Several USL employees were key personnel in the Delta Clipper flight program (More Info).
The DC-X/A vehicle was the first flying prototype of the next generation reusable launch vehicle.
to download a QuickTime movie of one the successful flights.
to access a summary web page created by NASA to document the successful DC-X/XA program.
PROJECT CONTRACTING
ORGANIZATION 		PROJECT
DESCRIPTION
Low Cost Bantam Operating System Demonstration NASA – Marshall Space Flight Center USL developed a Bantam system operations concept based on DC-X/A lessons learned. Our team built a simulation of the Bantam system operation as a prototype for the integrated ground and flight operational system, including a tailored model for the Bantam operations control center. USL delivered a demonstration of a working automated mission planning (AMP) system. This effort also prototyped man-machine interfaces and displays for a generic mission planning and GN&C design tool.

Phase I SBIR: Launch Vehicle Integrated Guidance Software - Reducing Operations Cost NASA – Marshall Space Flight Center USL developed and demonstrated an integrated guidance software system that addresses the end-to-end mission of an RLV (i.e., pre-flight planning through landing). Ascent, on-orbit, entry, and abort guidance schemes were linked to a streamlined, automated mission design environment to allow rapid mission development.

Simulation-Based R&D for Space Vehicle Concepts United States Air Force Under this Phase I SBIR effort, USL developed the Integrated Database System (IDS) proving the feasibility and advantages of an integrated development and operations system approach to the development of simulation-based R&D tools. A series of 47 incremental development steps and tests were completed during the Phase I program leading up to a fully integrated test of the end-to-end IDS system.

The Impact of Space Commercialization and Reusable Launch Vehicles on the Office of Space Launch Mission Office of Space Launch, National Reconnaissance USL conducted a one-year study contract for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) to address how new, commercially-proposed reusable and expendable launch capabilities would impact the NRO’s Office of Space Launch mission planning and control activities in the future. USL lead a team that included Boeing, Pratt & Whitney and Kelly Space and Technology to survey proposed commercial and military launch systems in FY2000, catalog them, and assess their technical, operational, and financial (business plan) merits. USL also used this survey and other information contributed by Boeing and Pratt & Whitney to extrapolate alternative futures that the launch industry could experience in the near future.

Software Support to the Scripps-NISTAR Project Ball Aerospace and Technologies Corp. USL supported the flight software verification in a processor-in-the-loop test environment for the Deep Impact spacecraft.





Military Spaceplane Integrated Technology Testbed McDonnell Douglas Corporation USL evaluated the impacts of a streamlined mission control approach on the military spaceplane. This included the definition and evaluation of a Civil Reserve Space Fleet that is patterned after the Civil Reserve Air Fleet and employs commercial derivatives of the spaceplane. Operations and support analysis was conducted to evaluate basing concepts, turn times, and other supportability and maintainability issues. An additional task in this effort was for USL to provide the Test Director (Pete Conrad) for the five integrated ground test demonstrations of the military spaceplane.

Boeing's International Space Station Alpha (ISSA) Software Test Support Integrated Systems, Inc. USL provided integration and test of software being developed for the international space station program.

Military Spaceplane Applications and Simulation Effort McDonnell Douglas Corporation USL evaluated the concept of an integrated technology testbed for the military spaceplane program. This evaluation included the development of an operations concepts, as well as the corresponding system simulation software and flight crew user interface. Our team also conducted an evaluation of commercial markets for a privately owned derivative of the military spaceplane, including a profitability analysis.

Technical Support for the Development of Ground C3 Mission Equipment Prototype / Demonstration McDonnell Douglas Corporation USL provided expertise and design recommendations based on knowledge gained in the design and development of automation and operation concepts from the DC-X/A programs. Activities included technical support for the development of a prototype for the McDonnell Douglas Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) Ground Command, Control, and Communications Mission Equipment (GC3ME).

Practical Applications of Operational Lessons Learned from the DC-XA Flight Test Program SIGNAL Corporation USL developed lessons learned for the operation of next generation military space plane concepts based on successful DC-XA program and through comparison with other existing systems.

X-34 Operational Enhancement Studies Orbital Sciences Corporation USL was contracted to provide an assessment for the X-34 program mission planning, autonomous abort, and RF uplink feasibility analysis capabilities. Previously developed autonomous mission planning tools were evaluated for applicability to the X-34 program. Additional effort included assessing the applicability of NASA-funded autonomous abort efforts to the X-34 and providing a cost estimate for full implementation to the X-34 flight vehicle of an autonomous abort capability. The operability benefits of a data uplink capability to the X-34 were also assessed, providing a detailed preliminary ground and vehicle hardware design for implementation with the corresponding cost estimate.

CRV Proposal Support Orbital Sciences Corporation USL participated as a member of Orbital's NASA Crew Return Vehicle proposal team.

USFE GN&C Linear Model Analysis
Orbital		 Orbital Sciences Corporation USL developed a linear model of Upper Stage Flight Experiment vehicle dynamics and attitude controller. Performed linear stability controls analysis of model with slosh, tail-wag-dog, aero and bending effects included.