The quantitative safety and reliability approach for NASA'S second generation reusable launch vehicles

The United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is in the midst of a 10-year Second Generation Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) program to improve its space transportation capabilities for both cargo and crewed rnissions. The objectives of the program are to: significantly increase safety and reliability, reduce the cost of accessing low-earth orbit, attempt to leverage commercial launch capabilities, and provide a growth path for manned space exploration. The safety and reliability of the next generation vehicles are major concerns, and NASA aims to achieve orders of magnitude improvement in their safety and reliability compared to today's Space Shuttle system. Achieving these ambitious goals requires a rigorous process that addresses reliability and safety through all the phases of the life cycle of the program. This paper discusses the process being implemented to support achieving the Second Generation program goals/requirements during the conceptual architecture definition phases. Special focus is given to an innovative new tool being used to identify promising technologies that will improve the safety of advanced launch vehicle systems, as well, as assessing the relative merits of proposed architectures. Additionally, discussion focuses on NASA's systems engineering process as it relates to reliability, maintainability, and supportability (RMS).