Horizontal launch has been investigated for 60 years by over 130 different studies. During this time only one concept, Pegasus, has ever been in operation. The attractiveness of horizontal launch is the capability to provide a "mobile launch pad" that can use existing aircraft runways, cruise above weather, loiter for mission instructions, and provide precise placement for orbital intercept, rendezvous, or reconnaissance.A jointly sponsored study by DARPA and NASA, completed in 2011, explored the trade space of horizontal launch system concepts which included an exhaustive literature review of the past 70 years. The Horizontal Launch Study identified potential near-and mid-term concepts capable of delivering 15,000 lb payloads to a 28.5° due East inclination, 100 nautical-mile low-Earth orbit. Results are presented for a range of near-term system concepts selected for their availability and relatively low design, development, test, and evaluation (DDT&E) costs. This study identified a viable low-cost development path forward to make a robust and resilient horizontal launch capability a reality. Nomenclature
Counterfeit components have become a multi-million dollar, yet undesirable, part of the electronics industry. The profitability of the counterfeit industry rests in large part to its ability to recognize supply constraints and quickly respond, effectively taking advantage of a complex and vulnerable supply chain. Events like product obsolescence, long life cycles, economic downturn and recovery, local disruptions in manufacturing due to natural disasters, and lack of proper IP legislation all represent opportunities for the counterfeit component industry to flourish. Electronic counterfeits affect every segment of the market, including consumer goods, networking and communications, medical, automotive, aerospace, and defense. At the manufacturing level, the use of undetected counterfeits leads to increased scrap rates, early field failures, and increased rework rates. While this presents a major problem impacting profitability, the use of counterfeit components in high reliability applications can have far more serious consequences with severe or lethal outcomes. For some time the weak link in the supply chain has been identified at the level of independent distributors. With the emergence of new legislation and through the efforts of different industry entities, new standards and guidelines are now available for suppliers to establish and maintain product traceability and to establish receiving inspection and detection protocols. There is no substitute for a healthy supply chain, and distributors play an essential role in the dynamics of the system. At the same time, there is an increased awareness of the need for proper management of electronic waste. Regardless of the nature of the counterfeits, whether cloned, skimmed, or re-branded, counterfeits are dangerous and too expensive to be ignored.The work presented here by the iNEMI Counterfeit Components-Assessment project group takes a more comprehensive view of the problem by surveying the possible points of entry in the supply chain and assessing the impact of counterfeit components on the industry at various points of use. We then propose a risk assessment matrix that can be used to reduce the risks for manufacturers.
For the electronics and semiconductor industries, as well as for suppliers in the chemical industry where new, complex material development has a key role in advancing the next technology innovations, a proactive approach to addressing Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) issues is a critical necessity, given lengthy development times. There are many tools currently available to industry that can assist in the evaluation of alternative materials and lead to more informed and better decisions with respect to the materials used to make products. At this time, there is no uniform methodology within governments, NGOs, academia or industry for examining new or alternative materials for environmental, safety or human health impacts. As a result, chemical restrictions are inconsistent and can negatively impact the product roadmaps of electronics and semiconductor manufacturers, which often take years for development. Alternative materials assessment is a key factor in developing policies that are more holistic in nature and allow for better risk mitigation to be included in product choices at the source. A consistent method and framework of evaluation of existing methods will provide the opportunity for material selection that is safer, less hazardous and more sustainable than the more typical "banning" solution often specified in policy like RoHS today. The iNEMI (International Electronics ManufacturingInitiative) project on Alternative Materials Assessment examined key existing materials assessment strategies (frameworks, methodologies and tools), for the application and effectiveness in evaluating their environmental/toxicological properties for use. The team has taken a phased approach and conducted a focused benchmarking exercise, using several representative, industryrelevant chemical substances (Phthalates, NMP and TBBP-A), as a means of comparing a carefully selected list of assessment tools, which have potential for broad use in the near future. A gap analysis summary and comparison of key descriptors and key tool use criteria was evaluated for these representative substances, creating an important reference document that can serve to standardize and streamline the approach to alternative assessment. The intent of this study was to facilitate a more proactive, better informed decision making process, for more effective risk mitigation. A summary of the results of our evaluation and potential next steps were provided in the end-ofproject report, now published on the iNEMI website.
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