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Integrated Vehicle Performance

Encyclopedia
Updated Feb 12, 2024

Contents

Introduction

Integrated vehicle performance is paramount for human spaceflight as it ensures seamless coordination and optimal function of various spacecraft components and mission elements, guaranteeing the safety, efficiency, and success of space missions. With expertise and capabilities in mission design, detailed end-to-end trajectory optimization, high performance computing and data analytics, mission management product analysis, metrics production, and mission trades, Johnson Space Center (JSC) is shaping the future of space exploration missions. JSC experts play key roles in the development and analysis of human spaceflight architectures, mission plans, spacecraft functional decomposition, and mission design and analysis across the exo-LEO human spaceflight portfolio. NASA JSC invites our partners to leverage our cutting-edge capabilities in integrated vehicle performance for diverse human spaceflight missions. 

Capabilities

Exploration Mission Data Analytics 

Overview | The Exploration Mission Planning Office (EMPO) provides high performance computing and data analytics expertise for enhanced data science and production capabilities. 

Details |

  • Trajectory database and post-processing tooling development
  • Analysis and production of mission management products and mission metrics 
  • High performance computing improvements and data management 

Astrodynamics, Mission Design, and Integrated Vehicle Performance 

Overview | NASA JSC analyzes and designs optimal spacecraft orbits and trajectories for human spaceflight missions. 

Details | NASA JSC provides design analysis and evaluation of mission concepts, vehicle flight performance capabilities and requirements, and preliminary guidance, navigation, and control (GN&C) requirements. This includes flight envelopes and trajectories for ascent, targeting and profiles for on-orbit rendezvous, interplanetary trajectories, and entry through landing trajectory designs. JSC can optimize end-to-end trajectories and vehicle performance for Low Earth Orbit, cislunar, and planetary missions. 

Exploration Mission Design, Integration, and Analysis 

Overview | The Exploration Mission Planning Office (EMPO) provides Agency leadership for the development and analysis of human spaceflight architectures, mission plans, and spacecraft and surface system definitions. EMPO integrates mission design and planning from concept through transition to the flight operations phase. They develop and recommend near term mission options reflecting the capabilities of the program elements and provide iterative mission planning to respond to actual constraints, priorities, and contingency needs. 

Details |

  • Mission design, integration, and analysis across the exo-LEO human spaceflight portfolio
  • Establishing mission objectives, ground rules and constraints 
  • Conducting mission trades for conditions, objectives, and design solutions 
  • Identification of cross-program constraints and definition of mission achievability 
  • Landing site identification, analysis, and selection 
  • Mission availability assessments
  • End-to-end trajectory design, optimization, and cross-agency implementation of mission design 
  • Coordination, integration and analysis of cross-program design constraints, product deliveries, and flight development 
Inside the Launch Abort System Facility (LASF) at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, workers are completing the integration of a test version of the Orion crew module with the Launch Abort System (LAS) on May 18, 2019. The test vehicle and the LAS will be used for the Orion Ascent Abort-2 (AA-2) Flight Test. AA-2 is a full-stress test of the LAS, planned for July 2. AA-2 will launch from Space Launch Complex 46, carrying a fully functional LAS and a 22,000-pound Orion test vehicle to an altitude of 31,000 feet and traveling at more than 1,000 miles an hour. The test will verify the LAS can steer the crew module and astronauts aboard to safety if an emergency occurs during ascent on the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket. NASA’s Orion and Exploration Ground Systems programs, contractors Jacob’s, Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman, in conjunction with the Air Force Space and Missile Center’s Launch Operations branch and the 45th Space Wing are performing flight operations for AA-2.
Trajectory for Artemis I, the first integrated flight test of NASA’s deep space exploration system: the Orion spacecraft, Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and the ground systems at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. 
Trajectory for Artemis II, NASA’s first flight with crew aboard SLS, Orion to pave the way for long-term return to the Moon, missions to Mars. 

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