Engineering topics

Fielder, D.

Publications and source records attributed to Fielder, D..

2 records

NASA NTRS1985

Report of the Artificial Gravity Panel

Tethers can be embodied into NASA's future space station development both as an experimental facility and as a technology for systems enhancement. Early action should be taken to ensure that the basic tether system be baselined into the initial space station architecture and that further concept studies be arranged to embody this basic capability. Space station tethered satellite operations would be continuous, subject to need and occasional association with local spacecraft operations in the proximity of the space station. The use of the tether principles would be further explored for attitude control and/or attitude stabilization damping, and proximity operations. For new tether uses, action should be taken to look at the tether for holding storage uses, proximity operations, and for extension of the capabilities of attached payloads systems. These applications should emphasize dynamic off-vertical tethers, rapid deployment, active-steered tethers, tether-boom combinations, and other concepts.

Butler, G.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Considerations for policy on man-made debris propagation control

The present rates of man-made, space object propagation are such that there is a real probability of self propagation which, if uncontrolled can lead to a serious limitation to future uses of spacecraft for beneficial purposes. Effective control over the debris issue requires adoption and adherence to policy at a world wide level (any one nation's unknowing, selfish or deliberately adverse action can conceivably jeopardize other useful applications of space satellites for years into the future). The near-term environment may not seriously jeopardize the near-term missions. However, absence of control and/or nonadherence to a control policy in the near-term can result in a debris environment that can severely limit long - term mission opportunities. The data upon which these observations are based continues to be investigated. These investigations tend to validate the preceding observations and emphasize the need for near-term action to establish responsible control policy and implementation actions.

Fielder, D.↗