RISK MANAGEMENT OF FUTURE REUSABLE LAUNCHER MISSION USING ACTIVE HEALTH MONITORING SYSTEMS (HMS)

摘要

Reusable launch vehicles intended for future space transportation systems require more complex design and much technology performance levels in comparison with actual expendable launchers. The need for advanced Health Monitoring Systems (HMS) can be derived from the definition of reusability and the wish to maintain the same mission risk or even reduce it.rnAfter a brief reminder on mission risk management aspects and then possible ways to reduce the risks inherent to any system operation, the future Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) health management is pointed out as a key activity in the development of new technologies. Based on that, future RLV HMS cost/risk objectives are clearly explained. Then the paper describes how advanced integrated HMS impact the future RLV operations and its mission scenario. Knowing those systems are actually developed to first enhance maintenance operations (and to reduce the vehicle/platform cost turn-around, - commercial aspect), they will also be used in flight to monitor in real-time the safety state of the platform and then modify the mission scenario if imposed to maintain an acceptable level of risk (safety).rnFinally, after a review of the RLV HMS requirements, some sensing technologies used to detect undesirable effects (component damage, aging,...) are introduced and highlighted with an example.