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1 Workgroup Software Tools applied to the Space Shuttle Orbiter Configuration Change Impact Assessment Study Process
Author(s) -
McCallister Timothy P.,
Weeks Donald P.,
Hines James E.,
Ouellette Fred A.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
incose international symposium
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2334-5837
DOI - 10.1002/j.2334-5837.1999.tb00285.x
Subject(s) - space shuttle , orbiter , engineering , aeronautics , workgroup , systems engineering , computer science , aerospace engineering , computer network
The Space Shuttle program is transitioning from the development phase to the operational phase. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is restructuring the management of the Space Shuttle Program by turning over the day‐to‐day operations to a prime contractor, United Space Alliance (USA), a joint venture partnership between Boeing and Lockheed Martin (LM). Most Space Shuttle related contracts have been consolidated into one Shuttle Program. This consolidation move is intended to save millions of dollars in costs by eliminating duplicate resources, streamlining operations, and reducing nonessential program requirements. NASA, USA, Boeing and LM are working closely together to provide the American public a Space Shuttle Program that continues to be technically viable, safe, and now more cost effective. Central to organizational consolidation and expected efficiency gains is ensuring people from all organizational elements of the program think and work together as integrated teams. Shuttle ground processing and flight operations have been consolidated under the USA banner. The Orbiter hardware/software design center remains at Boeing. NASA retains configuration control of the Shuttle system. This new arrangement, while providing efficiencies, can present challenges. Diverse requirements and incentives must be considered in identifying and implementing technically viable, safe, and cost effective changes while maintaining the design baseline configuration of the Orbiter. A concurrent engineering team process involving NASA, USA and Boeing is used to resolve design configuration issues when they arise. This paper deals specifically with the application of Lotus Notes workgroup software technology and the Internet to provide an on‐line collaborative environment used during configuration change studies. This environment facilitates the use of a systematic concurrent engineering process by study teams as they assess proposed Orbiter modifications.