Development of a common set of test & evaluation criteria for spaceplanes: A work in progress

Journal Article · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1997 · AIP Conference Proceedings

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.51921· OSTI ID:627611

Quisenberry, B R ^[1]; Schena, R A ^[2]

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1. BQ Systems, Inc. 2754 Pembsly Drive Vienna, Virginia22181 (United States)
2. Signal Corporation 2017 Yale Blvd., SE, Box 9 Albuquerque, New Mexico87106 (United States)

The advent of truly reusable space launch vehicles and systems and the attendant transportation revolution they will foster, bring the very real potential of flight by rocket powered spaceplanes on a regular basis. If this transportation revolution is to become really viable, ensuring public safety becomes a necessary consideration and requirement. The commercial sector is developing reusable launch vehicles both independently and with the support of NASA. Additionally, the Department of Defense is considering spaceplanes for achievement of a wide range of military objectives. This paper addresses the test and evaluation needs for these new space systems in general and postulates use of flight safety criteria as measures of effectiveness and safety. The paper characterizes the current flight safety approval criteria used at the various United States national test ranges as well as criteria under development both nationally and internationally for space flight safety. Consideration must be made to the development of a common set of criteria and risk mitigation processes for protection of the public that allows for the approval of initial testing and routine flight of spaceplanes to be transparent of where the flights occur. This common or {open_quotes}standardized{close_quotes} set of criteria could become the basis for {open_quotes}rangeless{close_quotes} ranges in the operation of spaceplanes throughout the world. This remains a work in progress since we are only at the beginning stages of the spaceplane transportation revolution, and recognize that change will be inevitable as both the program and vehicles develop. {copyright} {ital 1997 American Institute of Physics.}

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 627611
• Report Number(s): CONF-970115--
• Journal Information: AIP Conference Proceedings, Journal Name: AIP Conference Proceedings Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 387; ISSN APCPCS; ISSN 0094-243X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
DESIGN
FLIGHT TESTING
REGULATIONS
SPACE FLIGHT
SPACE VEHICLES
TEST FACILITIES