Shuttle/ISS

The Columbia accident has caused the International Space Station program to deal with space logistics issues in a way they never anticipated. The lack of Shuttle re-supply has resulted in a “thin” supply chain to the Station. The lessons learned from dealing with thin logistics will contribute to interplanetary supply chain management, and in particular, to Constellation logistics.

Links

The following documents and links provide some current insight into the need for improved space logistics.

NASA’s Implementation Plan for International Space Station Continuing Flight, Vol 2, January 30, 2004
http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/56217main_stationCFT1.pdf

 

Report of the President’s Commission on Implementation of United States Space Exploration Policy, 2004
http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/60736main_M2M_report_small.pdf

 

MichaelD. Griffin, “NASA and the Business of Space”, American Astronautical Society 52nd Annual Conference, 15 November 2005
http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/138033main_griffin_aas1.pdf

 

Exploration Systems Architecture Study (ESAS) Final Report – November 2005, Chapter 12, Cost
http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/140643main_ESAS_12.pdf

 

Multi-Purpose Logistics Module NASA website
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/structure/elements/mplm.html