Engineering topics

Neilon, J. J.

Publications and source records attributed to Neilon, J. J..

3 records

NASA NTRS1983

Processing cargoes for the first two operational STS flights at KSC

Payload and spacecraft check-out procedures followed at Kennedy Space Center (KSC) are described, and examples are furnished of Shuttle missions STS-5 and -6. Reliability must be assured in order to account for isolated operation in GEO once the satellites are released from the Orbiter. The spacecraft processing is handled in distinct flows that depend on the type of boost engine attached, e.g., the PAM-A, -D, or the IUS. Interface verification occurs in the Vehicle Processing Facility (VPF), which is equipped to store the payloads until an Orbiter is ready. Spacecraft are assigned to their respective processing lines by the Launch Site Support Manager. The STS-5 Orbiter was fitted with Getaway Specials, the SBS-C satellite, and the Anik-C spacecraft, and STS-6 carried the TDRSS-A spacecraft, which was mated to an IUS, three Getaway Specials, and two experiments for the pressurized cabin. The time necessary for preparing payloads is intended eventually to be reduced to 3 weeks.

Neilon, J. J.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Preflight and postflight processing of Spacelab missions at KSC

The Spacelab program is discussed in the context of the preparation of assembly, test, and processing facilities at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC). The management of the program within NASA is reviewed, along with flight tests of experimental packages, the first Spacelab mission, payload mission management, Spacelab processing responsibilities at the KSC, Space Shuttle processing and launch, Spacelab deintegration, OSS-1 management functions, and the OSS-1 processing flow at the KSC. The four levels of payload integration and checkout on a Spacelab are described, and testing at the four levels is briefly examined.

Neilon, J. J.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Space Shuttle cargo processing.

The spacecraft processing techniques to be used at the Kennedy Space Center for the assembly and check-out of Space Shuttle cargoes are discussed. The processing flow for vertically handled spacecraft, which are inserted into the Shuttle orbiter cargo bay while the orbiter is in the vertical position and often are attached to a separate solid booster stage, includes assembly into unified payloads in the Vertical Processing Facility, followed by Cargo Integration Test Equipment tests to ensure cargo bay compatibility, and transportation to the launch pad. Horizontally handled spacecraft such as Spacelab, which are inserted into the Orbiter cargo bay while it is in the Orbiter Processing Facility in the horizontal position, are assembled and checked out within the Operations and Checkout Building, where the CITE tests are performed and the Spacelab will be disassembled, and then transported to the Orbiter Processing Facility. It is pointed out that during the Space Shuttle era, when the number of spacecraft to be processed simultaneously at Kennedy will double or triple, all spacecraft processing facilities will be required to handle the workload.

Neilon, J. J.↗