Use Cases

Uses of Interplanetary Supply Chain Modeling

 

Early Analysis

Early in the Constellation program, a complete analysis of interplanetary supply chain management issues/problems is needed to ensure that all supportability requirements can be met and the supportability strategy

(concept of operations) can be implemented. The following types of issues and analyses are aided by SpaceNet:

• Network-level transportation feasibility and optimization
• Program-level requirements on individual elements like CEV (e.g., commonality, interoperability, reliability, maintainability, stowage)
• Distribution of inventories and optimal levels of safety stocks (reserves)
• Trade studies of infrastructure subsystem technologies (e.g., What is the impact of the LSAM ECLSS design on the interplanetary supply chain?)
• Network robustness and reliability studies (“what-if” analysis)
• Cost-benefit analysis of ISRU investments
• Strategic commercial relationships (i.e., What aspects of the interplanetary supply chain make commercial sense from both the NASA and private sector points of view?)

SpaceNet 1.3 was used to support the following IDAC 2 (Integrated Design and Analysis Cycle) studies for NASA's Constellation Program:

ATA-00-003: 1 or 2 CaLV-only-launch Architectures vs. 1.5-launch Architecture Trades
The purpose of this trade study was to assess launch architecture trades between a single (1) or dual (2) CaLV launch versus the baselined (1.5) CEV/CaLV launch EOR-LOR architecture in terms of exploration capability and logistics for Lunar Surface missions.  Other issues that were considered qualitatively include risk to crew and schedule, impact of LEO loiter time variations and launch scrub probabilities, delta recurring and non-recurring costs of development and operations.

ATA-00-004: Integrated ISS Resupply Scenarios
This assessment was performed to assess ISS resupply strategies beyond 2010 utilizing the CEV, ATV, HTV, Soyuz and Progress vehicles.  This analysis supports the effort to determine "optimal" (minimum cost/minimum number of flights) resupply scenarios. 

ATA-00-005: Impact of Element Propellant Types on Lunar Payload Delivery
The purpose of this trade study was to quantitatively assess the payload-to-surface and lunar exploration capability impact of various propellant combinations for the following in-space vehicles: CEV-SM, LSAM-AS, and LSAM-DS and to qualitatively discuss the logistics impact of these choices.

Real-Time Operations Support

During program execution, in-space inventory management, asset tracking, initial provisioning and resupply analysis, manifesting support are additional capabilities.

• Information networks are key to cost-effective supply chain execution
• NASA Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Program  
  Integrated Life-Cycle Asset Mapping, Management, and Tracking:
  Rule-Based Analytic Asset Management for Space Exploration Systems (RAMSES) 
  http://sbir.nasa.gov/SBIR/abstracts/05/sttr/phase1/STTR-05-1-T9.02-9918.html?solicitationId=STTR_05_P1