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Heckman, R. T.

Publications and source records attributed to Heckman, R. T..

MSFC Skylab extravehicular activity development report

The development activities are presented in a chronological order and cover the EVA hardware design from initial concept to final flight configuration. Major concepts which were considered, and the criteria for design are identified. The reasons for the acceptance or rejection of these concepts are discussed. The report concludes that developmental protocol of interleaving analyses and simulations on an iterative basis provided a conservative, flexible and simple EVA system, which was effective not only for the nominal Skylab mission but for many contingency activities as well.

Heckman, R. T.

Skylab EVA system development

The Skylab EVA hardware design from initial conceptual development to final flight configuration is reviewed, the major concepts which were considered during design evolution are identified, and the reasons for the acceptance or rejection of these concepts are discussed. Man/system simulations played a vital part in the decision-making process. The types of developmental simulation used are discussed, as well as their role in providing design information. The developmental protocol of interleaving analyses and simulations on an iterative basis provided Skylab with a conservative, flexible, and simple EVA system which was effective not only for the nominal mission but for many contingency activities as well.

Heckman, R. T.

Skylab EVA system development

EVA hardware design is traced from initial conceptual development to final flight configuration. Major concepts considered during design evolution are identified, and reasons for the acceptance or rejection of these concepts are discussed. An iterative approach to simulations and testing was found useful. Early conceptual efforts concentrated on analyses and normal gravity, low-cost, low-fidelity mockups; later design phases combined normal gravity and neutral buoyancy simulations of increasing fidelity. Restudying after each change consistently drove EVA hardware toward operational and mechanical simplicity.-

Heckman, R. T.