Commercial Crew & Cargo Program Office (C3PO) Contributions
Since the first commercial communications satellites were launched by NASA in the mid-1960s, the commercial space sector has grown into a multi-billion dollar industry that launches multiple commercial missions annually, including launches of NASA satellites and space probes on commercial launch vehicles. With the recent success of the Ansari X-Prize and other ongoing private space efforts, the potential for the commercial space sector to engage new markets, especially those involving human spaceflight, is stronger than ever. Accordingly, NASA’s 2006 Strategic Plan Goal #5 sets the Agency on a course to foster this continued market expansion by the private sector.
Through the Agency’s Commercial Crew & Cargo Program Office (C3PO), NASA will pursue a two-phased approach to obtaining cost-effective commercial transportation services from Earth to the International Space Station and back. First, the Agency will enter into agreements with one or more companies to demonstrate commercial crew and/or cargo transportation capabilities. Then, once an orbital transportation capability is demonstrated (anticipated between 2008 and 2010), NASA will contract with commercial providers for transportation services to the International Space Station.
In a concerted effort to foster an environment of mission success, C3PO has created the Commercial Orbital Transportation Services Advisory Team (CAT). The CAT is comprised of project managers, systems engineers, and discipline engineers throughout the NASA Field Centers. Through the CAT, the private sector has the ability to gain significant insight into the space flight experience accumulated by the NASA workforce over its history.
Exploration Systems Projects (ESP) is the focal point for Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) participation in the CAT and overall Center support to the C3PO. Our contributions span the following technical disciplines:
- Aerodynamics/Aerothermal
- Command & Data Handling
- Communications & Tracking
- Extra-vehicular Activities
- Ground/Launch Operations
- Guidance, Navigation & Control
- Materials & Processes
- Probabilistic Risk Assessments
- Propulsion
- Propulsion (Cryogenics)
- Rendezvous & Proximity Operations
- Safety, Reliability & Risk
- Software (IV&V)
- Software (Flight S/W)
- Software (Ground Data Systems)
- Space Flight Operations
- Space Station RMS/Robotics
- Structures & Mechanisms
- Test and & Verification (Flight Systems)
- Test and & Verification (Ground Systems)
- Thermal Control Systems
- Training and Simulation
