Commercial Spaceflight Industry Research Articles

Spaceflight-associated pain.

Consequences of the expanding commercial spaceflight industry include an increase in total number of spaceflight participants and an accompanying surge in the average number of medical comorbidities compared with government-based astronaut corps. A sequela of these developments is an anticipated rise in acute and chronic pain concerns associated with spaceflight. This review will summarize diagnostic and therapeutic areas of interest that can support the comfort of humans in spaceflight. Painful conditions that occur in space may be due to exposure to numerous stressors such as acceleration and vibration during launch, trauma associated with extravehicular activities, and morbidity resulting directly from weightlessness. Without normal gravitational forces and biomechanical stress, the hostile environment of space causes muscle atrophy, bone demineralization, joint stiffness, and spinal disc dysfunction, resulting in a myriad of pain generators. Repeated insults from abnormal environmental exposures are thought to contribute to the development of painful musculoskeletal and neuropathic conditions. As humanity invests in Lunar and Martian exploration, understanding the painful conditions that will impede crew productivity and mission outcomes is critical. Preexisting pain and new-onset acute or chronic pain resulting from spaceflight will require countermeasures and treatments to mitigate long-term health effects.

New books & media

New books & media

Gynecologic Risk Mitigation Considerations for Long-Duration Spaceflight.

INTRODUCTION: As NASA and its international partners, as well as the commercial spaceflight industry, prepare for missions of increasing duration and venturing outside of low-Earth orbit, mitigation of medical risk is of high priority. Gynecologic considerations constitute one facet of medical risk for female astronauts. This manuscript will review the preflight, in-flight, and postflight clinical evaluation, management, and prevention considerations for reducing gynecologic and reproductive risks in female astronauts.METHODS: Relevant gynecological articles from databases including Ovid, Medline, Web of Science, various medical libraries, and NASA archives were evaluated for this review. In particular, articles addressing preventive measures or management of conditions in resource-limited environments were evaluated for applicability to future long-duration exploration spaceflight.RESULTS: Topics including abnormal uterine bleeding, anemia, bone mineral density, ovarian cysts, venous thromboembolism, contraception, fertility, and health maintenance were reviewed. Prevention and treatment strategies are discussed with a focus on management options that consider limitations of onboard medical capabilities.DISCUSSION: Long-duration exploration spaceflight will introduce new challenges for maintenance of gynecological and reproductive health. The impact of the space environment outside of low-Earth orbit on gynecological concerns remains unknown, with factors such as increased particle radiation exposure adding complexity and potential risk. While the most effective means of minimizing the impact of gynecologic or reproductive pathology for female astronauts is screening and prevention, gynecological concerns can arise unpredictably as they do on Earth. Careful consideration of gynecological risks and potential adverse events during spaceflight is a critical component to risk analysis and preventive medicine for future exploration missions.Steller JG, Blue RS, Burns R, Bayuse TM, Antonsen EL, Jain V, Blackwell MM, Jennings RT. Gynecologic risk mitigation considerations for long-duration spaceflight. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2020; 91(7):543-564.

Effects of adding powdered metals with the solid propellants – A review

Rocket engines that use solid propellants are widely used in the commercial space flight industry for powering orbital-class launch vehicles and small research rockets. Thrust and the specific impulse developed by a rocket engine are essential properties of a rocket propulsion system, and it specifies the overall performance of a rocket. These properties heavily influenced by the burn-rate properties of the solid propellants. One of the many methods to improve the burn rate of the solid propellant is the addition of metallic powders into the fuel-oxidizer matrix. This technique has been observed to enhance the burn rate of the solid propellants; several studies have concluded the same. On the other hand, these additives result in the release of metal oxides into the atmosphere and lead to a higher amount of environmental pollution. This paper summarizes the effects of adding metals and their concentrations on the burning properties of the solid propellants.

Research on the Influence of China's Commercial Spaceflight on the Economic and Social Development of the Regions Along the Belt and Road

As China's commercial spaceflight industry develops rapidly, an increasing number of innovative commercial satellite plans have emerged. Especially the innovative projects represented by “Hongyan” ...

An Analysis of Undergraduate Commercial Spaceflight Programs in the United States

With the expansion of the commercial spaceflight industry there is more opportunity than ever for motivated and qualified students to enter the career field. As a relatively young industry the hiring is currently focused on aerospace engineering graduates even in areas where in the more established aviation industry are being filled with technology students. As the industry continues to grow the ability for aerospace engineering to continue to fill these positions becomes critical. This paper examines current undergraduate program offerings in the United States and analyzes them for outcomes and determines their under and over-qualifications for current career opportunities. Future analysis can then be completed to determine how current aviation related programs can evolve to meet the growing need for technologists in the commercial spaceflight industry.

The elements of a commercial human spaceflight safety reporting system

In its report on the SpaceShipTwo accident the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) included in its recommendations that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) “in collaboration with the commercial spaceflight industry, continue work to implement a database of lessons learned from commercial space mishap investigations and encourage commercial space industry members to voluntarily submit lessons learned.” In its official response to the NTSB the FAA supported this recommendation and indicated it has initiated an iterative process to put into place a framework for a cooperative safety data sharing process including the sharing of lessons learned, and trends analysis. Such a framework is an important element of an overall commercial human spaceflight safety system.As the industry matures and approaches a time of regular operational flights carrying paying commercial passengers, the time is right to consider the development of an industry-wide safety reporting system focused on operational hazards, incidents, and close calls. Mature safety reporting systems of this nature exist, both in the aerospace sector and in other industries. For example:•The Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS) in the United States•The Federal Railroad Authority Confidential Close Call Reporting System•The NASA Safety Reporting System (NSRS)•Aviation Safety Reporting Systems operated by several civil aviation authorities around the globeThese successful systems offer a number of lessons learned and operational best practices that might be applied to a prospective commercial human spaceflight safety reporting system. Through a review of these programs, focusing on systems in the U.S., this paper will describe elements of a safety reporting system that might be developed in support of the commercial human spaceflight industry. Factors to be addressed include:•Origins and motivations for the system•Organizational and operational approaches•Treatment of confidentiality, both for reporters' personally identifiable information, and for proprietary or commercially sensitive information•Relationship to lessons learned and safety data exchange programs•Authority to act upon information receivedOne element that these systems often have in common is that they were established following a tragic incident involving the loss of multiple lives. The FAA's efforts to analyze and implement a commercial spaceflight; safety lessons learned database offers a window to develop a safety reporting system, in consultation with; industry, prior to similar tragic incidents involving commercial spaceflight participants;

Fire in Orbit: Equipping the Commercial Spaceflight Industry for Fighting Fire in Micro-Gravity

For several years, Orbital Technologies (ORBITEC) has had keen interest in the development of a portable fire suppression system intended for use in commercial spaceflight applications. With the aid of recent developments in fine water mist (FWM) atomization technologies, and partnerships with the University of Wisconsin – Platteville, a portable fire extinguisher (PFE) prototype has been developed and constructed. Thecommercial extinguisher is capable of operation in both gravity and microgravity environments regardless of orientation, and eliminates the use of toxic carbon dioxide as a fluid suppressant. Preliminary testing of the PFE prototype has demonstrated promising discharge ranges and rates at various pressures. Testing has also confirmed the prototype’s ability to extinguish stored energy fires, in the form of lithium ion batteries.

Establishing Recommended Practices for Commercial Human Space Flight Occupant Safety

Abstract In 2013, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) released Established Practices for Human Space Flight Occupant Safety, a draft guidance document for the rapidly developing commercial human space flight industry. The initial draft document was intended to facilitate a discussion with stakeholders, with the hope of gaining a consensus among government, industry, and academia on practices related to human space flight occupant safety. In September 2014, the FAA released an updated version entitled Recommended Practices for Human Space Flight Occupant Safety. The document provides a framework for industry to use in developing industry consensus standards. It can also serve as a starting point, should there be a need for the government to issue regulations at some point in the future. One of the main challenges in preparing the practices was to accommodate the diverse system designs and potential future plans of U.S. industry. Some U.S. companies are focused on carrying people and experiments ...

Fire in Orbit: Equipping the Commercial Spaceflight Industry for Fighting Fire in Micro-Gravity

For several years, Orbital Technologies (ORBITEC) has had keen interest in the development of a portable fire suppression system intended for use in commercial spaceflight applications. With the aid of recent developments in fine water mist (FWM) atomization technologies, and partnerships with the University of Wisconsin – Platteville, work is commencing to develop a portable fire extinguisher (PFE). The extinguisher will be capable of operation in both gravity and microgravity environments regardless of orientation, and eliminate the use of toxic carbon dioxide as a fluid suppressant. The extinguisher will take advantage of the unique physics of microgravity to better suppress fires compared to previously used equipment. The following report outlines baseline research into the historical precedence of spacecraft fires, and common modes of fire ignition in microgravity. From this information we investigate design considerations necessary for the construction of a prototype PFE, as well as the market value of such a device.

The Human Challenges of Commercial Spaceflight: An Overview of Medical Research Conducted by the University of Texas Medical Branch Through the Federal Aviation Administration Center of Excellence for Commercial Space Transportation

Abstract In 2010, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced the institution of a Center of Excellence for Commercial Space Transportation (COE CST), a partnership of multiple academic institutions assembled to address the numerous challenges involved in the commercial spaceflight industry. The University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas, was included in this collaboration to provide medical insight into the human challenges of commercial spaceflight. This article will serve to outline the human spaceflight research tasks as designated by the FAA COE CST, and to discuss the research that has been conducted to address many of the risks and challenges involved in human commercial spaceflight.

The Low-Cost Ticket to Space

The article discusses the potential impact of the commercial spaceflight industry on space research, with information on the previous limitations posed by the costs and frequency of space launches. Topics include the scientific research conducted through the suborbital program of the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the development of reusable suborbital vehicles by commercial space companies such as XCOR Aerospace, Virgin Galactic, and Spacex, and the development of private space stations that would give space access to researchers in countries that are not partners of the International Space Station (ISS).

Development of the DL/H-1 full pressure suit for private spaceflight

The objective of this paper is to detail the need for full pressure suits to protect spaceflight participants during the experimental phases of flight testing of new space vehicles. It also details the objectives, historical background, basis for design, problems encountered by the designers and final development of the DL/H-1 full pressure suit. It will include justification for its use and results of the initial tests in the high altitude chamber and spacecraft simulator at the J.D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences at the University of North Dakota. For the test flights of early commercial space vehicles and tourist suborbital spacecrafts, emergency protection from the rarified air of the upper atmosphere and the vacuum of low Earth orbit almost certainly will be a requirement. Suborbital vehicles could be operating in “space equivalent conditions” for as long as 30 min to as much as several hours. In the case of cabin pressure loss, without personal protection, catastrophic loss of crew and vehicle could result. This paper explains the different steps taken by the authors who designed and built a preflight hardware pressure suit that can meet the physiological and comfort requirements of the tourist suborbital industry and the early commercial private spaceflight community. The suborbital tourist and commercial spaceflight industry have unique problems confronting the pressure suit builder such as unpressurized comfort, reasonable expense, unique sizing of the general population, decompression complications of persons not fitting a past military physiology profile and equipment weight issues. In addition, the lack of a certifying agency or guidance from international or national aviation authorities has created the opportunity for the emerging civilian pressure suit industry to create a new safety standard by which it can regulate itself in the same way the recreational SCUBA diving industry has since the late 1950s.

Informed consent v. ITAR: Regulatory conflicts that could constrain commercial human space flight

The Human Space Flight Requirements (promulgated by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration) seek to protect the fledgling commercial space flight industry by shifting risk from the operator to the space flight participants. However, in order to do this effectively the regulations require a great deal of information to be given to the participants. The information required might be extensive enough that it could be considered “technical data” under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations. If this is the case then commercial spaceflight companies will have to get export licenses for non-U.S. participants on their flights which could cause additional costs as well as other problems.