Engineering topics
Publications and source records attributed to Pigg, O. E..
Various issues related to the long-life assurance (LLA) of the Space Station (SS) are discussed. The effects of exposure to atomic oxygen, radiation, thermal cycling, micrometeoroid and debris damage, and the physical aging of polymers on the SS materials are examined. The proper design of the SS truss system and pressure vessels, electronic systems, mechanical systems, and software for LLA is addressed.
The window structural design and verification experience is presented for the Apollo command and lunar modules. This report presents window design philosophy, design criteria, hardware description, and qualification and acceptance test programs and discusses the problems encountered and solutions developed in these areas. The structural characteristics of glass are not generally well understood by designers. The optics and instrument glass covers were not considered to be structural components and thus were not normally subjected to the design, qualification, and acceptance standards necessary to preclude failures. These two factors contributed significantly to window problems on both Apollo spacecraft.
Thermostructural comparisons of mullite and silica reusable surface insulation materials for space shuttle application show that mullite is much more subject to thermal stress failure than silica composite materials.
Manned testing of EVA equipment in simulated space environment, emphasizing crewman ingress and egress and mission objectives