Book & CD-ROM. pace weather refers to variations in the space environment between the sun and Earth (and throughout the solar system) that can affect technologies in space and on Earth. Space weather can disrupt the technology that forms the backbone of this country's economic vitality and national security, including satellite and airline operations, communications networks, navigation systems, and the electric power grid. As the Nation becomes ever more dependent on these technologies, space weather poses an increasing risk to infrastructure and the economy. Further, the Strategic National Risk Assessment has identified space weather as a hazard that poses significant risk to the security of the Nation. Clearly, reducing vulnerability to space weather needs to be a national priority. The National Space Weather Strategy (Strategy) and the accompanying National Space Weather Action Plan (Action Plan) together seek to enhance the integration of existing national efforts and to add important capabilities to help meet growing demands for space-weather information. The Strategy and Action Plan build on recent efforts to reduce risks associated with natural hazards and improve resilience of essential facilities and systems, aiming to foster a collaborative environment in which government, industry, and the American people can better understand and prepare for the effects of space weather. The Nation must continue to leverage existing public and private networks of expertise and capabilities and pursue targeted enhancements to improve the ability to manage risks associated with space weather. This book outlines objectives for enhancing the Nation's space-weather readiness in three key areas: national preparedness, forecasting, and understanding. It also describes the study process, the study requirements and their relevance and importance, an assessment and accounting of current and planned space weather observing systems used or to be used for operations, an analysis of gaps between the observing systems' capabilities and their ability to meet documented requirements, and a summary of key findings.

This book is based on the research results of the authors in the area of integration with related data existing in literature. The main aim of this book is to demonstrate the process of data collection and processing for management. This book describes suitability and how space technology advances could be used and oriented as an influential instrument in management. Within the framework of this book, the content has reflected general aspects of space technology applications. Remote sensing methods and GIS technology have been used as an instrument of data collection and processing depending on requirements of the task expected to be solved and implemented within the management process. This book presents space technology applications in different disciplines of engineering and the engineering management process.

In November 2013, the International Space Station (ISS or Station) completed 15 years of continuous operation in low Earth orbit, marking a significant achievement in the history of human spaceflight. Two months later, the Administration announced its intent to extend Station operations until 2024. Originally designed and tested for a 15-year life span, the ISS may now operate for 26 years. NASA continues to utilise the ISS as a research platform to study and mitigate a variety of human health risks that will facilitate long-term exploration missions. However, a major portion of the Station's future success as a research platform hinges on the ability of the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS) the group that manages non-NASA research on the portion of the ISS known as the ISS National Laboratory to attract sufficient interest and funding from private users and investors. This book examines the challenges facing NASA in extending ISS operations until 2024. Specifically, it assesses NASA's progress in certifying the Station's structure and hardware for a longer lifespan; cost and schedule estimates associated with the extension; and efforts to increase utilisation of the Station for exploration and other scientific research. Furthermore, this book examines the current level of Station research; CASIS's efforts to facilitate non-NASA research aboard the ISS; and transportation challenges that could hinder full research utilisation of the ISS.

Since the retirement of the Space Shuttle Program in July 2011, the United States has lacked a domestic capability to transport crew and -- until recently -- cargo to and from the International Space Station (ISS or Station). Consequently, NASA has been relying on the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) for crew transportation. In anticipation of the Shuttle's retirement, Congress and the President directed NASA to foster the commercial spaceflight industry as a means of developing domestic cargo and crew transportation capabilities to the Station. In November 2005, NASA created the Commercial Crew and Cargo Program Office and in 2011, activated a separate Commercial Crew Program Office to reflect the increased funding and priority for commercial crew. In June 2013, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) issued a report examining NASA's efforts to foster a commercial market for cargo resupply missions to the ISS. The report discusses NASA's funding over the past 7 years of SpaceX and Orbital to further development of spaceflight capabilities and, on a separate track, the Agency's contracts with the companies for a combined 20 cargo resupply missions to the ISS. As a complement to that report, this book examines NASA's efforts to pursue commercial crew capabilities.

Scientists classify comets and asteroids that pass within 28 million miles of Earth's orbit as near-Earth objects (NEOs). Asteroids that collide and break into smaller fragments are the source of most NEOs, and the resulting fragments bombard the Earth at the rate of over 100 tons a day. Although the vast majority of NEOs that enter Earth's atmosphere disintegrate before reaching the surface, those larger than 100 meters (328 feet) may survive the descent and cause destruction in and around their impact sites. Furthermore, even smaller objects that disintegrate before reaching Earth's surface can cause significant damage. This book examines NASA's NEO Program and assesses the Agency's progress toward meeting statutory and other Program goals. Specifically, it reviews NASA's allocation and use of resources and plans for the future of the Program.

The U.S. has spent almost $43 billion to develop, assemble, and operate the International Space Station (ISS) over the past two decades. The NASA Authorization Act of 2010 required NASA to enter into a cooperative agreement with a not-for-profit entity to manage the ISS National Laboratory and in 2011 did so with the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS). CASIS is charged with maximising use of the ISS for scientific research by executing several required activities. Recently, questions have arisen about the progress being made to implement the required activities and the impact it has had on ISS's return on the investment. This book assesses the extent to which CASIS has implemented the required management activities; and NASA and CASIS measure and assess CASIS's performance. Furthermore, this book assesses the extent to which NASA has ensured essential spare parts are available and ISS structures and hardware are sound for continued ISS utilisation through 2020.

The federal government collects, maintains, and uses geospatial information -- data linked to specific geographic locations -- to help support varied missions, including national security and natural resources conservation. To coordinate geospatial activities, in 1994 the President issued an executive order to develop a National Spatial Data Infrastructure -- a framework for coordination that includes standards, data themes, and a clearinghouse. This book describes the geospatial data that selected federal agencies and states use and how much is spent on geospatial data; assess progress in establishing the National Spatial Data Infrastructure; and determine whether selected federal agencies and states invest in duplicative geospatial data.

Assuming military operations will occur throughout the solar system in the near future, they will occur within the interplanetary medium and on the planets and other celestial objects. This book takes a look at what of military space operations in these two geographic regimes of the solar system might look like. It also is an analysis of how both natural and military environmental factors there will affect those activities. The natural environment can be distilled down to the electromagnetic spectrum and the table of elements, and other scientific cataloging systems. Military operations within the solar system will continue to be affected by "weather." However, the weather outside the Earth's atmosphere refers primarily to the solar radiation that is propagated from the sun outward to the edge of the solar system. Military operations on the planets and the other celestial objects of the solar system will continue to have to deal with the same geological and geographic factors that they have dealt with on Earth. At the outset of the 21st century, military space operations are already a reality. They are focused on the zone of artificial satellites that orbit the Earth, which interact with military operations in the terrestrial atmosphere and surface. At the same time, private sector corporations and other organizations are actively conducting research and development of systems that eventually will enable them to do such things as build permanent settlements on Mars, the Moon, and even some asteroids. As these commercial enterprises continue to develop a new extraterrestrial civilization, the need for some kind of military "security" organization will become a reality. This glimpse into the future is done from the perspective of more than 30 years of combined experience as a military geographer, military intelligence officer, and computer specialist. Drawing from the experiences of NASA in space during the past 50 years, the author examines the "geographic" factors that have affected space exploration are applied to the hypothetical military operations throughout the solar system during the 21st century. From this analysis, the future of military space operations in the future can be extrapolated. For a more detailed description of this book, the author may be contacted at: [email protected] The science, engineering and technology that has been developed by NASA is seen as a treasure trove of data and skill sets, from which pontential lessions about the military geography of the entire solar system, and possible military space weapons and tactics might be inferred.