Federal Aviation Administration Commercial Space Transportation Human Space Flight Occupant Safety Telecon Telecon #4 – Terms & Definitions November 13th, 2012

Office of Commercial Space Transportation Federal Aviation Administration 2 Agenda Introduction Rules of Engagement Next Steps Last Month’s Topic Today’s Topic Wrap-up

Office of Commercial Space Transportation Federal Aviation Administration 3 Introduction The FAA may not propose regulations covering occupant safety until October However, we have a team of folks thinking about it now to be prepared, and we're wrestling with a lot of questions that we'd like input from technical folks from industry and government to help us. We are hosting a series of one-hour telecons, each with a narrow focus on a specific technical topic to be held about once a month. We are using our industry advisory committee, COMSTAC, to help us. We are not soliciting any proposals for agency support on this topic at this time. This is background research.

Office of Commercial Space Transportation Federal Aviation Administration 4 Rules of Engagement 1. When speaking, please identify yourself so we can follow up with you if we have more questions. 2. We are recording this teleconference. We will publish minutes that summarize the discussion. 3. Please limit your time to 5 minutes of time to allow for greater participation. You are welcome to follow up with a phone call or to Pam Melroy at or 4. AST is not currently in rulemaking, or proposing rules. We are soliciting industry input as research. Should we consider rulemaking in the future, we may use these inputs for background information. If we ask clarifying questions, please do not consider this to imply agreement, or lack of agreement, with your statements.

Office of Commercial Space Transportation Federal Aviation Administration 5 Next Steps After today’s meeting, we will take some time to put together minutes and publish them on the AST website. The minutes will contain a list of attendees, the topic(s) discussed, and a summary of what was discussed. We look forward to you participating in the next conference call on December 18 th at 1 pm Eastern.

Office of Commercial Space Transportation Federal Aviation Administration 6 What Types of Requirements and Associated Guidance Material Should FAA Develop? In general, the FAA favors space transportation regulations that are performance or process based. We will discuss the level of empirical or analytical data necessary to justify any performance-based human space flight regulation, the possible use of Advisory Circulars to add clarity to regulations, and what place government and industry standards should have in FAA licensing. Last Month’s Topic (Oct 2012)

Office of Commercial Space Transportation Federal Aviation Administration 7 Today’s Topic Key Terms and Definitions for Commercial Human Spaceflight Safety We are working to identify and define key terms and definitions relevant to commercial human spaceflight regulations. To facilitate this process, we would like to solicit input from the various parties who have a vested interest in the industry and discuss potential implications that might arise from ambiguous interpretation of regulatory expectations.

Office of Commercial Space Transportation Federal Aviation Administration 8 Objectives Goal of the meeting is to elicit perspectives from the industry on specific key terms and definitions regarding human spaceflight safety, specifically those that pertain to ensuring safe return to Earth. 1)Discuss potential implications of ‘ambiguous’ or ‘conflicting’ definitions (with regulatory impact) from different stakeholder perspectives 2)Gather feedback on suggested key terms and current working definitions

Office of Commercial Space Transportation Federal Aviation Administration 9 StakeholdersImplications RegulatorsTerms define the boundaries for regulatory requirements. OperatorsDesign to required specifications. CustomersHave certain expectations for purchased trip. InsurersNeed to know when insurance clauses take effect and what contractual obligations must be met for all parties involved. Stakeholders / Implications

Office of Commercial Space Transportation Federal Aviation Administration 10 Potential for Stakeholder Conflict Early termination of a flight can occur at any phase of flight for off-nominal events that warrant return to Earth sooner than originally planned. Conflict might arise between stakeholders based on a lack of clarity of definitions, for example: Are specific regulations needed for different scenarios? When have contractual obligations been fulfilled? When are passenger expectations met? When might an insurance claim be warranted? When is an abort not an abort?

Office of Commercial Space Transportation Federal Aviation Administration 11 ‘Earth Return’ Alternatives by Phase of Flight

Office of Commercial Space Transportation Federal Aviation Administration 12 Partial List of Key Terms for Discussion Abort Emergency Contingency Early Flight Return Emergency landing site Alternate landing site Nominal/Primary landing site

Office of Commercial Space Transportation Federal Aviation Administration 13 Abort: Definitions AbortThe forced early return of the crew when failures or the existence of uncontrolled catastrophic hazards prevent continuation of the mission profile and a return is required for crew survival. The crew is safely returned to a landing site in the space system nominally used for entry and landing/touchdown. NASA CCT-REQ AbortEarly termination of the mission or mission phase prior to reaching the mission destination or objective, due to a failure or other condition that does or could endanger the flight crew or the spacecraft. NASA CCT-STD AbortTo terminate a preplanned aircraft maneuver; e.g., an aborted takeoff. Pilot Glossary Contingency Abort Cessation of vehicle flight during ascent or descent in a manner that does not jeopardize public health and safety and the safety of property, in accordance with mission rules and procedures. Contingency abort includes landing at an alternative location that has been designated as a contingency abort location in advance of vehicle flight. 14 CFR, Emergency Abort Cessation of vehicle flight during ascent or descent in a manner that minimizes risk to public health and safety and the safety of property. Emergency abort involves failure of a vehicle, safety-critical system, or flight safety system such that contingency abort is not possible. 14 CFR, 401.5

Office of Commercial Space Transportation Federal Aviation Administration 14 Abort: Considerations Regulatory implications for ‘abort’ during different flight phases? -Failure to reach desired destination -Early return from desired destination -Off-nominal reentry/landing operations -Emergency landing site acceptability -Potential for crew and passengers abandoning a vehicle -Uninvolved public concerns

Office of Commercial Space Transportation Federal Aviation Administration 15 Emergency: Definitions EmergencyAn unforeseen combination of circumstances or the resulting state that requires immediate action to address a hazard to the occupants. (Note: not all contingencies are emergencies) Working Definition EmergencyAn unexpected event or events during a mission that requires immediate action to keep the crew alive or serious injury from occurring. NASA CCT-STD (4/29/11) EmergencyA sudden, generally unexpected occurrence, situation, or event that if unabated may cause injury, loss of life, or damage to flight hardware and that demands an immediate response. NASA CCT-STD EmergencyUnintended circumstance bearing clear and present danger to personnel or property which requires an immediate response. NASA NPR C Emergency (emergency management application) A hazard impact causing adverse physical, social, psychological, economic or political effects that challenges the ability to rapidly & effectively respond. It requires a stepped up capacity and capability (call-back procedures, mutual aid, etc.) to meet the expected outcome, and commonly requires change from routine management methods to an incident command/management process in order to achieve the expected outcome. GWU 2007 Emergency Management Terms EmergencyA distress or an urgency condition.Pilot Glossary DistressA condition of being threatened by serious and/or imminent danger and of requiring immediate assistance. Pilot Glossary UrgencyA condition concerning the safety of an aircraft or other vehicle, or of person on board or in sight, but which does not require immediate assistance. Pilot Glossary

Office of Commercial Space Transportation Federal Aviation Administration 16 Emergency: Considerations Types of Emergencies? -Medical Emergency (crew member) -Vehicle/Hardware Emergency -Environmental Emergency (surrounding environment) Responses to Emergencies? -Speed of response -Type of aid available

Office of Commercial Space Transportation Federal Aviation Administration 17 Contingency: Definitions ContingencyA situation that occurs beyond planned fault tolerance or reliability; for example, if single fault tolerant, after a second failure of a critical system. (Note: this is very much about the vehicle). Working Definition ContingencyProvisioning for an event or circumstance that is possible but cannot be predicted with certainty. NASA CCT-STD (4/29/11) ContingencyProvisioning for an event or circumstance that is possible but cannot be predicted with certainty. NASA CCT-REQ ContingencyProvisioning for an uncertified event or circumstance that is possible but cannot be predicted with certainty. NASA CCT-REQ ContingencyA future event that is likely but not certain to happen. The consequences of the occurrence are such that one must address the likelihood of occurrence and the projected impact if it occurs. GWU 2007 Emergency Management Terms ContingencyA situation requiring military operations in response to natural disasters, terrorists, subversives, or as otherwise directed by appropriate authority to protect US interests. DoD Terms ContingencyA future event that is likely but not certain to happen. The consequences of the occurrence are such that one must prepare for the event. VHA Handbook

Office of Commercial Space Transportation Federal Aviation Administration 18 Contingency: Considerations What are responses required for a contingency versus an emergency? What type of contingency plans must be made?

Office of Commercial Space Transportation Federal Aviation Administration 19 Early Flight Return: Definitions Early Flight Return Flight termination; deletion of planned activities in order to expeditiously return to a planned or alternate landing site. (Note: Assumed condition after failures lead to zero fault tolerance to a critical hazard.) Working Definition End of MissionThe planned landing time for the entire mission including the nominal pre-flight agreed to docked mission duration. NASA CCT-STD (4/29/11)

Office of Commercial Space Transportation Federal Aviation Administration 20 Early Flight Return: Considerations How much earlier does it need to be considered ‘early’? Hours, days? Depends on type of flight (orbital or suborbital)? Depends on circumstance (emergency, abort, ahead of schedule etc.)

Office of Commercial Space Transportation Federal Aviation Administration 21 Landing Site: Definitions Landing Site (Supported) Designated Nominal Landing Site – A fully supported U.S. State department approved CONUS site with recovery forces on site. Crew extraction is within 1 hour. Return is within 2 hours. Medical Evacuation is available. NASA personnel are on hand. Baseline Data Collection begins immediately. Cargo Extraction begins upon completion of Crew Extraction Prepared Alternate Landing Site – A supported U.S. State department approved site (not necessarily CONUS) with rescue forces readily available (potentially on standby). Crew extraction is within 1 hour. Medical Evacuation is available. NASA personnel are not likely available. Baseline Data Collection is not required immediately. Return in 2 hours is not required. Cargo Extraction begins upon completion of Crew Extraction. NASA CCT- REQ-1130 Landing Site (Prepared Alternate) A supported U.S. State department approved site (not necessarily CONUS) with rescue forces readily available (potentially on standby). Crew extraction is within 1 hour. Medical Evacuation is available. NASA personnel are not likely available. Baseline Data Collection is not required immediately. Return in 2 hours is not required. Cargo Extraction begins upon completion of Crew Extraction. NASA CCT- REQ-1130 Landing Site (Unsupported) Emergency Landing – Any unsupported site arrived at due to critical failures that force immediate return and preclude landing at a primary or prepared alternate landing site. Depending on the case (ascent abort or emergency return), the recovery requirements are different. All survival requirements/scenarios are applicable. 8 hour rescue for an ascent abort and 24 hour rescue for emergency de-orbit are required. 2 hour return, Baseline Data Collection, and quick medical evacuation are not required. NASA CCT- REQ-1130

Office of Commercial Space Transportation Federal Aviation Administration 22 Landing Site: Considerations Types of Landing Site? Alternate Site Emergency Site Supported Unsupported Prepared Alternate Difference of Landing Site Types? Qualification? Type of services available (communications, emergency systems, evacuation systems, etc) Number of personnel available Speed of services

Office of Commercial Space Transportation Federal Aviation Administration 23 Terms and Definitions Task Comprehensive database of terms being identified and definitions compiled from various sources as part of an FAA COE CST project per Human Rating Task 184 PI, Prof David Klaus, University of Colorado Boulder Currently under review for comment by COE affiliates COMSTAC members welcome to participate For more information, contact Christine Fanchiang, CU Aerospace Engineering Sciences PhD student

Office of Commercial Space Transportation Federal Aviation Administration 24 References NASA CCT-REQ-1130ISS Crew Transportation and Services Requirements Document NASA CCT-STD-1140Crew Transportation Technical Standards and Design Evaluation Criteria Summary of expectations and criteria used in the evaluation of technical standards. NASA CCT-STD-1150Crew Transportation Operation Standards Summary of expectations for minimum criteria and practices for operations. NASA NPR CNASA General Safety Program Requirements 14 CFR, Chapter IIIUnited States Code of Federal Regulations, Title 14 GWU Emergency Management Terms ICDRM/GWO Emergency Management Glossary of Terms (Institute for Crisis, Disaster, and Risk Management). The George Washington University, Washington, D.C. Pilot GlossaryPilot/Controller Glossary. FAA Air Traffic Plans and Publications. DoD TermsDepartment of Defense Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms. Joint Publications 1-02 VHA HandbookVeterans Health Administration Emergency Management Program Procedures. VHA Handbook Department of Veterans Affairs

Office of Commercial Space Transportation Federal Aviation Administration 25 Wrap-up Thanks to everyone for participating! You can post comments, questions, etc. to Docket FAA If anyone has any new topics or suggestions on improving this discussion process, contact: We look forward to you participating in the next conference call on December 18th. The topic will be “ Abort Systems ”.

Office of Commercial Space Transportation Federal Aviation Administration 26 December 2012 Topic Abort Systems Abort systems have in the past been an element of many government human spaceflight systems for the purpose of enhancing occupant safety. We will discuss the following questions from a regulatory perspective: Is an abort system a part of fault tolerance? Does an abort only apply to the launch/ascent phase, or does it apply to other flight phases as well? Should certain types of orbital or suborbital vehicle designs require a launch abort system? What should the reliability requirements be for an abort system? Should it be acceptable to have a different level of care during an abort?