy of Science's report on the Scienti c Context for Exploration of the Moon (SCEM). All data from LRO will be deposited in the Planetary Data System (PDS) archive so as to be usable for both exploration and science by the widest possible community. A NASA Announcement of Opportunity (AO) solicited proposals for LRO instruments with associated exploration measurement investigations. A rigorous evaluation process - volving scienti c peer review, in combination with technical, cost and management risk assessments, recommended six instruments for LRO development and deployment. The competitively selected instruments are: Cosmic Ray Telescope for the Effects of Rad- tion (CRaTER), Diviner Lunar Radiometer Experiment (DLRE), Lyman-Alpha Mapping Project (LAMP), Lunar Exploration Neutron Detector (LEND), Lunar Orbiter Laser - timeter (LOLA), and Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera (LROC).

After the Apollo program put twelve men on the moon and safely brought them home, anything seemed possible. In this spirit, the team at NASA set about developing the Space Shuttle, arguably the most complex piece of machinery ever created. The world's first reusable spacecraft, it launched like a rocket, landed like a glider, and carried out complicated missions in between. Bold They Rise tells the story of the Space Shuttle through the personal experiences of the astronauts, engineers, and scientists who made it happen--in space and on the ground, from the days of research and design through the heroic accomplishments of the program to the tragic last minutes of the Challenger disaster. In the participants' own voices, we learn what so few are privy to: what it was like to create a new form of spacecraft, to risk one's life testing that craft, to float freely in the vacuum of space as a one-man satellite, to witness a friend's death. A guided tour of the Shuttle--in historical, scientific, and personal terms--this book provides a fascinating, richly informed, and deeply personal view of a feat without parallel in the human story.

The definitive guide to the modern body of spacecraft charging knowledge--from first principles for the beginner to intermediate and advanced concepts

The only book to blend the theoretical and practical aspects of spacecraft charging, Guide to Mitigating Spacecraft Charging Effects defines the environment that not only creates the aurora, but which also can have significant effects on spacecraft, such as disruption of science measurements and solar arrays from electrostatic discharge (ESD). It describes in detail the physics of the interaction phenomenon as well as how to construct spacecraft to enhance their survivability in the harsh environment of space.

Combining the authors' extensive experience in spacecraft charging--and in their provision of design support to NASA, JPL, the commercial satellite market, and numerous other projects--this incredible book offers both a robust physics background and practical advice for neophytes in the field and experienced plasma physicists and spacecraft engineers.

In addition to containing numerous equations, graphs, tables, references, and illustrations, Guide to "Mitigating Spacecraft Charging Effects" covers:

Solar cell technology, especially higher voltage arrays, and the new design approaches that are appropriate for them

Information about the space plasma environment

New analytic computer codes to analyze spacecraft charging

Spacecraft anomalies and failures which emphasized designs that are of greater importance than others

It was a time of bold new technology, historic moments, and international jousting on the final frontier. But it was also a time of human drama, of moments less public but no less dramatic in the lives of those who made the golden age of space flight happen. These are the moments and the lives that Into That Silent Sea captures, a book that tells the intimate stories of the men and women, American and Russian, who made the space race their own and gave the era its compelling character. These pages chronicle a varied and riveting cavalcade of human stories, including a look at Yuri Gagarin's harrowing childhood in war-ravaged Russia and Alan Shepard's firm purchase on the American dream. It also examines the controversial career of cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova, the first woman in space, and the remarkable struggle and ultimate disappointment of her American counterparts. It tries to uncover the truth behind the allegations that shadowed Gus Grissom and Scott Carpenter and then allows the reader to share the heart-stopping suspense of Alexei Leonov's near-fatal first space walk. Through dozens of interviews and access to Russian and American official documents and family records, the authors bring to life the experiences that shaped the lives of the first astronauts and cosmonauts and forever changed their world and ours. Purchase the audio edition.

From this book, the reader will gain an insight into one of the most creative minds in the history of space exploration. Krafft Ehricke's contribution to space exploration encompasses details of new, innovative ideas, but also how to think about the importance and value of space exploration for society. The reader will gain an understanding of the early history of the space pioneers, what they have helped accomplish, and how Ehricke's vision of where we should be going can shape the future. At this time, when there are questions about the path of the space program for the next decades, Krafft Ehricke has laid out the philosophical framework for why space exploration must be pursued, through his concept of the "Extraterrestrial Imperative," and the fight that he waged, over many years, for a long-range vision for the program. Readers will find it a very imaginative work, and a very up-lifting story. Krafft Ehricke's Extraterrestrial Imperative is the summation of his work on encouraging the exploration and development of space. The book contains all of his reasons why we need to get off the planet and explore space.

This is the first full-length history of the X-43 project, written by the project historian at Dryden Flight Research Center. The project achieved the first in-flight testing of a scramjet engine, at speeds of nearly Mach 7 and Mach 10.The author recorded the history as it was taking place. He received updates and documents, attended the engineering meetings, witnessed the emergency procedure training of the flight controllers, was at the flight readiness review and preflight briefings, and watched the third flight from one of the control rooms. After the third flight, he interviewed many of the X-43A engineers and managers about their still-fresh experiences and recollections.Based on that exclusive access, the book illustrates - with real-world examples - how groundbreaking technology unfolds. It details the development of the scramjet over the last half-century, providing the reader with an understanding of how external factors influence a new technology.The book begins with the invention of the scramjet concept, and then details the projects of the 1960s through the 1980s and why they failed.It describes how the X-43 developed from these events, and follows the transformation from the original idea through hardware development and testing, the loss of the first vehicle, the return to flight, and the success of the second and third flights, and explains what was accomplished.The book is written with the engineering student in mind, to provide an understanding of what they will experience once they join the work force. Flight enthusiasts will love the photos and videos documenting this exciting program. This volume was produced in cooperation with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

Exploration of Space Issues & Status

Book & CD. When visitors to the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C., walk through the Skylab of 1967-73 they experience the vehicles interior space but learn nothing about the industrial design of the spacecraft nor the designers who created it.

Since ancient times, men and women have dreamed of soaring among the stars, but only in this century has that dream been realized. In Rockets into Space, Frank Winter tells the fascinating story of the modern launch vehicle, from the mythological musings of the Babylonians and Greeks to the present-day reality of manned and unmanned space flight. In concise yet comprehensive chapters dense with anecdotal detail, Winter tracks the theoretical formulations and technological breakthroughs that have charted the evolution of rocket propulsion and vehicle design. He pays particular attention to the remarkable contributions of pioneers Konstantin Tsiolkovsky, Robert Goddard, Hermann Oberth, Eugen Sanger, and Sergei Korolev, whose genius and vision paved the way for later innovation. He describes the clandestine development of the V-2 rocket in Germany, under the technical leadership of Wernher von Braun, and its dramatic impact on postwar rocket research and satellite development in the United States and the Soviet Union. He also chronicles the complex events of the last three decades, which have produced ever more sophisticated rockets capable of launching larger payloads, from weapons to weather and communications satellites. Finally, he surveys exotic propulsion systems-nuclear, electric, solar, photon, laser-that lie on the frontiers of science today but that will shape the spaceflight and space policy decisions of tomorrow. Rockets into Space is an authoritative, entertaining guidebook for all who are interested in the history of space travel.

What do anthrax protection, golf clubs, and cordless power tools have in common? Each was invented or improved with technology first developed for the space program. Since NASA's inception 45 years ago, hundreds of everyday devices and products have emerged from the research and development required to put rockets into space and humans on the moon. To expand our knowledge of the universe, scientists and engineers with the space program constantly confront new challenges in vehicle design, life support, communications, and astronaut health and well-being. The solutions to these challenges have often benefited those of us who remain on Earth. This book tells the story of 67 of the most consumer-friendly products born of space-related research. Discover the fascinating histories of commonplace items that we now take for granted. One model of ergonomic chairs was based on the position of astronauts at rest in Skylab. Improvements in health-rate monitors resulted from the need to track changes in an astronaut's heart rate. Even swimsuits and ballpoints pens have been improved by space technology. This book also includes extensive information on the history of NASA, and on the technology-transfer centers that help make such product improvements happen. Lesson plans and resources offer additional sources of information on this remarkable subject.

This unique lexicon features over 3,500 astronautical terms, listed alphabetically in English, with their Irish translation. It is a stand-alone edition based on a 20-language lexicon prepared by the International Academy of Astronautics on the occasion of its 50th anniversary in 2010. The book contains a comprehensive introductory essay, providing background information on the International Academy of Astronautics and its work to develop a multi-lingual lexicon of space-related terminology. The introduction also discusses the astronomical heritage of Ireland, the Irish language, the method of translation adopted in preparing the present English-Irish lexicon, and some of the practical problems encountered in translating scientific and technical terms into Irish.