Industrial Engineering at America’s Spaceport Technology Center

This paper provides an overview of the Spaceport Technology Center initiative at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center (KSC). The Spaceport Technology Center initiative encompasses a variety of research and development efforts designed to provide safe, cost-effective access to space and to enable extended space exploration. Spaceport technologies are recognized as critically important to achieving the aerospace industry’s vision of ultra-safe, reliable, and efficient operations analogous to today’s airports. Industrial engineering is one of the primary technology thrust areas in this initiative. Examples of exciting new industrial engineering technologies developed for current and future spaceports are discussed. The paper includes an explanation of industrial engineering research and development opportunities available through a variety of NASA programs and partnerships.