Suborbital Experiment Platform Presented to National Council of Space Grant Directors Executive Committee October 30, 2007 James E. Ball Spaceport Development Manager NASA John F. Kennedy Space Center FASTRACK TM

FASTRACK TM A new spaceflight experiment platform in development by NASA Kennedy Space Center and Space Florida The emerging commercial suborbital industry will dramatically expand access to the space environment It offers promise of frequent, affordable, and responsive flight opportunities FASTRACK is being FASTRACK is being designed and developed to rapidly employ this new experiment environment to advance microgravity research and space exploration technologies FASTRACK FASTRACK is a trademark of NASA John F. Kennedy Space Center

FASTRACK TM Will be jointly developed by NASA Kennedy Space Center and Space Florida Discussions are underway with other potential partners including NASA’s Innovative Partnership Program and Science Mission Directorate Plan is to design and produce in 2008 with initial flight testing in 2009 aboard parabolic aircraft Space qualification of flight units aboard one or more suborbital vehicles targeted by end of 2010

FASTRACK TM Key project objectives are to achieve: Compatibility Across the entire fleet of emerging commercial suborbital vehicles, existing and future parabolic flight providers, future orbital free-flyers or transports, ISS National Lab Accessibility Readily available to NASA mission directorates, other Federal agencies, industry, academia, and educational user groups Affordability Flights available through government or privately-procured commercial services at competitive rates anticipated to be in the range of $100,000- $200,000 in FY 2008 dollars for suborbital spaceflight opportunities

FASTRACK TM Is… A versatile rack system incorporating standard middeck locker experiment accommodations with self-contained power Capacity for two single lockers or one double locker, a subsystem drawer, and experiment apparatus Multiple racks can be flown depending on supporting vehicle

FASTRACK TM Horizontal operations feature runway takeoff and recovery Offers 2-3 minutes of microgravity, reaching 62 miles or higher Pressurized, conditioned air environment Multiple launch sites support reliable and competitive opportunities

FASTRACK TM Shortened lead time for experiment integration Rapid retrieval of samples and data Opportunity to re-fly on short turnaround Fills gap in microgravity research capabilities Reduces risk to longer duration, higher investment orbital operations by enabling first- step flight testing

FASTRACK TM KSC brings extensive experience in space experiment processing, hardware development, and flight operations Space Florida has established the Stephen Hawking Microgravity Education and Research Center, and has commercial parabolic flight experiment experience

FASTRACK TM A new opportunity for Space Grant to excite educators, inspire students, promote scientific inquiry, and stimulate the next generation of space explorers.

Advancing Microgravity Science and Applications: Steps to the ISS National Laboratory and beyond Charles Quincy Sustainable Systems Division Applied Technology Directorate John F. Kennedy Space Center National Council of Space Grant Directors October 30, 2007

Biology Physical Processes Industrial Applications Combustion Science Fluid Physics Materials Science Dust Aggregation The Aging Process Infectious Disease Molecular Biology Preventive Medicine Gene & Protein Expression Private Space Hardware Developers Offers cost-effective hardware & experiment pre-ISS test flights. Reduces risk to space operations technology development. Pharmaceuticals (crystal formation in Micro-g) Biotechnology Product Development Computer Chip Materials Development Cosmetic Firms (novel product development) NASA Mission Support ESMD technology development. Assessment of SOMD developmental hardware and software. Growth and success of ISS user base (National Lab Initiative). Education/Outreach National Space Grant Consortium Other Government Agencies National Institutes of Health National Science Foundation Department of Energy Department of Agriculture Department of Defense Microgravity Science Fields of Study & Primary Use Drivers

Investigation Progression Drop Tower testing Parabolic flight Sub-orbital flight Highly elliptical flight Orbital sorties Visits to ISS Increased Cost Increased time in Zero G

NASA Vision Control NASA (SOMD, SMD, & ESMD) Education Institutes Public State Public Federal Private Sector ISS National Laboratory UP Mass Down Mass Customers Resource Allocation Crew time Shuttle, Other, COTS, & CEV MOU SAA & LOA Selection For ISS Experimentation Launch & Landing Preparation Zone Concept Refinement Zone - Concept Evaluation - Team Development and Meeting - Requirements Development - Selection of Flight Configuration - Science verification Test ISS Operations Control - Build, Configure, and Test Flight Configuration - Certify for Flight - Conduct Flight Operations - Conduct Post Flight Operations Activity Selected for ISS Experimentation Evaluation