Advanced Concepts Group (ACG) Overview

October 2012 | Atlanta, GA

Brad St. Germain, Ph.D.
Director, Advanced Concepts Group
[email protected] | 1+770.379.8010

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Presentation Contents
Introduction to SpaceWorks
Advanced Concepts Group (ACG) Introduction
Practice Areas
Concept Definition
Architecture Design
Engineering Disciplinary Analysis
Technology Prioritization
Probabilistic Analysis
Tool Development
Disciplinary Areas
Trajectory
Propulsion
Aerodynamics
Aeroheating / Thermal Protection
Solid Modeling / Packaging
Weight Estimation
Relevant Experience

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Introduction to SpaceWorks

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SpaceWorks Enterprises, Inc. (SEI)

Washington, DC
Field Office

Atlanta, GA
Headquarters

Huntsville, AL
Field Office

 Aerospace engineering services and space systems analysis firm founded in 2000
• A responsive and nimble multidisciplinary engineering team focused on independent concept analysis and design,
technology assessment, and life cycle analysis at fidelity levels suitable for concept initiation through PDR
• Over a decade of experience supporting advanced design and long range planning activities for customers in private
industry, NASA, DoD, DARPA, and entrepreneurial space organizations
 Three primary operating divisions: Engineering, Commercial, and Software.
 Two partner companies: Generation Orbit Launch Services, Inc. and Terminal Velocity Aerospace, LLC.

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Engineering Focus Areas

Robotic Spacecraft and Small

Space Launch Systems Human Space Exploration Satellites

Hypersonic Emerging Commercial Space Revolutionary

Atmospheric Flight Markets Aerospace Technologies

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Key Customers and Partners

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Advanced Concepts Group Introduction

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ACG Overview
 The Advanced Concepts Group (ACG) provides conceptual and preliminary analysis and independent
technical assessment of advanced space systems.
• The ACG specializes in delivering high value end-to-end analysis packages to our customers engaged in
preliminary aerospace vehicle concept development, design space exploration, analysis of technical alternatives,
independent concept review, or marketing of new technologies or initiatives.
• Past experience includes conceptual and preliminary level modeling of a broad range of future space
transportation and aerospace infrastructure concepts.
• Technical assessments may include analysis of concept weights, ascent and entry trajectories, propulsion,
Computer-Aided Design (CAD) drawings, aerodynamics, thermal protection requirements, abort assessments,
and subsystem definition and sizing.
• The ACG performs both traditional deterministic and probabilistic analyses to explicitly evaluate system risk
through uncertainty in key design variables.

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Practice & Disciplinary Areas
Practice Areas
 Concept Definition – Concept definition and optimization within multi-disciplinary modeling environment supported by
detailed discipline-specific engineering assessments
 Architecture Design – Systems integration, optimization, CONOPS definition, and trade studies supporting end-to-end
mission analysis and metrics definition
 Engineering Disciplinary Analysis – In-depth engineering design and analysis at specific discipline or component level
 Technology Prioritization – Providing decision-makers with an understanding of the impacts of technology
developments on future designs
 Probabilistic Analysis – Mitigating future impacts of design uncertainty through stochastic simulation methods
 Tool Development –Together with SpaceWorks’ Software Division, the ACG develops analysis software specialized to
the needs of our clients

Disciplinary Areas
 Trajectory – POST I / II, OTIS, Copernicus, Bullseye (internal), QuickShot (internal), FlightSight (internal)
 Propulsion – ROCETS CEA, REDTOP-Lite (internal), REDTOP-Pro (internal), RCS-Sizer (internal), Scramjet
Propulsion Inlet Designer (SPIDer) (internal)
 Aerodynamics – APAS S/HABP, Cart3D, Overflow, MissileDATCOM, CBAero
 Aeroheating / Thermal Protection – SHABP, MINIVER, DPLR, Sentry (internal)
 Solid Modeling / Packaging – Solid Edge, Vehicle Sketch PAD (VSP), Maya
 Weight Estimation – AFWAT, INTROS, LVA, Bender (internal)

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Practice Areas

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Concept Definition
Concept Definition Capabilities
 Concept definition and optimization within multi-
disciplinary modeling environment supported by
detailed discipline-specific engineering assessments
 Studies are conducted in a collaborative design
environment, with interrelated disciplines interacting in
a fully coupled manner. Results include converged
and optimized system designs including detailed
performance assessments and subsystem sizing

Stainless steel
pressure-stabilized
tanks
Common bulkhead
tanks
Integrated Vehicle
Fluids

Equipment shelf
LH2
tank

LOX tank (with LH2 pass-

through)
Avionics

Aft thrust structure

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Architecture Design
Architecture Design Capabilities
 Systems integration, optimization, CONOPS definition,
and trade studies supporting end-to-end mission
analysis
 Architecture studies to near-term human exploration
targets including Earth-Moon and Earth-Sun
Lagrangian points, the Moon, NEAs, and Mars
 Includes sizing and design of multiple mission
elements as well as optimization of entire system

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Engineering Disciplinary Analysis
Engineering Disciplinary Analysis Capabilities
 In-depth engineering design and analysis at specific
discipline or component level
 Fidelity level of the analysis ranges from initial
conceptual design through detailed preliminary design
 Analysis and deliverables customizable to meet study
/ customer requirements

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Technology Prioritization
Technology Prioritization Capabilities
 Providing decision-makers with an understanding of the
impacts of technology developments on future designs
 Impact analysis of technologies on individual component /
concept figures of merit
 Impact analysis of technologies holistically over an entire
architecture or campaign
 Combination of deterministic analysis and probabilistic
analysis to give a complete picture of the impacts of
technologies
 Expert elicitation methods for qualitative alternative
assessment and decision making support

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Probabilistic Analysis
Probabilistic Analysis Capabilities
 Mitigating future impacts of design uncertainty through
stochastic simulation methods
 Determine how uncertainty in simulation inputs and
analysis techniques effect resultant output metrics
 Experienced with probabilistic design and analysis
techniques and creating custom software and
frameworks tailored to support stochastic analysis

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Tool Development
Tool Development Capabilities
 Creation of fully-featured engineering applications
including user interface design, installation packages,
documentation, and support
 Development of custom analysis tools for specialized
modeling and simulation
 Development of add-ons or modules that interface
with or integrate into NASA models (such as
EXAMINE, NAFCOM, etc.)

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Disciplinary Areas

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Trajectory
Trajectory Capabilities
 Ascent trajectories including single and multistage
vehicles using rocket and/or airbreathing propulsion,
either 3DOF point mass or trimmed simulations
 High speed atmospheric flight including point-to-point
missions, skipping trajectories, and hypersonic test
article simulations
 Planetary entry trajectories including aerobraking and
powered descents
 Launch opportunities and ΔV requirements for deep
space missions to NEAs, Mars, and other solar
system bodies
 Cis-lunar trajectory options and ΔV requirements
including the Earth-Moon Lagrangian points and
escape trajectories to other solar system bodies

Tools, Processes, and Databases

Industry Standard POST I / II, OTIS, Copernicus

Internally Developed Bullseye, QuickShot, FlightSight,

Earth-Moon Sim, Landing Sim

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Propulsion
Propulsion Capabilities
 Liquid rocket engine performance analysis including
full power balance calculations and determination of
thrust, Isp, weight, geometry, reliability, and cost
 High speed airbreathing propulsion system analysis
including scramjets, ramjets, turbine engine, and
combined cycle propulsion
 Reaction control / attitude control system design
 Advanced propulsion systems including nuclear
thermal rockets, electric propulsion systems, etc.

Tools, Processes, and Databases

Industry Standard CEA
ROCETS

Internally Developed REDTOP-Lite

REDTOP-Pro
RCS-Sizer
SPIDer (Scramjet inlet designer)
Custom NTR propulsion model
Custom electric propulsion model

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Aerodynamics
Aerodynamics Capabilities
 Aerodynamic configuration design and outer mold line
shaping for ground and air-launched launch vehicles,
and hypersonic air-breathing systems
 Engineering-level analysis for rapid sizing and
optimization of aerosurfaces based on stability and
control requirements, as well as aerodatabase
development for trajectory optimization
 Euler and Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS)
Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) methods for
complex geometries in internal and external flows
Tools, Processes, and Databases
Industry Standard APAS
S/HABP
Cart3D
Overflow
MissileDATCOM
CBAero

Internally Developed Aerosurface Sizer

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Aeroheating / Thermal Protection
Aeroheating / Thermal Protection Capabilities
 Engineering-level and CFD methods for aerothermal
environment analysis for shaping and optimization of
reentry and suppressed trajectories
 Thermal protection system material selection,
distribution, sizing, and optimization for reentry and
hypersonic vehicles
 1D, unsteady heat transfer with convection,
conduction, and radiation with adiabatic backface
 Recession analysis for ablative materials

Tools, Processes, and Databases

Industry Standard S/HABP
CBAero
MINIVER
DPLR

Internally Developed Sentry

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Solid Modeling / Packaging
Power & Wiring

Solid Modeling / Packaging Capabilities RCS

Pressurant
Tank (2)
Carrythrough

 Fully textured 3D models of space launch

RCS Fuel Tank (2)
vehicles, aircraft, propulsive stages, in-space
habitats, landers, rovers, and surface structures
 Complete CAD models including detailed internal RCS
Oxidizer
subsystem and structural elements Tank (2)

Avionics
Forward Wheel Pallet (2)
Well

Air Data Network Element

Digital Data
Tools, Processes, and Databases
Computer Fifth Unit (NEFU)
Acquisition Unit
(DDAU)
Industry Standard Solid Edge
Autodesk Maya
Vehicle Sketch PAD
Google Sketch-Up
Pixologic Sculptris
Mass
Memory Unit Flight
(MMU) Termination
Battery
Flight Termination
E-SIGI
CRD
Integrated
GPS/INS Unit

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Weight Estimation
Weight Estimation Capabilities
 Detailed weight breakdown statements are
generated from a variety of resources, including
top-down historical data regression as well as
bottoms-up component level sizing
 Structural analysis capabilities can be used to
increase the estimate fidelity for major structural
components

Tools, Processes, and Databases

Industry Standard AFWAT
AC Sizer
Historical Databases
NASTRAN

Internally Developed StageSizer

Bender
HabSizer
TrussSizer
WATES
Internal MERs and References

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Relevant Experience

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Reusable Booster System
 SpaceWorks supported the Reusable Booster System (RBS) program as a member of the AFRL team from
2009 through the completion of the Pathfinder Task Order 1 project
 Over this time period SpaceWorks conducted a wide range for activities including but not limited to:
• Concept design of several sub-X (RBX) demonstration booster systems
• Detailed rocketback trajectory simulations trade studies
• Fully operational vision vehicle system designs
• Pathfinder program systems engineering support including life cycle cost estimates, risk management, requirements
definition, program document generation, and support of key meetings and design reviews
• Member of several Pathfinder IPT’s including aeromechanics / configuration and propulsion

Customer: AFRL
Duration: 4 years
Date: 2009-2012

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Gryphon System Requirements Study
 SpaceWorks was awarded a contract to develop reusable, air-dropped hypersonic air-breathing vehicles
capable of sustained Mach 6+ cruise, maneuvering, and conclude with a runway landing. Three vehicles were
designed for this mission: an inward turning scramjet and a planar scramjet that were externally boosted to
cruise speed, and a planar scramjet with integrated rockets for boosting to scramjet takeover
 To design the inward turning inlet, SpaceWorks developed the Scramjet Propulsion Inlet Designer (SPIDer) for
parametric shaping of streamline-traced inward turning inlets based on freestream and combustor design
conditions.

Customer: AFRL
Duration: 9 months
Date: 2011-2012

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Joint Systems Study (JSS)
 SpaceWorks was tasked with the Level 1 (synthesis & sizing) and Level 2 (preliminary design) closure of the
reference architecture (all-rocket, two-stage-to-orbit) as part of the NASA/Air Force Joint Systems Study.
 Additionally, SpaceWorks conducted cross checks and Level 2 subsystem design and life cycle assessment
work for the rocket-based combined cycle (RBCC) and turbine-based combined cycle (TBCC) systems.
 Analysis tasks included:
• Design and closure of multiple vehicle designs, serving in both an initial design role and in an independent review mode
• Conducted detailed design of various vehicle subsystems and disciplinary analysis and incorporated knowledge from
higher fidelity simulations into the overall vehicle sizing and closure process

Customer: NASA and USAF

Duration: 3.5 years
Date: 2009-2012

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CPS Architecture Study
 SpaceWorks developed an architecture using common all-chemical cryogenic propulsion stages to achieve
future human exploration missions to Earth-Moon Lagrange points, the Moon, NEAs, and Mars
 Key enabling assumptions for the stages included:
• The use of high propellant mass fraction design approaches (i.e. low stage structural mass stages)
• The availability of high performance in-space chemical rocket engines utilizing LOX/LH2 propellants and evolved from
the RL-10 expander cycle engine
• The ability to passively manage propellant boil-off for long duration missions through innovative design approaches

Customer: United Launch Alliance

Duration: 6 months
Date: 2011

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Horizontal Launch Study (HLS)
 SpaceWorks was part of the government team for the NASA/DARPA Horizontal Launch Study. The goal of the
study was to analyze near, mid, and far term concepts for air-launch of small, medium, and heavy payloads to
orbit. The study culminated in Level-1 design of three mid-term vision vehicle concepts and two near-term
demonstration vehicle concepts.
 The five concepts developed were designed to separate from the back of a 747, requiring a wing-tail-strongback
structure integrated with the rocket stages.

Customer: DARPA and NASA

Duration: 10 months
Date: 2010-2011

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Quantitative Technology Assessment for TSTO Launch Vehicles
 SpaceWorks in partnership with the National Institute of Aerospace (NIA) conducted a technology impact
assessment study of the NASA Langley TSTO TBCC RALV
 The goal of this activity was to assess and prioritize a set of 20 to 30 enhancing technologies based on their
impact on the RALV system through key Figures of Merit (FOMs)
 The impacts of each technology on the RALV design was assessed probabilistically using a fast acting RALV
closure module (ROSETTA model) developed by SpaceWorks

Customer: NASA LaRC

Duration: 10 months
Date: 2009- 2010

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Advanced Propulsion System Concept Studies
 SpaceWorks conducted separate vehicle design studies evaluating the potential impact of two advanced
propulsion system concepts under consideration by NASA Langley Research Center:
• The first concept was an expendable multistage rocket vehicle which utilized an advanced Air-Augmented Rocket (AAR)
engine. The effect of various rocket thrust augmentation ratios were identified the resulting vehicle design where
compared against a traditional expendable rocket concept
• The second concept leverage Low Energy Nuclear Reactions (LENR), a new form of energy generation being studied at
NASA LaRC, to determine how to utilize an LENR-based propulsion system for space access. For this activity, two
LENR-based rocket engine propulsion performance models where developed jointly by SpaceWorks and LaRC
personnel.
200% 3.00
200% 3.00
175% 2.75
175% 2.75

150% 2.50
150% 2.50

Augmentation Ratio
Augmentation Ratio
Augmentation %
Ref. Dynamic Pressure

Augmentation %
125% 125% 2.252.25
50% Augmentation
100% 2.00 100% Augmentation
100% 2.00
150% Augmentation
75% 1.75
75% 1.75 Historical AAR Test Data

50% 1.50

50% 1.50
25% 1.25

0% 25% 1.001.25
0 200 400 600 800 1,000 1,200
0% Dynamic Pressure (psf) 1.00
0 200 400 600 800 1,000 1,200
Dynamic Pressure (psf)

Customer: NASA LaRC

Duration: 6 months
Date: 2009-2010

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Advanced Technology Modeling and Tool Development
 SpaceWorks developed 4 modules for NASA LaRC’s EXAMINE modeling environment, (1) a nuclear thermal
rocket model, (2) an electric propulsion model, (3) a model of the VASIMR propulsion concept, and (4) an
updated in-space and surface power generation and storage model
 These models were built in Microsoft Excel and designed to be directly incorporated into EXAMINE using pre-
defined templates and layouts

Customer: NASA LaRC

Duration: 4 months
Date: 2009

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A Thrust-Oriented Combined Cycle Engine for Space Access
 Under an Air Force SBIR award, SpaceWorks conducted preliminary research and conceptual level sizing of a
new combined cycle space access engine concept: the SCAAT-Engine (Supersonic Core Air Augmented
Thrusting)
 Key design features of the SCAAT-Engine and operating characteristics that distinguish it from related or
historical combined-cycle engine concepts include the following:
• No distinct operating modes and therefore no complex mode transitions from subsonic flight to hypersonic
speeds
• Structurally efficient axisymmetric design with high thrust-to-weight ratio that can be wing-mounted
• Capable of generating high thrust and high efficiency at low dynamic pressure (q of 1000 psf or less) to
reduce aerodynamic drag, structural loads, aerodynamic heating, and thermal protection requirements.

Customer: AFRL Phase I SBIR

Duration: 9 months
Date: 2009

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Ares V Probabilistic Analysis and Sensitivities Study
 SpaceWorks supported the Ares project office by probabilistically assessing the payload capability of various
candidate Ares V designs and conducting deterministic vehicle sensitivity studies
• Using PHX’s ModelCenter design environment, SpaceWorks built a fast acting Ares V sizing and closure model which
incorporated the same tool set used internally by NASA
• The sizing and closure model was coupled with Ares V input design variable uncertainty distributions and a direct Monte
Carlo driver to perform the required probabilistic assessments
• Input distributions were developed by SpaceWorks and derived from interviews with relevant Ares V project personnel,
project documentation, and augmented with historical data where needed
• Results of this study fed directly into NASA “Level-2” exploration architecture stochastic assessments

Customer: NASA MSFC

Duration: 2 years
Date: 2008 - 2009

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SuperHero – Collaborative Engineering Environment
 “SuperHero” is the name for a collaborative, automated engineering environment for the analysis of systems
and weapons that can be used to support a variety of missions from space-access/entry to global reach/strike
 System interface and integration environment utilizes Phoenix Integration’s PHX ModelCenter and Analysis
Server products
 Provides easy setup and analysis in areas of propulsion, aerodynamics, aeroheating, trajectory simulation, and
thermal protection system design using a variety of industry standard tools, SpaceWorks COTS tools, and
Hero-specific modules
 Capable of multi-fidelity analysis across a range of disciplines

Customer: Internal Development + AFRL (initial dev)

Duration: 2 years
Date: 2007-Present

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Precursor Mission to Near Earth Asteroid Apophis
 SpaceWorks teamed with SpaceDev to design the Foresight spacecraft as a concept design for a radio tagging
mission to Near Earth Asteroid (NEA) Apophis. It was the winning submission for the 2007 Planetary Society
Apophis Mission Design Competition.
 Foresight was purpose-designed to meet mission requirements with minimal instruments and complexity. It
uses heritage components, instruments, and flight proven technologies throughout to improve simplicity of
design and manufacturing, reduce risk, increase reliability
 It offered a flexible mission schedule with multiple launch windows between 2012 and 2014 and options for
extended mission phase after the one-year tracking period

Customer: Planetary Society Design Competition

Duration: 3 months
Date: 2007

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Technology Assessment of Lunar Architecture
 SpaceWorks performed a study to quantify the impacts of ongoing technology development activities on NASA’s
baseline lunar exploration architecture
 Sensitivities of various measurable figures of merit (FOM) due to the application of new technologies were
analyzed. The architecture model was exercised both deterministically and probabilistically to generate top-level
FOMs for architecture masses, mission costs, and top-level reliabilities
 SpaceWorks selected 18 technology projects upon which to conduct preliminary technology sensitivity
assessments, and developed 3 technology portfolios using combinations of these technologies
1A. Lightweight Struc.

P2. Electronics Focus

6A. Rad. Hard. Elec.

6L. Low Temp. Elec.

3G+H. Cryo Storage
3A. LOX/CH4 Prop.

P3. Methane / Cryo

3B. LOX/LH2 Prop.

7C. Air & H2O Sys.

4E. Li-ion Batteries
3K. RCS Thrusters

5B. Heat Rejection

5A. Non-toxic TCS

7D. Fire Detection

2A. Ablative TPS

4J. TVC Power

7A. Atm. Mngt.

P1. Non-toxics
6F. AR&D
6D. ISHM

200 lb

0 lb

-200 lb
CEV Mass Delta

-400 lb

-600 lb

Customer: NASA LaRC

-800 lb
Duration: 6 months
-1,000 lb
Date: 2007

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Lunar Lander Preparatory Study Support
 SpaceWorks supported the NASA Langley Lunar Lander Preparatory Study and Lunar Architecture Teams
during Constellation by performing multi-stage lunar lander sizing and performance analysis
 Supporting trajectory analysis included descent, terminal landing, ascent, landing site re-designation, and
braking stage impact point analysis
 SpaceWorks also developed an independent lander concept named Dragonfly as an innovative high
performance lander using an unpressurized ascent stage and space suits with suit locks for the crew

Customer: NASA LaRC

Duration: 12 months
Date: 2005-2006

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 SPACEWORKS ENTERPRISES, INC. (SEI) | www.sei.aero | [email protected]
ATLANTA: 1040 Crown Pointe Parkway, Suite 950 | Atlanta, GA 30338 USA | 1+770-379-8000
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