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| A Discrete-Event Simulation Model for Spaceport Operations (SPACESIM) |
March 2005 - As Published in the NASA Kennedy Space Center Research
and Technology 2004 Annual Report
The
NASA vision for the spaceport of the future entails transitioning over
time from very high-cost, research-oriented space launches with a
relatively low frequency of launches to an environment where spaceports
are commercialized for the space transportation industry and required
to support multiple launches per day in a safe, cost-effective manner.
The spaceport of the future may resemble, from an operational
perspective, our current airports and seaports and will need to resolve
many similar issues to today's transportation hubs. These issues
include (1) safe and secure spaceport operations, (2) efficient
movement of machinery and people through the spaceport, and (3)
cost-efficient, affordable, and timely spaceport operations.
Discrete-event simulation is in use to analyze detailed processes at
modern-day seaports and airports. Like these more domestic ports,
spaceport operations are labor-intensive and require extensive use of
personnel and machinery. The efficiency of port operations is improved
through proper utilization of port assets. Research for efficient
spaceport operations using discrete event simulation can use seaport
operations as a foundation toward similar efficiencies. The
object-oriented discrete-event simulation system in development will
address spaceport operations in the context of aerospace safety,
mobility, and efficiency. The simulation system is built upon the Java
programming language to provide for maximum portability and utilizes
XML for standards-based data interchange. Development of the simulation
model provides the underlying basis for follow-on activities such as
2-D and 3-D animation and other visualization capabilities. The overall
goal of the spaceport simulation model is to maximize throughput,
operational safety, and resource utilization, while minimizing the
overall cost of operations.
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Benefits of this development effort include:
º The ability to play "what-if" scenarios in a simulated environment prior to making large capital investments.
º Improved visibility of potential operational problem areas within spaceports.
º Reusable hierarchies of space transportation and ground support objects for modeling integration efforts.
º Significant reduction in operational cost.
The products provided by this project are:
º A Java-based discrete-event simulation engine.
º The SPACESIM Object-Oriented Hierarchy defining spaceport objects.
º The SPACESIM Process Maps defining spaceport processing functions.
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A user interface that will guide the user through the inputs required
to run scenarios pertinent to the launch vehicles, spaceports, and
schedule options desired (see figures).
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