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Herrell, Linda

Publications and source records attributed to Herrell, Linda.

Flight Operations Analysis Tool

Flight Operations Analysis Tool (FLOAT) is a computer program that partly automates the process of assessing the benefits of planning spacecraft missions to incorporate various combinations of launch vehicles and payloads. Designed primarily for use by an experienced systems engineer, FLOAT makes it possible to perform a preliminary analysis of trade-offs and costs of a proposed mission in days, whereas previously, such an analysis typically lasted months. FLOAT surveys a variety of prior missions by querying data from authoritative NASA sources pertaining to 20 to 30 mission and interface parameters that define space missions. FLOAT provides automated, flexible means for comparing the parameters to determine compatibility or the lack thereof among payloads, spacecraft, and launch vehicles, and for displaying the results of such comparisons. Sparseness, typical of the data available for analysis, does not confound this software. FLOAT effects an iterative process that identifies modifications of parameters that could render compatible an otherwise incompatible mission set.

Easter, Robert

The second generation Wide-Field/Planetary Camera on the Hubble Space Telescope

The general design and principal features of the second generation Wide-Field/Planetary Camera (WFPC-2) for the Hubble Space Telescope are reviewed. The discussion covers the background of WFPC-2 development, science capabilities, key performance parameters, optical and electronic equipment, mechanisms, thermal control, and contamination control. Attention is also given to on-orbit operations, including commanding and telemetry and on-orbit servicing.

Leschly, Kim