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Engineering topics

Snoddy, W. C.

Publications and source records attributed to Snoddy, W. C..

Commerical use of space - Status and prospects

The development of commercial enterprises in space is discussed. The convenience and cost-effectiveness of satellites for communications are examined; satellite communications is an established industry and continues to grow. Meteorological satellites and remote sensing satellite systems (Landsat and SPOT) are being utilized to collect earth resources data. The development of materials processing facilities in space is studied. Current and proposed systems for transporting payloads to space and space lab facilities are investigated. The advantages a space station will provide to communications, earth resources, and materials processing are analyzed. The role of governments in the commercialization of space is described.

Lundquist, C. A.

Space platforms for science and applications

It is pointed out that space platforms offer a flexible and cost-effective evolutionary approach to conducting science and applications missions of several months' duration and can pave the way for major manned orbital facilities. General-purpose Low-Earth-Orbit space platforms are made possible by the Space Transportation System. Such platforms could remain in orbit for many years serviced as needed by the Shuttle. Attention is given to a Power System Platform, aspects of communications and data handling, stability and control, system and subsystem capability, a dynamics-analysis model of an expanded platform, command and data flow for a space platform, comparative costs of flying a pallet-size payload, a continually mannable Science and Applications Manned Space Platform, and a scenario of how the space platform might evolve.

Snoddy, W. C.

Space Platform concepts

Preliminary conceptual approaches for both low earth orbit and geostationary Space Platforms have been developed in response to user requirements. These requirements include payload needs for: operational autonomy, power, size, environmental control (including dynamic, electromagnetic, gaseous, and particulates), on-orbit accessibility, communication and pointing. The concepts developed include both multipurpose and discipline dedicated platforms. In this paper these concepts, their evolution, and their relationship to the needs of the user are presented and discussed.

Snoddy, W. C.

Apollo telescope mount: A partial listing of scientific publications and presentations, supplement 3

Compilations of bibliographies from the principal investigator groups of the Skylab solar observatory facility that gathered data from May 28, 1973, to February 8, 1974 are presented. The analysis of these data is presently under way. The publications listed are divided into the following categories: (1) journal publications; (2) journal publications submitted; (3) other publications; (4) presentations-national and international meetings; and (5) other presentations.

Reynolds, J. M.

Scientific and technical applications of a tethered satellite system

A Shuttle-borne tether system capable of deploying a tether to radial distances as great as 100 km was described by Rupp and Laue (1978). The system as discussed by Rupp and Laue would have a total mass of 700 kg and would be mounted on one Shuttle pallet. It would consist of a tether reel mechanism complete with a servo drive motor and control sensors, a boom with docking probe used for initial deployment and subsequent retrieval, some type of satellite weighing 175 kg, up to 100 km of synthetic or metallic tether approximately 1 mm in diameter, a digital control computer, and a control and display panel on the Orbiter aft flight deck for crew operation. The primary use of a tether system for geological applications would be in the measurement of those magnetic and gravitational fields associated with geological structures. The major appeal in connection with atmospheric applications is the system's ability to extend instrumentation down into the lower thermosphere and possibly the mesosphere.

Snoddy, W. C.

Skylab observations of Comet Kohoutek

This paper summarizes the special operational procedures developed to observe the Comet Kohoutek from Skylab and the scientific results from these observations. Emphasis is placed on results from Skylab experiments S052, White Light Coronagraph; S201, Far UV Electronographic Camera; S233, Kohoutek Photometric Photography; S019, UV Stellar Astronomy; S183, Ultraviolet Panorama Telescope; and S082B, Ultraviolet Spectrography. Visual observations by the astronaut crew and the significance of these observations are discussed.

Snoddy, W. C.

Comet Kohoutek observations from Skylab

The original intent of the Skylab observations of comet Kohoutek, as stated by Operation Kohoutek, was to provide (1) long-term viewing, (2) near-perihelion viewing, (3) astronaut response, and (4) payload optimization, allowing Kohoutek to be monitored in the ultraviolet and visible-light ranges regardless of its angular separation from the sun. The preliminary results made available thus far indicate that through its man-aided flexibility and broad range of capabilities Skylab was indeed able to achieve this intent.

Snoddy, W. C.

Pegasus thermal experimental results

Environmental effect sensor data and albedo measurements for several thermal control coatings on Pegasus satellite - thermophysics

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