NASA's Commercial Crew Program is a multi-phased effort that began in 2010. Across the phases, NASA has engaged several companies, using both agreements and contract vehicles to develop and demonstrate crew transportation capabilities. As the program has passed through these phases, NASA has generally narrowed down the number of participants. NASA's mission is to drive advances in science, technology, aeronautics, and space exploration, and contribute to education, innovation, our country's economic vitality, and the stewardship of the Earth. To accomplish this mission, NASA establishes programs and projects that rely on complex instruments and spacecraft. NASA's portfolio of major projects ranges from space satellites equipped with advanced sensors to study the Earth to a telescope intended to explore the universe to spacecraft to transport humans and cargo to and beyond low-Earth orbit.

The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a satellite-based navigation system that was originally designed for the U.S. military. However, the number of civilian GPS users now exceeds the military users, and many commercial markets have emerged. This book identifies technical improvements that would enhance military, civilian, and commercial use of the GPS. Several technical improvements are recommended that could be made to enhance the overall system performance.

The Launch and On-Orbit Operations of Boeing's GPS Satellites documents the design of the Boeing GPS Block I satellites and the author's work as Boeing's GPS Space and Ground Segment Manager when he developed and used predictive algorithms to identify premature aging in normal appearing engineering measurement telemetry from electrical and electro-mechanical equipment on Boeing/U.S. Air Force GPS satellites winning Boeing $4.5B in future GPS satellite contracts that was contractually documented in GPS monthly and quarterly orbital test reports as CDRLs. The author includes the results of the use of PHM analysis on the NASA/Orbital/Berkeley Extreme Ultra-Violet Explorer Low earth orbiting space science satellite, a sister ship to the NASA/Lockheed Hubble Space Telescope. Now called prognostics and health management or PHM, predictive algorithms in PHM were developed by the author and used on the Boeing/U.S. Air Force's GPS Block I space-based navigation satellites to nullify the lack of GPS satellite telemetry from each of the on-orbit GPS satellites. PHM was first used by the author in 1979 to predict on-board GPS satellite atomic frequency standard failures for replacement prior to system wide, multi-service testing on the initial GPS constellation of 12 Block I MEO satellites that were operating in a 12,000 mile altitude, inclined 63 degrees, in a circular Earth orbit for achieving the maximum navigation payload system performance that would justify funding the GPS program by the Department of Defense over two existing fully funded U.S. Navy satellite-based navigation systems. The 12 Boeing Block 1 GPS satellite constellation was used to win program funding by the author from the Department of Defense resulting in two follow-on contracts for a total of $4.5B for 28 additional Block II GPS satellites and 12 Block IIA and 12 Block IIF satellites with improvements over the Block I satellites based on the results from the author's routine prognostic analysis he completed to keep GPS satellite equipment and navigation payload performance and reliability as high as possible. With the Air Force's GPS program funded by the Department of Defense in 1981, the two existing, Navy satellite-based navigation and timing programs called TIMATION and TRANSIT were retired and the ownership of the Air Force's GPS program was turned over to the U.S. government for funding and operations after GPS was provided for public use for free by President Ronald Reagan in 1986 following the intentional shoot down of a commercial Korean airlines passenger jet over the Soviet Union by a Soviet Union fighter pilot. an Addendum has been added to illustrate the author's use of Fourier analysis to create virtual telemetry behavior for GPS satellite subsystem equipment telemetry that was not available due to the restrictions placed on each Boeing GPS satellite telemetry availability by senior Air Force officers at AFSMC (SAMSO) in Los Angeles CA. and Lockheed Missiles and Space Company management and AFSCF contracted satellite operations personnel in Sunnyvale CA., who wanted the GPS test and evaluation program to fail.

The highly successful Hubble Space Telescope was meant to change our view and understanding of the universe. Within weeks of its launch in 1990, however, the space community was shocked to find out that the primary mirror of the telescope was flawed. It was only the skills of scientists and engineers on the ground and the daring talents of astronauts sent to service the telescope in December 1993 that saved the mission. For over two decades NASA had developed the capabilities to service a payload in orbit. This involved numerous studies and the creation of a ground-based infrastructure to support the challenging missions. Unique tools and EVA hardware supported the skills developed in crew training that then enabled astronauts to complete a demanding series of spacewalks. Drawing upon first hand interviews with those closely involved in the project over thirty years ago this story explains the development of the servicing mission concept and the hurdles that had to be overcome to not only launch the telescope but also to mount the first servicing mission – a mission that restored the telescope to full working order three years after its launch, saved the reputation of NASA, and truly opened a new age in understanding of our place in space. This is not just a tale of space age technology, astronauts and astronomy. It is also a story of an audacious scientific vision, and the human ingenuity and determination to overcome all obstacles to make it possible. Hubble Space Telescope: From Concept to Success is a story of an international partnership, dedicated teamwork and a perfect blend of human and robotic space operations that will inspire people of all ages. The subsequent servicing missions that enabled the telescope to continue its scientific program beyond its 25th year in orbit are described in a companion volume Enhancing Hubble’s Vision: Servicing a National Treasure.