OPTIMIZATION OF ISS RESUPPLY THROUGH PAYLOAD/CARGO CARRIER ALLOCATION BROKERING

摘要

Effective resupply of the International Space Station will depend on using the right combination of pressurized and unpressurized carriers to best meet a specific user's research or commercial objectives. These carriers are available in all sizes and capabilities, provided by international space agencies as well as industry, and can fly on the Space Shuttle or expendable launchers. Establishing a system that allows these carrier capabilities to be equitably valued as critical Space Station commodities will allow different users to mix, match, buy, sell, and trade their current national and international carrier allocations to minimize their time and cost to orbit. This paper describes the preliminary results of an ongoing study by the Boeing Company to evaluate the feasibility of applying such a system to the International Space Station Program. Emphasis is placed on determining a methodology that may involve something like a carrier "common currency" that could be used by government space agencies to best meet an immediate orbital need without compromising their long term investment in their own national carrier fleet. Ultimate evolution of this approach could result in space station transport commodity exchange that uses many of the same market mechanisms proven over the last 100 years of terrestrial Board of Trades.