Human Spaceflight:
Mission Analysis and Design

Course Description:
This three to five day tailorable course provides the conceptual framework for developing human space missions starting from a blank sheet of paper.  It describes and teaches the manned space mission design and analysis process.  The entire course is process oriented to equip each participant with the practical tools to complete a conceptual design and analyze the impacts of evolving requirements.

Course Objectives:
At the end of this course you will be better able to tie mission elements together to perform tradeoffs between human spaceflight system design and mission operations. You will examine human space mission design using a systems engineering approach to translating space mission objectives, requirements, and constraints into viable and cost-effective systems and operations concepts. At the end of this course, you will be able to...

  • Interpret and convert space mission objectives, requirements, and constraints into visible and cost-effective operations concepts
  • Understand the space environment and its impact on humans and hardware
  • Explain the physiology of space flight, human factors, and psychological aspects
  • Describe a process-oriented approach for creating cost-effective space missions
  • Describe the key functions that must be performed for mission operations
  • Apply effective methodology for translating space mission objectives, requirements, and designs into viable and cost-effective operations concepts
  • Explain the interrelationships and tradeoffs between system design and mission operation

Who Should Attend:
Program managers, engineers and scientists who need to understand the complete process involved in designing human space missions.

Course Materials
Each participant will receive:

  • A copy of the course text Human Spaceflight by Larson and Pranke
  • A complete set of course notes with copies of all slides used in the presentations

TSTI Alumni status allowing on-line access to course materials, including tools and videos through the Alumni Lounge

 

Testimonials

"Every engineer could use this course and they should take it ASAP!" – Johnson Space Center Engineer

"Useful for just about anyone in the aerospace industry." – Kennedy Space Center Engineer

Course Topics
  • Human Spaceflight Design
    • The Design Process
    • Designing for Human Rating
  • Driving Requirements - Environments
    • Space environments
    • Driving Requirements - Humans
  • Physiology of crewed space flight
    • Human factors of crewed systems
    • Psychology of crewed systems
  • Driving Requirements - Orbits & Trajectories
    • Understanding Orbits and Maneuvers
    • Ascent Trajectories
    • Entry, Descent & Landing (EDL)
  • System Architectures - The Space Element
    • Design and Trade-offs
  • System Architectures - System Design and Human Subsystems
    • ECLLS and Thermal
    • Crew Accommodation
    • EVA systems
  • System Architectures - Ground Elements
    • Operations Systems
    • Human Spaceflight Operations
    • Logistics
  • System Architectures - Bus Subsystems*
    • Power
    • ADCS/GNC
    • Propulsion
    • CDH, Communications
    • Structures & Mechanisms
    • Robotics
  • System Architectures - Surface Elements*
    • Surface base design and integration
    • Surface vehicles
    • ISRU
  • Threaded Case Study and Hands-on Exercises