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    <copyright>Copyright © 2026. National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.</copyright>
    <docs>http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss</docs>
    <managingEditor>tris-trb@nas.edu (Bill McLeod)</managingEditor>
    <webMaster>tris-trb@nas.edu (Bill McLeod)</webMaster>
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      <title>Research in Progress (RIP)</title>
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    <item>
      <title>Task 305: Suborbital Industry Analysis</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1549409</link>
      <description><![CDATA[No abstract provided.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 21 Sep 2018 18:24:38 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1549409</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Project 329 - NMT Tracking and Monitoring Suborbital Commercial Space Vehicles</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1549401</link>
      <description><![CDATA[No abstract provided.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 21 Sep 2018 18:24:20 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1549401</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Spaceport Operations Online Reference Guide Task 380</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1537235</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The Framework needs to be kept relevant, new documents added, new websites included, and then presentations. As the Document Management System (DMS) grows the Digital Collections and related librarians check for broken links every six month. The gathering of documents, that’s always going to require people engaged in spaceport operations and maintenance. As well as advocacy, education and use of the site. There is a need to go to a single site to quickly find information that contains publicly available documents related to commercial spaceflight.

Methodology: The Spaceport BOK and Framework is accessible on the web through the New Mexico State University (NMSU) Library Digital Collections, http://contentdm.nmsu.edu. This website contains a Document Management System (DMS) that allows the user to directly go to documents that are either in on the site or are within another website. We will also assure compliance with DOT Data Management Plan and Public Access Plan requirements.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 22 Aug 2018 13:03:54 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1537235</guid>
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    <item>
      <title>Resident Space Object (RSO) System Mechanics Task 372</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1537231</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Effective space situational awareness faces the challenge of bringing together observations from disparate sensors and sources, developing computationally efficient dynamic propagation schemes for orbits and their uncertainty distributions, and formulating accurate estimation methods for the purpose of quantifying and qualifying space-based activities.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 22 Aug 2018 13:03:49 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1537231</guid>
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    <item>
      <title>Space Object Database</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1537230</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The ultimate goal of this research project is to develop a method that combines and uses space situational awareness (SSA) observations from multiple sources. Establishment and implementation of this method poses a number of questions and challenges that this research project intends to address in multiple phases.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 22 Aug 2018 13:03:48 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1537230</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>CubeSat Cluster Deployment Tracking</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1537228</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Clustered CubeSat deployments, where dozens of CubeSats are released over a short time span, represent a relatively new and challenging problem for detection, tracking, and space traffic management. Over the last few years CubeSat missions have reported on the difficulty of relying on Two Line Elements (TLEs) provided by the Joint Space Operations Center (JSpOC) early in the mission. Researchers and industry professionals have begun taking an interest in this scenario. Mainly they are advocating policy changes to push CubeSat developers toward adding navigation aids, in the form of ID beacons or reflectors. We propose to develop a robust solution that leverages, but is not entirely reliant on compliance by CubeSat developers. Our goal is to develop and demonstrate a resilient strategy for the deployment, detection, and tracking of multiple CubeSats. The proposed research for the first year focuses on solving the estimation problem of detecting, tracking and identifying each individual CubeSat in a realistic large scale deployment scenario. Multi-­‐target estimation methods based on random finite set (RFS) statistics, including the cardinalized probability hypothesis density (CPHD) and the labelled multi-­‐Bernoulli (LMB) filter provide the basis for this work. Using the understanding gained from the first year study, the second year will focus on recommending deployment strategies and accelerating the estimation process, using reported data from a subset of cooperative, fully functioning CubeSats in the deployment. The result will be a validated set of algorithms to support and enhance the safety and speed at which future CubeSat deployments can achieve their mission goals. ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 22 Aug 2018 13:03:45 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1537228</guid>
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    <item>
      <title>Design and Ops Considerations for Human Space Flight Occupant Safety - FIT Task 353</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1537225</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This task involves a normative review and enhancement of the FAA’s Recommended Practices for Human Space Flight Occupant Safety document (Version 1.0, TC14-0037 dated August 27, 2014) from the collective perspectives of each research group spanning vehicle design and outfitting (CU), medical care and health concerns (BCM), and Human Centered Design (Florida Tech).

Two top level aims encompassing general feedback on the Recommended Practices document followed by a systematic approach to provide considerations for design and operational solutions capable of addressing the needs stated in each subject area as a step toward identifying standards.

The Florida Tech’s focus in this collaborative effort was on the Human-System Integration (HSI), interaction and human-system control inside the spacecraft cockpit and cabin. Utilizing Human-Centered Design (HCD) approach (prioritizing human safety, efficiency and comfort throughout the system design). This research effort builds on the previous research in areas of Human-Computer Interaction, Human Factors vehicle cockpit/cabin operations and related aspects of Mission Planning (Task 333 – Onboard Context-Sensitive Informational System).]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 22 Aug 2018 13:03:41 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1537225</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Onboard Context-Sensitive Informational System</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1537223</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This proposal presents a possible solution for an onboard context-sensitive information system for Commercial Space Operations (OCSIS-CSO) that would be useful and usable for commercial space transportation (CST). It is an alternative to paper-based onboard documentation systems for operations in a spacecraft cockpit. The research team proposes to use aeronautics research and practice on onboard information systems (OIS), and design a generic OCSIS-CSO. The team's commercial aircraft experience, associated to their space background and environment (Florida Space Coast), is an insightful and useful background for this kind of research effort.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 22 Aug 2018 13:03:39 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1537223</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Defining Class X Air Space</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1537222</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Dr. Chris Draper and Dr. Aaron Santos Simpson College, Indianola, Iowa  Examining and refining Draper-Santos Projections for defining airspace that could more efficiently enable safe reusable launch vehicle and unmanned aerial system operations from Regional or rural facilities.  This study will examine and refine the Draper-Santos projection methodology by using real world unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and reusable launch vehicle (RLV) data and model assumptions. Once examined and refined based on real world data for likely applications, Draper-Santos projections could be used to propose the creation of specific Class X airspace, as proposed in the attached Simpson College working paper, or some other mechanism that would increase the suitability of currently underused regional or rural facilities for RLV and UAS operations. The Draper-Santos projection methodology is based on current Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Office of Commercial Space Transportation (AST) exclusion-based protection strategies typically employed for RLV demonstration and testing.  This research would focus on both optimizing the fundamental assumptions used within the model (e.g. population data fidelity) and calibrating the model based on the various optimizations (e.g. testing risk threshold impacts based on casualty area inputs). The output of this work should be an iteratively improved model that should expand the number of facilities and communities that could benefit by safely expanding RLV and UAS operations.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 22 Aug 2018 13:03:37 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1537222</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Advanced 4D Special Use Airspace Research</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1537221</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This research project will attempt to better understand the dynamic response process to accidents / incidents in commercial space transportation (CST) operations, and how such dynamic capabilities of the National Aerospace Solutions (NAS) (including air traffic control and the aircraft themselves) might be utilized to safely continue to separate air and space vehicles while minimizing the nominal operations impact on the commercial air traffic. This research will (1) incorporate a variety of models for true wind variability and wind measurement uncertainty (for selected sites) into the modeling strategy, (2) develop distributions of accident/incident debris size and their time-accurate locations so that a model of debris tracking accuracy can be generated that can then be used for assessment of the safety of the proposed dynamic evasion procedures, (3) supply dynamic 4D compact envelopes for varying levels of wind/debris tracking capabilities (e.g. with and without real-time debris tracking or wind measurements) and safety buffer sizes, (4) With input from Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Air Traffic Control (ATC) Subject Matter Experts (SMEs), develop notional operational procedures for implementing Compact 4D Envelopes in nominal scenarios, and (5) support the evaluation of the impact of these advanced procedures on air traffic flow using NAS's FACET tool.  The work in this proposal is classified as long-term research: our work is at the point of trying to understand the major parameters and methodologies that might lead to a far more efficient use of the airspace than what we have today. For this reason, the level of modeling applied is appropriate to the early stage of this research: while the major parameters are all accounted for, there are a number of specific assumptions that will need to be revised and refined as the research transitions to a later phase, when a potential implementation may be considered.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 22 Aug 2018 13:03:36 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1537221</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Tracking and Monitoring Suborbital Commercial Space Vehicles</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1537219</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Monitoring the launch and on-orbit health of space-based assets will enhance and improve existing capabilities for safe and successful use of the near-Earth environment for scientific, military, and commercial purposes. This task will also help build a body of knowledge to assist in the development of the appropriate regulatory requirements for the commercial space industry.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 22 Aug 2018 13:03:33 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1537219</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Space Commercialization Strategies from the Internet Experience</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1537217</link>
      <description><![CDATA[One of the most successful U.S. innovation projects was the public investment in the Internet, followed by deregulation and a transition to the private sector. This research documents this process, and adapts these lessons for the emerging commercial space industry.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 22 Aug 2018 13:03:30 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1537217</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Structural Health Monitoring Framework</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1537216</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Develop structural health monitoring (SHM) framework for CST vehicles, payloads and components. The framework encompasses sensors, electronics, signal processing and automatic decision making as integral part of methodologies enabling structural condition assessment, continuous monitoring, and system prognosis. It is envisioned that SHM framework will serve as a key component of a future spaceflight recorder ("black box") that reports vehicle's health information and could facilitate re-certification for the next flight. Building on SHM system knowledge and expertise obtained in 2 successful spaceflights, the research team will explore fundamental aspects of structural monitoring in space, adapt existing sensors to launch/space/reentry operation, develop compensation routines for unfavorable influences of space environment, infer signal processing schemes and automatic decision support for SHM methodologies suitable to space applications. Practical examples of SHM of space system (planned through NASA FOP or other flight opportunity) will be demonstrated and system architecture compatible with "black box" will be explored. Planned collaboration with commercial launch providers will allow to tune SHM to specific launch vehicles and/or payloads.  AST GOALS: This task is aimed at improving safety and affordability of commercial spaceflights. In this capacity it supports AST's mission to ensure protection of the public and property and to carry out safety responsibilities. Safety inspection is an AST core function and as such structural health monitoring task will directly support AST's mission.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 22 Aug 2018 13:03:26 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1537216</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Commercial Spaceflight Risk Assessment and Communication</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1537215</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The success of commercial human space flight depends in part on establishing an efficient and reliable approach for appropriately regulating the safety of commercially operated launch vehicles and spacecraft. It is recognized that in order to ensure proper regulations are implemented, all parties must be in agreement on the terminology and definitions used to describe the scenarios. A number of critical terms in the literature have been found to have conflicting definitions, which can result in differing interpretation of regulatory statements, thus complicating enforcement and opening up potential legal challenges. Beyond the analysis and mitigation of risk, the outcome must also be verified and effectively conveyed to commercial passengers in an understandable manner. This work will provide a systematic framework for the FAA to use going forward, with results to be published for public and industry consideration and discussion.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 22 Aug 2018 13:03:22 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1537215</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>DebriSat Panel Preparation and Fragment Characterization</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1537214</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Space debris presents a major risk to the success of space missions. At orbital velocity, a collision with a fragment as small as 1 cm in size can cause catastrophic damage. Fragmentation debris is of particular importance because it makes up over forty percent of the rapidly increasing number of catalogued objects orbiting the Earth. Satellite breakup models are used to make predictions regarding fragments that are too small to be tracked from the ground, yet are large enough to pose a risk to satellites. However, the 2009 collision between Iridium-33 and Cosmos-2251 demonstrated the need to update the current NASA satellite breakup model. This model, which is based on a hypervelocity impact of a 1960s Navy satellite, failed to accurately predict the debris field produced by the newer Iridium satellite. The failure of the model was attributed to the newer materials and construction techniques used in the fabrication of the Iridium-33 satellite.  The DebriSat project was conceived as a mechanism to update the current satellite breakup model. The DebriSat satellite was a 50-kg satellite designed and fabricated with modern materials and procedures to be representative of satellites found in low Earth orbit (LEO). The DebriSat satellite was subjected to a hypervelocity impact test at Arnold Engineering Development Center (AEDC) where the test chamber was lined with foam panels to preserve the fragments resulting from the impact. These panels were collected and shipped to the University of Florida where they are being processed to extract the fragments which are then characterized and catalogued. This task focuses on the database used to catalogue the fragments.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 22 Aug 2018 13:03:17 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1537214</guid>
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