Attachment 1_TRL Overview.pdf

TRL DESCRIPTION AT A GLANCE

System/ Subsystem prototype demonstration in a relevant environment.

Basic Technology Research

Technology concept and/or application formulated

Analytical and experimental proof-of-concept of critical function and/or characteristics

Component and/or breadboard validation in a laboratory environment.

Component and/or brassboard validated in a relevant environment.

Research to Prove Feasibility

Basic principles observed & reported

Technology Development

Technology Demonstration

System / Subsystem Development

System Test Launch and Operations

System prototype demonstration in an operational environment.

Actual system completed and

"flight qualified" through test and demonstration in intended operational environment.

Actual system flight proven through successful mission operations.

Component Low Fidelity

Component Med Fidelity

System High Fidelity

System Ops High Fidelity

SysTest Demo Final Config

Flight Ops Final Config

Flight Qual Flt Operational Environment

Operational Environment

* gravity dependence?

Relevant Environment Laboratory

Environment

What mission is it being scaled to?

Scalability All critical scaling issues are addressed.

Unit that functions in the actual operational environment and platform.

Operational fluid/propellant.

Demonstration of basic functionality.

Unit with realistic elements, demonstrated overall performance in critical areas.

System that demonstrates performance under critical Environmental conditions

Final config. is successfully demonstrated for its intended operational environ. and platform.

*Life Test Complete

The final product is successfully operated in an actual mission.

* If unit/system is gravity dependent, it can not reach higher TRL until testing in low-g environment.

TRL1 TRL2 TRL3

TRL4 TRL5

TRL6 TRL7

TRL8 TRL9

Flight Tech Demo

Flight Operational

Mission

Life Limiting Requirements

Characterize, by means of test, the physics of the life-limiting mechanisms and failure modes or develop and validate an analytical model / simulation that predicts life limiting mechanisms and failure modes.

Identify life-limiting mechanisms and failure modes.

Verify by test or analysis that the technology is resilient to the effects of life-limiting mechanisms.

Complete life tests..

Peer-reviewed documentation of the research underlying the proposed concept

Documented concept & application that addresses feasibility and benefit

Documented analytical & experimental results validating predictions of key parameters

Resources:

• NPR 7123

• TRL Best Practices Guide

• Ref: NASA Systems Handbook

OVERVIEW OF TRL ASSESSMENTS – WHERE TO START

Mission

•Identification of mission (s)

•Current mission and future mission (s) – this helps with scalability assessment.

Interfaces

•Clear definition of what hardware is included in

TRL

assessment.

Delineate hardware that is not included.

Fidelity

•Low-Med-High Hardware and Analysis Fidelity

•Could be basic form-fit-function to detailed operations or spreadsheet calcs to detailed models

Life

•Identification of failure mechanisms and modes to performance of life testing.

Scalability

•Identification of scalability to larger/smaller missions

•Identify gaps for scalability

Environments

•Identification of environments associated with the mission.

Transportation, launch loads, in-space transit, landing loads and system operations.

•Identify if technology is gravity dependent – does it work different on ground than in mirco-g

Development History

•What is the history of the development.

What was done prior.

Performance

•Was the performance criteria met? If not, what changes need to be made for the future development activities?

TRL+1

What are the next TRL gaps? What is required thru testing, analysis or documentati on to meet the next TRL.