UAS in the NAS Technology Working Group Out-Brief Suborbital Science Technical Roadmap

2 Outline What We Did Summary of Conclusions Our proposal How it benefits SMD

3 What We Did Reviewed all 52 mission descriptions in the Civil UAV Capabilities Assessment, Appendix C and identified common characteristics. Common characteristics were grouped in to categories that shared similar airspace access requirements. A time line depicting ease of access was created based on projections of the current regulatory and technical environment. Specific technical areas that would enable the largest set of mission characteristics were then identified.

4 Most Common Missions Goal statement: Achieve access required to obtain full mission capabilities Suborbital Science Program Technology Roadmap – UAS in the NAS – Most Common Missions Transition time from RED (very difficult) to YELLOW (Challenges which may lead to sub-optimal missions) to GREEN (full mission capability) Formation FlightsTransition Transition Loiter Missions International Airspace Night MissionsTransition US Operations below FL180Transition Transition Flight over Rural Populations

5 Technical Areas Detect Sense & Avoid Command Control Communication Airworthiness Mission Planning Interplane Collaboration Formation Flights XXXXX International Airspace XXXX US Operations Below FL180 XXXX Night Missions XX Loiter Missions XXX Rural Overflight X

6 Key Assumptions DOD funds the UAS Airspace Integration Joint Integrated Product Team Industry supports RTCA Special Committee (SC) 203 FAA resources to fund technology development will not be forthcoming FAA resources will focus on supporting COA applications for national priority missions (not science)

7 Our Proposal Conduct a gap analysis of existing UAS NAS access plans in order to propose a multi-agency program to accelerate routine access by NASA UAS to perform Earth Science missions.

8 Resources Needed Core team –Chuck Johnson DFRC –Mark Sumich ARC –Jeff Bauer DFRC –Jeff Schroeder ARC –Contractors as required $30K for travel (no CS labor costs), $30K for contractors

9 Gap Analysis (Jan-April 08) Evaluate current trajectory of existing access plans –FAA, DoD JIPT, RTCA SC-203 –ARMD ASP for UAS integration into NGATS Identify areas of opportunity for accelerated access –Technology for DSA and C3 –Mission planning tools –Data collection and hazard/risk analysis Estimate accelerated timelines for access following plan implementation

10 Partnership Potential DHS –Urgent need for UAS access for anti-terrorism surveillance missions Access requirements very similar to NASA’s –Low in-house expertise for creating UAS access solutions NASA brings the knowledge, technical expertise and relationships –High levels of funding ARMD –Leverage existing ARMD work in support of JPDO This work addresses almost identical issues for transport class aircraft in the future air transportation system

11 Program Advocacy (May-Nov 08) Present a proposal to DHS for a joint program to accelerate access to the NAS NASA contributions –Center, SMD and ARMD personnel –UAS platforms DHS contributions –Bulk of the required program funding Obtain a commitment from DHS to pursue a joint program or not

12 The Joint NASA/DHS Program Elements Detailed planning effort –Better estimates of cost, schedule and resource requirements (6-12 months) Development of FAA-approved requirements for accelerated access Development of solutions –Technologies, procedures, etc. Data collection to validate solutions to FAA

13 Benefit to SMD A joint program leverages NASA expertise and DHS funding Creates a common set of solutions to satisfy agency-wide UAS mission requirements ARMD Airspace System Program involvement ensures an approach that will be compatible with the emerging NGATS Takes advantage of NASA’s capability to self- certify UAS airworthiness –No need to wait for FAA-approved civil/commercial solutions