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As NASA's lead center for space
transportation systems and development, and the Center of Excellence
for space propulsion, the George C. Marshall Space Flight Center
in Huntsville, Alabama, leads NASA's mission to develop safe,
reliable, and affordable space transportation systems. The Center
also maintains propulsion systems for America's current space
fleet.
Marshall leads NASA's efforts
in microgravity research--experiments conducted in the low gravity
inside orbiting spacecraft--as well as in the development of
space optics manufacturing technologies. The Center also delivers
practical applications of NASA space research and technologies
here on Earth.
Marshall is managing the Space
Launch Initiative, NASA's comprehensive research and technology
development effort to dramatically increase the safety, reliability,
and affordability of space transportation systems. The initiative
calls for a focused investment of $4.8 billion through fiscal
year 2006 to develop concepts and technologies needed to create
a second generation reusable launch vehicle--one that is expected
to be 10 times cheaper and 100 times safer than today's space
launch systems.
The Advanced Space Transportation
Program at Marshall looks beyond second generation systems, keying
on flying third and fourth generation reusable launch vehicles.
These programs are tackling the difficult task of lowering the
current $10,000-per-pound cost of putting payloads into space--first
to $1,000 per pound, then to as low as $100 per pound.
To reach these goals requires
revolutionary aerospace technologies--from magnetic, chemical,
and propellantless propulsion systems to new energy sources such
as space solar power or antimatter propulsion. These and other
advances are now being studied, developed, and tested at Marshall.
The Center leads NASA's government
team in development and testing of the X-37 space plane, which
is expected to make history as the first reusable demonstrator
to fly in both orbital and reentry environments. Designed to
demonstrate dozens of advanced airframe, avionics, and operations
technologies that can support various launch vehicle and spacecraft
designs, the X-37 will travel up to 25 times the speed of sound,
remain in orbit up to 21 days, and land on a conventional runway.
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NASA's
Marshall Space Flight Center manages the Agency's Space Launch
Initiative, a comprehensive research and technology development
effort intended to increase safety, reliability, and affordability
of space transportation systems. This artist's rendering of a
futuristic two-stage flight vehicle is just one concept of such
a system. |
Today and
continuing well into the future, the Space Shuttle remains unmatched
by any other launch system. Marshall manages all Space Shuttle
propulsion elements, including the Main Engine, External Tank,
and Solid Rocket Boosters. In 2001, a redesigned Shuttle Main
Engine makes its debut flight. The updated Block II engine includes
a new high-pressure fuel turbopump designed to increase the number
of flights between required overhauls. Additional upgrades to
the Shuttle's propulsion systems are planned for completion by
2005.
Marshall scientists and engineers
routinely contribute to new processes and technology innovations
in areas as diverse as manufacturing, communications, and electronics.
Microgravity research conducted in Earth orbit furthers our understanding
of critical biological, chemical, and physical processes--opening
doors to the commercial development of space.
Until recently, microgravity
research was limited to relatively short-duration Space Shuttle
flights. This changed with the addition of the Destiny Laboratory
Module to the International Space Station in 2001. One of numerous
Space Station elements built and tested at Marshall, Destiny
allows for long-duration microgravity experiments and is the
premier laboratory for this research.
As Space Station construction
continues in orbit, the Center maintains a key role in hardware
development and science operations for the orbiting research
outpost. Marshall is overseeing development of Station Nodes
2 and 3modules that serve as hubs for distribution of water,
electrical power, and thermal controls for the Space Station--as
well as the Station's Environmental Control and Life Support
System, a water recycling and oxygen generation system.
Marshall also oversees development
and operation of the Space Station's Multipurpose Logistics Modules,
Italian-built modules that will carry laboratory racks filled
with equipment, experiments, and supplies to and from the Station.
| Team members in the Payload Operations Center at
Marshal
l--NASA's primary Space
Station science command post--coordinate all science on the International
Space Station and communications between researchers on Earth
and their on-board experiments. |
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The Payload
Operations Center at Marshall is NASA's primary Space Station
science command post, coordinating all science aboard the Station
and communications between researchers on Earth and their on-board
experiments. Marshall is also responsible for coordinating and
managing all Station microgravity science and commercial research
payloads.
With more than 30 years' experience
developing optical systems for space exploration, Marshall leads
NASA's space optics manufacturing technology development, including
optics design, fabrication, testing, and analysis.
The Space Optics Manufacturing
Technology Center at Marshall is spearheading NASA's development
of advanced, ultra-lightweight optics materials, fabrication
technologies, precise measurement standards, and state-of-the-art
test facilities. The Center currently supports NASA's Goddard
Space Flight Center by leading optics technology development
for the Next Generation Space Telescope, the successor to the
Hubble Space Telescope. The Center is also developing ultra-lightweight
optics for the Constellation X-ray mission, the successor to
the Chandra X-ray Observatory, which was designed and developed
at Marshall and launched with spectacular results in 1999.
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