NASA’s flight mechanics team modeled commercial providers’ trajectories and onboard software for deorbit, entry, descent and landing. In its 2023 technical update, NASA said its independent analysis found no significant changes in splashdown conditions when additional crew returned on commercial capsules in contingency scenarios. That provides another return option if the primary vehicle is disabled, according to the agency. [S1]
The NASA Engineering and Safety Center also assessed manual control using a simulated pilot based on actual pilot responses. NASA said the study made manual control a viable survival scenario if a flight computer fails during deorbit, entry, descent or landing. These assessments contributed to independent verification and validation of providers’ designs for commercial flights to and from the space station. [S1]
The work also depends on passing engineering knowledge along. NASA said its academy recordings cover subjects including trajectory optimization and electric aircraft sizing, and are available to train engineers in tools and processes for future independent modeling and simulation. [S1]
Source documents
- Reducing Risks Through Independent M&Shttps://www.nasa.gov/centers-and-facilities/nesc/reducing-risks-through-independent-mamps/