Abstract:
GSFC and the Operationally Responsive Space Office
GSFC and the Department of Defense Operationally Responsive Space (ORS) Office have entered into a multi-year collaborative agreement focused on a redefinition of the way space missions are designed and implemented. A much faster, leaner and effective approach to space flight requires the concerted effort of a multi-government team tasked with developing the building blocks, both programmatically and technologically, to ultimately achieve flights within 7-days from mission call-up. For the DOD, such missions are clearly driven by warfighter needs. For NASA, rapid mission implementations represent an opportunity to find creative ways for reducing mission life-cycle times, and creating opportunity in a class of missions catering to a broader audience of science participants, from Universities to National Laboratory researchers. No doubt, economy has always and will always play a crucial role in moderating the expectations achievable through science application. The NASA/ORS partnership goes a long way in ensuring economic factors do not stifle needed research, and is expected to revitalize US industry to expand its participation in ways currently reserved to few.
Biography:
Mr. Esper
Mr. Esper has over 25 years of combined leadership experience in advanced missions and system concepts, spacecraft systems and technologies, instrumentation, and spacecraft operations. He is currently the GSFC Operationally Responsive Space Technical Program Manager. Most recently he was the SMEX Mission Systems Engineer for Formulation, the NASA Chief Engineer for the TacSat-2 Minotaur 1 launch from the Wallops Flight Facility, and the Deputy Chief Engineer for the Robotic Lunar Lander Project at MSFC. Over the past six years he has been the Principal Investigator and Research Project Manager for modular and reconfigurable systems technology at NASA GSFC, with emphasis on interface standards for electrical and mechanical systems. Past fellow of the GSFC Technology Management Office’s Distinguished Technology Fellows Program detailed to the Air Force Research Laboratory (Kirtland AFB), and GSFC Liaison to the DOD Space Test Program. Mr. Esper has worked on numerous Space and Earth Science and Technology flight projects in capacities ranging from Spacecraft Controller (International Ultraviolet Explorer) to Mission Systems Engineer (Space Technology 5). He has participated in numerous Concept Formulation activities, including the Glory Project now in implementation phase, worked in the Hubble Space Telescope Project for seven years, including in capacity as Flight System Lead for the Fine Guidance Sensor replacement in Servicing Mission 2. He is a Program Committee member organizing symposia/conferences for the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA), and the International Astronautical Federation (IAF). Mr. Esper has received numerous awards, including the NASA Medal for Exceptional Service for technology development and mission formulation. Mr. Esper holds a BS degree in Physics, and MS degree in Astronomy from the University of Florida, and an MS degree in Aerospace Engineering from The George Washington University.