Technology as a driver for improved space products

Technology development is frequently undertaken by research groups which are independent of program organizations, and then the difficult task is faced some time during the program development of selecting the technology level which will meet the program's needs. This paper examines that process and suggests an approach which helps to establish the 'right' technology level and conditions under which the technology will actually be introduced into the program. The paper recommends that a technology insertion milestone be formally established to select the technologies or technology levels which will be incorporated during hardware development. The Technology Insertion Milestone should be a program event, and it should occur shortly before the design and development phase. Working with the program office, technology options can be presented and their payoff estimated for the program. Coupled with that appraisal should be a definition of the activity necessary to bring the technology options to the point where the program management would commit to its usage with confidence. Examples are given of two NASA programs, Pluto Fast Fly-By and TIMED, where the Technology Insertion Milestone process has been established and is underway.