Engineering topics

Buchan, Robert W.

Publications and source records attributed to Buchan, Robert W..

3 records

NASA NTRS1990

Requirements and concept for an on-orbit construction facility for phase 1 Space Station Freedom

A construction facility attached to NASA's Space Station Freedom (SSF) will be required for the accommodation of assembly activities for large payloads, as well as demonstration of the on-orbit construction of future spacecraft. This facility's capabilities must be sufficiently flexible to address the wide variety of future spacecraft needs without compromising the SSF's phase 1 configuration. The proposed construction facility concept will incorporate a storage module, a construction turntable, equipment-attachment platforms, a surrogate payload bay structure, and a portable workstation. Attention is given to this configuration's resulting mass properties and control characteristics.

Buchan, Robert W.↗

NASA NTRS1990

An evolutionary construction facility for Space Station Freedom

Viewgraphs and discussion on an evolutionary construction facility for Space Station Freedom are presented. Space Station Freedom (SSF) will support permanent human presence in space and has the potential to enable scientific and exploratory endeavors unequalled in history. With larger and more ambitious spacecraft being developed, it will serve as a site for construction, checkout, and deployment. A facility attached to SSF is required to develop and demonstrate the techniques that will enable on-orbit construction of future large spacecraft. Examples of attached scientific experiments that currently envision in-space construction and that are discussed are: Solar X-ray Pinhole Occulter Facility, Astromag, and X-ray Large Array. Examples of large assemblable spacecraft which are discussed are: Large Deployable Reflector (LDR), Geostationary Platforms, and interplanetary vehicles.

Gates, Richard M.↗

NASA NTRS1988

On-orbit technology experiment facility definition

A study was conducted to identify on-orbit integrated facility needs to support in-space technology experiments on the Space Station and associated free flyers. In particular, the first task was to examine the proposed technology development missions (TDMX's) from the model mission set and other proposed experimental facilities, both individually and by theme, to determine how and if the experiments might be combined, what equipment might be shared, what equipment might be used as generic equipment for continued experimentation, and what experiments will conflict with the conduct of other experiments or Space Station operations. Then using these results, to determine on-orbit facility needs to optimize the implementation of technology payloads. Finally, to develop one or more scenarios, design concepts, and outfitting requirements for implementation of onboard technology experiments.

Russell, Richard A.↗