Interplanetary Space Logistics is an active area of research and practice aimed at enabling more effective space exploration and operations. Rather than conducting "one-mission-at-a-time" as has been done in the past, we study how campaigns of human and robotic space missions can be conducted in a more sustainable way. This includes understanding the impact of commonality and reconfigurability, as well as the role that new technologies and concepts may play in future exploration and space operations.

The field includes modeling, planning, simulation and optimization of the flow of vehicles (elements), crew, and supply items (cargo/payload) from the landing, manufacturing and refurbishment sites on Earth, through ground processing, launch, in-space operations, entry-descent-and-landing, as well as planetary surface operations. Both the flow of materials and information is studied and coordinated. Research extends into the use of new technologies (such as RFID) and sensor networks for automatic tracking of elements, crew and supply items.

Our specific contributions to interplanetary space logistics include:

• SpaceNet - a NASA-accredited integrated modeling and simulation software environment for modeling space exploration from a logistics perspective
• Quantifying the impact of modularity, reconfigurability and commonality on space missions; including the impact of temporary scavenging (cannibalization)
• Mission scenario development and modeling of space tugs
• Extracting lessons learned from past human spaceflight missions at NASA

Links

MIT Space Logistics Project Website
Interplanetary Supply Chain Management and Logistics Architectures
http://spacelogistics.mit.edu/

Publications

• Taylor C., Song M., Klabjan D., de Weck O.L., Simchi-Levi D., “A Mathematical Model for Interplanetary Logistics”, Logistics Spectrum, 41 (1), 23-33, 2007
• Gralla E. L., de Weck O. L, “Strategies for On-Orbit Assembly of Modular Spacecraft”, Journal of the British Interplanetary Society (JBIS) , 60 (6), 219-227, 2007
• Siddiqi A., de Weck O., “Spare Parts Requirements for Space Missions with Reconfigurability and Commonality”, Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, 44 (1), 147-155, January-February 2007
• de Weck O.L., Simchi-Levi D., Shishko R., Ahn J., Gralla E., Klabjan D., Mellein J., Shull A., Siddiqi A., Bairstow B, Lee G., “SpaceNet v1.3 User’s Guide”, NASA/TP-2007-214725, January 2007
• Evans W., de Weck O., Laufer D., Shull S., “Logistics Lessons Learned in NASA Space Flight”, NASA/TP-2006-214203, May 2006 PDF
• Galabova K. K., de Weck, O.L., “Economic case for the retirement of geosynchronous communication satellites via space tugs”, Acta Astronautica, 58 (9): 485-498, May 2006 PDF
• de Weck O.L., Evans W., Parrish J., James, S.R., NASA Space Exploration Logistics Workshop Proceedings, Washington D.C., January 17-18, 2006, NASA-CP-2006-214202, April 2006 PDF
• de Weck O.L., Simchi-Levi D., “Haughton-Mars Project Expedition 2005”, Final Report, NASA/TP-2006-214196, January 2006 PDF
• Galluzzi M., Zapata E., Steele M., de Weck O., “Foundations of Supply Chain Management for Space Applications”, AIAA-2006-7234, Space 2006, San Jose, California, Sept. 19-21, 2006 PDF
• Shull S., Gralla E., de Weck O., Siddiqi A., Shishko R., “The Future of Asset Management for Human Space Exploration”, AIAA-2006-7232, Space 2006, San Jose, California, Sept. 19-21, 2006 PDF
• Gralla E., Shull S., Lee G., Shishko R., and de Weck O.L., “A Modeling Framework for Interplanetary Supply Chains”, AIAA-2006-7229, Space 2006, San Jose, California, Sept. 19-21, 2006 PDF
• Taylor C., Song M., Klabjan D., de Weck O., and Simchi-Levi D., “Modeling Interplanetary Logistics: A Mathematical Model for Mission Planning”, AIAA-2006-5735, 9th International Conference on Space Operations, SpaceOps 2006, Rome, Italy, 19 - 23 June, 2006 PDF
• Gralla E., Shull E., Silver M., Ahn J., Siddiqi A., de Weck O., “Remote Terrestrial Sites as Operational/Logistics Analogs for Moon/Mars Bases: The Haughton Mars Project”, AIAA-2006-5659, 9th International Conference on Space Operations, SpaceOps 2006, Rome, Italy, 19 - 23 June, 2006 PDF
• Silver, M., Li X., de Weck O., Shull S., Gralla E., “Autonomous Logistics Technologies for Space Exploration: Experiment Results and Design Considerations”, AIAA-2006-5683, 9th International Conference on Space Operations, SpaceOps 2006, Rome, Italy, 19 - 23 June, 2006 PDF