1. Exploration Innovation:
Thrust, Cooperation,
Challenges, and Opportunity Space
PM Challenge 2010
Douglas Craig/ Dr. John Olson
Exploration Systems
NASA HQ
www.nasa.gov
Used with Permission

2. Primary Thrust
Exploration is an Engine for Innovation for NASA & the Nation
Innovation in Programs,
Paradigms, People, Plans,
Processes,
Procurements, Products,
Public Outreach,
Participatory Exploration,
Protection & Payloads

3. Cosmic Challenges: Capability, Resources, Complexity
The further we
go…the more
Technology and
Innovation become
a critical enabler &
risk reducer

4. Global Exploration Themes: Inspiration for Innovation
Human Civilization Scientific Knowledge
Exploration Preparation Global Partnerships
Economic Expansion Public Engagement
4

5. Trade Space for Future Exploration Capabilities
Deep Space Asteroids and
Robotics Near-Earth Objects
Commercial
and Civil LEO Mars Surface,
Phobos, Deimos
ISS and Other LEO Destinations/Servicing
Lunar Orbit,
Lunar Surface (Global)
Expanding America’s Reach 5
National Aeronautics and Space Administration

6. Agency Opportunities That Drive Innovative
Technology, Process, and Culture Developments
Extended Human Mars Direct
Presence and
Assembling Large
Systems in Deep
Space
(i.e., Lagrange
Points) Human Missions
to Mars
Human Missions to Human Mission to
Near Earth Objects Mars Moon Phobos
Future (i.e., Apophis)
Path
Options
Human Missions to
Explore the Moon
The Mission Drives Innovation and Innovation Enables the Mission

7. Complex Challenges, Constrained Optimization &
Integrated Systems Engineering Opportunities
• Supporting the President’s Agenda and the “National Mission”
• Executing a Challenging & Complex Human Space Exploration Mission
• Operating within Constrained Resources (Budget, Personnel, Facilities)
• Demonstrating Best Value for Taxpayer Dollars in a Tough Budget Climate
• Achieving Robust Progress Early and Often in Inspiring Endeavors
• Engaging in International, Commercial & Intergovernmental partnerships
• Creating Lean New Processes that Optimize ROI, Safety, Interoperability
For Exploration, Necessity is the Mother of Innovation,
Invention, and Improvement in Every Area

8. Innovation Across All Areas in the “Exploration Universe”
Transportation System, Mission Support Infrastructure, Operations, Technologies

9. Innovation and Concept Validation:
Agility to Enable Dynamic Options – LER Pathfinder
• Broad Area Announcements
• Blue Sky Innovation Forums
• Game-Changing Technologies BAA Habitat Design by
University of Maryland
• “Partnerships for Progress”
Lunar Electric Rover and
• Space Act Agreements Suitport Concepts
Developed by Blue Sky
• Centennial Challenges Lithium-sulfur batteries
Concept Formulation System and Operational Concept Validation
Oct 2008, LER accomplished LER to performed a
Architecture Enabled by 3-day mission 14-day mission
LER Concept (supported Inaugural Parade) (Aug 28- Sept 18) 9

10. Insertion of Innovative Concepts in a Flexible
Architecture Development Process
Innovative System Concepts Development Sources
NASA Blue Sky Broad Area Game-Changing
Tech. Dev. Concepts Announcements Technologies
Lithium-sulfur
batteries
Lunar Architecture Point of Departure / Mars DRA
(System and Operational Concepts)
Architecture System & Conops Validation using Rapid Prototype Development/Analog Tests

11. Expanding NASA Partnerships to Enable Exploration
• International Partnerships (IPs)
– Global Exploration Strategy (GES): 14 Int’l Space Agencies
– Canada, Europe, and Japan = most progress; dialogue with
Russia, China and India still immature
– International Architecture Working Group established by
ISECG members to develop Global Point of Departure
Architecture (gPOD) in June 2010
– Strong IP interest/collaboration in analog field tests
• Commercial: Traditional & Non-, NewSpace
– Robust interest in surface systems: cargo/logistics, power,
comm/nav, robotics, habitation and surface mobility
(e.g. Google, Caterpillar, GM)
• Intergovernmental, Academia & Technology
– Leveraging other government programs and technologies
to minimize costs & maximize efficiency and innovation
(e.g. DoD, DOE, DARPA, NOAA, NSF)
• Science The Global
Exploration
Strategy
– Synergy, Human and Robotic, OSEWG, External Groups A Framework
for
(e,g. NLSI, LSI, LEAG, ILEWG) Coordination
May 2007

12. CONOPS Validation using Analog Field Tests:
Highly Integrated Innovation
Architecture Element Concept
(Rover, Habitat, Robotic Assistants, Power, etc.)
Partner Infusion
International, Commercial, Lunar Science Concepts
Other Government Agencies
(Site Survey’s, Geological Sampling/Curation, etc.)
Surface Operations Concepts
Analog Field
Tests Validate (Outpost Maintenance, Exploration, etc.)
Key
Integrated
Architecture Training
Requirements
and Concepts
(Crew, Science Ops, Exploration Ops, etc.)
Participatory Exploration
(Web 2.0, Virtual Reality, Simulations, etc.)
Analog field tests
emphasize collaboration Technology Development
between ESMD, SMD, & IPs
(Energy Storage, Robotics, Human Factors, etc.)
12 12

13. Tightly Coupled Integration: Completing the
“Circle of Innovation”
Exploration & Science Objectives
Surface
Mission
Architecture
Operations
Development
Leveraged
Communications Analog Technology
& Simulation Activities Requirements
Capabilities
Participatory Technology
Exploration Development
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14. Expanding on an Innovative Architecture Design Philosophy
• Primary tenets of architecture design philosophy applied at the
Systems, Operations, and Component Level:
• Reduce – Design systems and optimize operations to minimize resources
• Reuse – Use for the original purpose multiple times
• Re-purpose – Use for a different purpose without significant modification
• Recycle – Use for a different purpose with significant modification
• Commonality – Uniform, common systems & components
• Interoperability – Joint standards, open/evolutionary architectures
Architecture Game-Changing Technologies (Spin-in) & Architecture Required
Technologies with Large impact on Terrestrial Applications (Spin-off)
• In addition to resource conservation, some of the objectives of the
Human Space Exploration Architecture are the following:
• Provide technologies and systems that improve life on Earth
• Enhance sustainability, affordability, robustness, and reliability
• Minimize the impact to the both the Earth’s and space environment
Exploration Benefits our Economy, Energy, Environment, Healthcare & Education
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15. Game-Changing Technology: Stellar Opportunities &
Energy Example
Emerging technology area, if infused into exploration architecture, would
provide benefits that ripple beyond its adopted system area. These
technologies benefit architecture elements beyond their own, and foster
NASA's leadership in innovative technology use/application.
Transformational technologies -- System
level technologies that cause major changes in the
accepted way of doing things causing a fundamental
change in the way a technology solution is
approached
– Require a system change
– Example: Change power systems from energy storage to
power beaming
• Revolutionary technologies -- Component
level technologies with highly improved performance
or capability, which eventually replace currently
dominant technologies
– Require significant modifications at the component level
– Example: Change from batteries to fuel cells
Rapidly-evolving technologies -- Technologies
with rapid incremental improvements in performance
of established products
– The technology is the same but will have far superior
performance to current technologies
– Example: Solar cells with increased efficiency
15

16. Space Exploration Innovation & Evolution Solutions
Technology Development / Maturation
• Advanced Batteries & Energy Storage
• Advanced Flywheels
• Regenerative Fuel Cells
• Hydrogen Storage Enabling Human Missions
• Thermal Energy Storage
• Fission Power Systems
• Stirling Power Converters
• High Efficiency Photovoltaics
• Advanced Solar Power Generation
• Intelligent Power Management & Distribution
• Wireless Power Transmission
• Space Solar Power Systems
• Embedded Power Technologies
• Electric Vehicles for Surface Mobility
Terrestrial Applications
• Electric vehicles
• Green buildings
• Facility backup power systems
• Compact power sources for
consumer electronics
• Solar power generation
• Power generation from waste heat
• Smart power grid
• Small nuclear power systems
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17. Putting it All Together for Continual Refinement:
Innovation in the Development of the Exploration Architecture
Key Strategic Analysis Areas Integrated Exploration
Architecture
Science Partnerships
Surface Scenarios • Internationals
• Outpost operations • Commercial
• Other government Science Surface Partnerships
• Local site operations agencies
• Extend range
Scenarios
operations
Exploration
POD
Exploration POD Architecture
Architecture Innovations
DIO Technology and Concept
Review Panel Validation
DIO Technology
Innovations and
Review Panel
• Integrated Architecture
Concept Validation
needs/technology list • Innovations (BAAs, Blue Sky,
(ETDP and HRP) Concept Tiger Team)
• Customer agreements • Concept Validation (Lunar
• Technology white papers Surface Ops Sim, Analog
missions & field Tests)
Refinement of Exploration Point of Departure Architecture to
Increase Satisfaction of Space Exploration Policy Objectives
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18. Exploration Innovation Summary
• Innovation across all NASA exploration elements will enable a
more sustainable, yet aggressive future mission portfolio while
addressing broader national needs in health, energy and climate,
national security, STEM education
• Real exploration constraints, challenges, and opportunities are
driving vital innovation for sustainability, affordability, reliability,
recyclability/repurposing, commonality, and interoperability
• A bold space exploration future must realize and leverage key
innovation opportunities in the near term and going forward
• Innovation is a fundamental element in the development of the
Exploration Architecture and will continue to expand.
• ESMD is committed to “institutionalizing innovation” – a culture
to invite, capture, implement, recognize and reward employees
for innovative solutions – both the successes and smart failures.
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19. Questions?
www.nasa.gov/exploration