Michal Kurela

Abstract
When designing the new space launch bases their maximum launch capacity must be defined. The deterministic evaluation of the launch rate can be performed when the entry hypotheses are very simple. However, when increasing the number of constraints there are no deterministic methods to account for all complexity of launch rate scheduling. That is why we consider it as an NP (nondeterministic polynomial time) problem. The specific algorithm had been developed with an objective to… Voir plus

Abstract
When designing the new space launch bases their maximum launch capacity must be defined. The deterministic evaluation of the launch rate can be performed when the entry hypotheses are very simple. However, when increasing the number of constraints there are no deterministic methods to account for all complexity of launch rate scheduling. That is why we consider it as an NP (nondeterministic polynomial time) problem. The specific algorithm had been developed with an objective to place the maximum number of launch campaigns in a calendar year with numerous constraints, such as launch range, launch operators’ concepts of operations (CONOPS), as well as any kind of probability distribution function. Applying the constructed model and varying its parameters, the probability distribution functions of spaceport launch capacity had been obtained over thousands of simulations. The algorithm’s behavior had been characterized through test cases. The polyvalent simulation capacity of the algorithm provided the insight to the intrinsic problems and limitations of the spaceport with very high launch rates. In addition, it allowed simulating the potential solutions in terms of spaceport organization, contractual rules towards users and suggest the technical facilities to maximize the available launch capacity.
Keywords: launch base, spaceport, CONOPS, launch rate, constrained scheduling. Voir moins

ArianeWorks was born from the joint efforts of both ArianeGroup and CNES to create an innovation platform pushing forward rocket reusability in Europe. ArianeWorks is mainly working on a project named Themis: a reusable 1st stage launcher demonstrator fueled with liquid oxygen and methane, that shall explore a flight domain representative of a notional future rocket stage. After three years accelerating Themis, ArianeWorks completed its mission mid of 2022. However, Themis’ legacy sparked a new… Voir plus

ArianeWorks was born from the joint efforts of both ArianeGroup and CNES to create an innovation platform pushing forward rocket reusability in Europe. ArianeWorks is mainly working on a project named Themis: a reusable 1st stage launcher demonstrator fueled with liquid oxygen and methane, that shall explore a flight domain representative of a notional future rocket stage. After three years accelerating Themis, ArianeWorks completed its mission mid of 2022. However, Themis’ legacy sparked a new project envy for the engineers who worked on this demonstrator. They evaluated the concept of a two-stage launcher using Themis as its reusable first stage.

The launch pad and every system needed to support launch operation must be reusable as well. Among those systems are the launch table and the ground/board interfaces for both the first and second stage. These include umbilicals and their connectors, which need to perform “last minute disconnection” at lift off before withstanding the thermal and acoustic environment created by the launcher’s engine. The umbilicals are cables and/or hoses that supply required consumables to the launcher. An umbilical can supply for example cryogenic liquids, fluids, data or electrical power.

One of the main criteria to design the mechanical protection system that ArianeWorks prioritized was the non-use of any commands after ignition, favoring passive systems to limit design complexity and turn-around operations in between launches. Also, a criteria for the second stage is that all connections should be done at ground level. As the umbilical connection is a complex operation, the umbilical connections done at ground level are more reliable than those done on an aerial work platform. This reliability can avoid some cases of aborted launches.

This paper will address early concept work performed on these subsystems for a hypothetical application
on a two-stage rocket. Voir moins

A lot of development projects of space launch operators for small payloads have been undertaken in the world in the last decade. In the new competitive environment CNES has proposed its own concept of launch base for new European launch operators covering their expressed needs. It has been defined by comparison of the CONOPS of different launch operators, associated to the specific situation of French Guiana with respect to concurrent solutions. The article is describing the main hypothesis and… Voir plus

A lot of development projects of space launch operators for small payloads have been undertaken in the world in the last decade. In the new competitive environment CNES has proposed its own concept of launch base for new European launch operators covering their expressed needs. It has been defined by comparison of the CONOPS of different launch operators, associated to the specific situation of French Guiana with respect to concurrent solutions. The article is describing the main hypothesis and tradeoffs for the launch base that will be physically located on the historic “Diamant launch zone” in CSG (French Guiana Space Center). This Launch Complex, already under construction for Callisto demonstrator, will constitute the 10th Launch Complex constructed by CNES in CSG since 1960s. Voir moins

The propellant and whole launcher life cycle chain has now become as important as chemical composition for the selection of future launchers propulsion. Last years indicated a wide field of opportunities linked to the development and exploitation of hydrogen for industrial applications. Therefore, the alternative H2 propellant production technologies for future propulsion has also been assessed by CNES. The studied configuration relies on electrolyze technology powered by green energy taking… Voir plus

The propellant and whole launcher life cycle chain has now become as important as chemical composition for the selection of future launchers propulsion. Last years indicated a wide field of opportunities linked to the development and exploitation of hydrogen for industrial applications. Therefore, the alternative H2 propellant production technologies for future propulsion has also been assessed by CNES. The studied configuration relies on electrolyze technology powered by green energy taking into account French Guiana resources including projection on their evolution for coming years. The similar study has been performed on biomethane production, due to low energy consumption thanks to natural organic decomposition. Other factors, such as reusability, mixture ratio and propellant loading varying between different launch systems concepts could play the role in the choice of the most optimal launch system.

The resulting trade-off of optimal launch system takes into account: the full life cycle of propellants together with its launcher, the performance impact, production and investment costs. It also includes strategies to optimize each production and exploitation step, to limit the propellant loss, process costs and emissions impacting environment as well as the elements of scaling up to an industrial launcher need equivalent to the heavy launchers on the market (“Ariane Next” industrialization needs). Compared solutions include the launcher using H2 produced from fossil resources, bio methane launcher, fossil methane and the “green H2” launcher.

The presented life cycle assessment (LCA) does not limit itself to the CO2 equivalent evaluation but discusses other factors, such as water consumption, public health and impact on biodiversity, which tend to be less discussed in the state of art, while they might have an important impact on the final choice of the preferred launch system concept. Voir moins

The examples and tests cases described in the article demonstrate the interesting possibilities to use the wireless IoT measurements locally on different isolated sites or even mobile ones as a complement to the wired measurements already deployed on the most critical sites. The possibilities of coupled analysis with machine learning and Natural Language Processing are exposed with respect to previous experiences in CNES and with industrial partners in the framework of SESAME H2020 project. The… Voir plus

The examples and tests cases described in the article demonstrate the interesting possibilities to use the wireless IoT measurements locally on different isolated sites or even mobile ones as a complement to the wired measurements already deployed on the most critical sites. The possibilities of coupled analysis with machine learning and Natural Language Processing are exposed with respect to previous experiences in CNES and with industrial partners in the framework of SESAME H2020 project. The applications of Adaptive Operations Module (AOM) and Model Predictive Control (MPC) are presented.

DOI: 10.13009/EUCASS2022-4703 Voir moins

The article presents the trade-off for the production of the space grade methane required for space and non-space users in French Guiana and especially the mid-term project of Themis reusable stage demonstrator. The users specifications and required process elements are described, alternative technologies presented and traded with respect to environmental, cost, operations and technical complexity aspects allowing to define the preliminary strategy to be adopted by CNES in aim to create the… Voir plus

The article presents the trade-off for the production of the space grade methane required for space and non-space users in French Guiana and especially the mid-term project of Themis reusable stage demonstrator. The users specifications and required process elements are described, alternative technologies presented and traded with respect to environmental, cost, operations and technical complexity aspects allowing to define the preliminary strategy to be adopted by CNES in aim to create the whole methane based circular economy branch in French Guiana.

DOI: 10.13009/EUCASS2022-4565 Voir moins

Résumé - L’évaluation des conséquences des faits techniques (FT) permet au CNES d’assurer la conformité des lanceurs spatiaux vis-à-vis de la Loi sur les Operations Spatiales (LOS). Dans ce but la Classification Automatique de la gravité des risques des FT a été appliqué, testé et optimisé.
Abstract – CNES evaluate the consequences of the technical events to assure the conformity of space launchers with French Space Operations Act (FSOA). The Automatic Classification of risk severity… Voir plus

Résumé - L’évaluation des conséquences des faits techniques (FT) permet au CNES d’assurer la conformité des lanceurs spatiaux vis-à-vis de la Loi sur les Operations Spatiales (LOS). Dans ce but la Classification Automatique de la gravité des risques des FT a été appliqué, testé et optimisé.
Abstract – CNES evaluate the consequences of the technical events to assure the conformity of space launchers with French Space Operations Act (FSOA). The Automatic Classification of risk severity associated to those events has been applied, tested and optimized.
Mots clés — LOS, TAL, apprentissage supervisé, classification, gravité

Article récompensé par le prix Lambda Mu d'Or - prix de public le 19/01/2021 Voir moins

Résumé — La comparaison des filières de production d’ergol, associée à la situation particulière de la Guyane et son industrie spatiale, a permis de définir les spécifications et un concept préliminaire de production des ergols pour les lanceurs futurs utilisant l’oxygène et le méthane.
Abstract — The comparison of the propellant production chains, associated with the specific situation of French Guyana and its space industry, allowed to define the specifications and a preliminary concept… Voir plus

Résumé — La comparaison des filières de production d’ergol, associée à la situation particulière de la Guyane et son industrie spatiale, a permis de définir les spécifications et un concept préliminaire de production des ergols pour les lanceurs futurs utilisant l’oxygène et le méthane.
Abstract — The comparison of the propellant production chains, associated with the specific situation of French Guyana and its space industry, allowed to define the specifications and a preliminary concept of propellant production for future launchers using oxygen and methane.
Mots clés — Bio méthane, écoconception, hydrogène, développement durable Voir moins

NEMS (Nanoelectromechanical systems) and MEMS (Microelectromechanical systems) have already demonstrated their capabilities in the medical domain for in body inspections, operations and treatment of diseases. Selected NEMS and MEMS state-of-art technologies could be used for inspections at Guiana Space Center without dismounting and sending to Europe for industrial check. A few examples of micro and nano equipment’s such as μrobot (μtools), μ or nano camera, for detection and data collection… Voir plus

NEMS (Nanoelectromechanical systems) and MEMS (Microelectromechanical systems) have already demonstrated their capabilities in the medical domain for in body inspections, operations and treatment of diseases. Selected NEMS and MEMS state-of-art technologies could be used for inspections at Guiana Space Center without dismounting and sending to Europe for industrial check. A few examples of micro and nano equipment’s such as μrobot (μtools), μ or nano camera, for detection and data collection are underlined in the article and a preparation tests campaign is prepared according to precise specifications coming from RLV equipment. This feasibility study is the first attempt to use these technologies in order to cope with the MRO RLV and start to contribute at a maintenance characterization economic model.

Paper no.517 presented in the RSSA 03 - Materials, Structures & Maintenance session
DOI: 10.13009/EUCASS2019-517 Voir moins

The paper presents the safety logic analysis in the remote operation handling with regard to analysed specific and critical cases of the vehicle landing and its safely recovery. A few cases are analysed in details taking into account the results of tests campaign in ATEX environment of the LOX and LH2 storage and productions areas realized with an ATEX drone at European Spaceport in French Guiana in 2018. These results have notably demonstrated the feasibility of detection of gas leaks, thermal… Voir plus

The paper presents the safety logic analysis in the remote operation handling with regard to analysed specific and critical cases of the vehicle landing and its safely recovery. A few cases are analysed in details taking into account the results of tests campaign in ATEX environment of the LOX and LH2 storage and productions areas realized with an ATEX drone at European Spaceport in French Guiana in 2018. These results have notably demonstrated the feasibility of detection of gas leaks, thermal isolation defects and hot points before authorizing the approach of any human operator to the launch vehicle. The state of art infrared and optical sensors is presented in order to anticipate and foresee inspections operations for the vehicle landing.

paper no.518 presented in RSSA 13 - Technologies for RLV session.

DOI: 10.13009/EUCASS2019-518 Voir moins

L’objectif de l’article est l’évaluation des approches méthodologiques de recherche des « signaux faibles » de défaillances latentes qui laisseraient des traces dans les retours d’expérience (REX) qualitatifs de Sûreté de Fonctionnement. La multiplication des sources de REX a eu pour effet une augmentation croissante de la taille et de l’hétérogénéité des bases de données de REX. Pour en faire face, un traitement efficace de ces REX s’avère nécessaire pour répondre plus rapidement à des besoins… Voir plus

L’objectif de l’article est l’évaluation des approches méthodologiques de recherche des « signaux faibles » de défaillances latentes qui laisseraient des traces dans les retours d’expérience (REX) qualitatifs de Sûreté de Fonctionnement. La multiplication des sources de REX a eu pour effet une augmentation croissante de la taille et de l’hétérogénéité des bases de données de REX. Pour en faire face, un traitement efficace de ces REX s’avère nécessaire pour répondre plus rapidement à des besoins spécifiques du développement des lanceurs spatiaux. Les expériences menées avec plusieurs méthodes ont permis de démontrer leur utilité et pertinence pour ce type de traitement par rapport au traitement manuel.

The objective of the article is the evaluation of methodological approaches used to search "weak signals" of latent failures that would leave traces in RAMS qualitative lessons learned (REX). The multiplication of REX resources has resulted in a growing rise of REX database size and heterogeneity. In order to deal with this new situation, an efficient REX processing is required to respond more quickly to specific needs related to space launchers development. Experience conducted with several methods has shown their utility and relevance for this type of treatment with respect to completely manual analysis. Voir moins

L’objectif recherché est d’évaluer la méthode TRIZ en tant qu’approche méthodologique de résolution des problèmes de conception pour l’industrie spatiale et d’en proposer une utilisation simple, rapide pour les cas rencontrés couramment dans le développement des systèmes de lancement spatiaux.
L’évolution de l’environnement concurrentiel mondial et des besoins des « clients satellites » a fait évoluer les objectifs recherchés par les concepteurs des lanceurs désormais focalisés sur la… Voir plus

L’objectif recherché est d’évaluer la méthode TRIZ en tant qu’approche méthodologique de résolution des problèmes de conception pour l’industrie spatiale et d’en proposer une utilisation simple, rapide pour les cas rencontrés couramment dans le développement des systèmes de lancement spatiaux.
L’évolution de l’environnement concurrentiel mondial et des besoins des « clients satellites » a fait évoluer les objectifs recherchés par les concepteurs des lanceurs désormais focalisés sur la réduction de coût de lancement. L’applicabilité et les limites des lois d’évolution technique du TRIZ sont évaluées sur le cas des lanceurs spatiaux et en particulier les moyens de propulsion. Un retour d’expérience sur l’application au CNES des outils de TRIZ est fait et un outil simple de type « feuille de route » de l’innovation est proposé. Voir moins

Developed by the common research program of CNES and SAFRAN-SNECMA, this paper presents a new methodology for reliability growth model during development tests plan in which the reliability is estimated on the rocket engine by integrating the operating conditions. The proposed method evaluates the reliability of mechanical systems under variable constraints which contain the information of failure modes observed on the materials, the condition of repairs… Voir plus

Developed by the common research program of CNES and SAFRAN-SNECMA, this paper presents a new methodology for reliability growth model during development tests plan in which the reliability is estimated on the rocket engine by integrating the operating conditions. The proposed method evaluates the reliability of mechanical systems under variable constraints which contain the information of failure modes observed on the materials, the condition of repairs, the operating data linked to each development test. Voir moins

L'objectif de cet article est de présenter une extension et généralisation des méthodes contrainte-résistance pour tenir compte des distributions incertaines – dues en particulier à la taille réduite des échantillons de calibrage de la résistance - permettant, par une démarche probabiliste, d'intégrer mathématiquement cette incertitude au calcul, et dans l'outil logiciel associé.

La pertinence du facteur de sécurité en fonction des dispersions des distributions est analysée ce qui… Voir plus

L'objectif de cet article est de présenter une extension et généralisation des méthodes contrainte-résistance pour tenir compte des distributions incertaines – dues en particulier à la taille réduite des échantillons de calibrage de la résistance - permettant, par une démarche probabiliste, d'intégrer mathématiquement cette incertitude au calcul, et dans l'outil logiciel associé.

La pertinence du facteur de sécurité en fonction des dispersions des distributions est analysée ce qui permet d’évaluer les marges intrinsèques. La méthode proposée permet de quantifier au cas par cas la fiabilité dans le cas de marges non conformes, ainsi que de vérifier la robustesse des résultats vis-à-vis des hypothèses de troncature des distributions Voir moins

Ce papier, dans le cadre du programme commun de recherche et technologie du CNES et de SNECMA, porte sur une méthodologie d’estimation de la fiabilité observée à partir de le retour d’expérience (REX) lors des essais de développement des propulseurs (moteurs-fusées). La méthode consiste une proposition du modèle de croissance de fiabilité qui doit prendre en compte le vieillissement des équipements modélisé par la loi de durée de vie (Weibull) suivant des essais de développement… Voir plus

Ce papier, dans le cadre du programme commun de recherche et technologie du CNES et de SNECMA, porte sur une méthodologie d’estimation de la fiabilité observée à partir de le retour d’expérience (REX) lors des essais de développement des propulseurs (moteurs-fusées). La méthode consiste une proposition du modèle de croissance de fiabilité qui doit prendre en compte le vieillissement des équipements modélisé par la loi de durée de vie (Weibull) suivant des essais de développement et des risques concurrents suivant les différents incidents des équipements des moteurs-fusées. La performance d’estimation de croissance de fiabilité du modèle proposé est étudié par le calcul de fiabilité des moteurs-fusées par rapport à une mission de vol et par la comparaison au modèle usuel de croissance de fiabilité (AMSAA). Le modèle a été ensuite appliqué à des données réelles d’essais de développement de moteur-fusées. Voir moins

This research aims to find out the patterns existing in the computer role-playing games (CRPGs) design and to find out if the system evolution laws of TRIZ (Theory of Inventive Problem Solving) are applicable to them. Only part of the technical evolution laws was explored and only on the selected subsystems of CRPGs, because the complete analysis would constitute a much longer paper. The research was essentially qualitative. In conclusion it allows to state that TRIZ evolution laws are matching… Voir plus

This research aims to find out the patterns existing in the computer role-playing games (CRPGs) design and to find out if the system evolution laws of TRIZ (Theory of Inventive Problem Solving) are applicable to them. Only part of the technical evolution laws was explored and only on the selected subsystems of CRPGs, because the complete analysis would constitute a much longer paper. The research was essentially qualitative. In conclusion it allows to state that TRIZ evolution laws are matching to many instances of CRPG subsystems evolution paths what allows to propose directions for the future development of CRPGs. Voir moins