Space Launch Initiative (SLI)

The Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) program under NASA's SLI was my first assignment as performance analyst for RLVs. Working as part of the Northrop Grumman / Orbital Sciences / Andrews Space team, I used the a number of tools to assess concept performance and optimize trajectories.

SLI was a NASA plan, also known as the Second Generation Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) Program, the goal of which was to develop a successor to the Space Shuttle that would lower the cost of delivering payloads to low Earth orbit to less than $1,000 per pound (0.45 kg). It would also reduce the risk of crew loss to approximately 1 in 10,000 missions.

SLI Concpets

The SLI budget was focused on the agency space transportation priorities: investing in an Orbital Space Plane (OSP) for assured access to the ISS and maintaining technology investments in space transportation launch technologies through the Next Generation Launch Technology (NGLT) Program in support of a future implementation decision. It was replaced with Project Constellation in 2004.

I must have been doing something right, since NASA presented me (among others on the team) with the "Turning Goals into Reality" Award for "outstanding contributions to the NGLT Systems Analysis Project Team and exceptional progress toward Mission Rsik Analysis". The project was definitely a great learning experience and my first opportunity to sharpen my launch vehicle performance analysis skills.