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Wilson, S. W.

Publications and source records attributed to Wilson, S. W..

Host computer software specifications for a zero-g payload manhandling simulator

The HP PASCAL source code was developed for the Mission Planning and Analysis Division (MPAD) of NASA/JSC, and takes the place of detailed flow charts defining the host computer software specifications for MANHANDLE, a digital/graphical simulator that can be used to analyze the dynamics of onorbit (zero-g) payload manhandling operations. Input and output data for representative test cases are contained.

Wilson, S. W.

Orbital flight simulation utility software unit specifications, revision 1

The HP PASCAL source code defines the specifications for a Utility Software Unit (USU) designed to support orbital flight simulators such as MANHANDLE and GREAS (General Research and Engineering Analysis Simulator). Besides providing basic input/output, mathematical, matrix, quaternion, and statistical routines for such simulators, one of the primary functions of the USU is to isolate all system-dependent codes in one well-defined compartment, thereby facilitating transportation of the simulations from one computer to another. Directives are given for the PASCAL compilers of the HP-9000 Series 200 Pascal 3.0 and the HP-9000 Series 500 HP-UX 5.0 operating systems that produce a single file of relocatable code from four separate files of source code. Three of the source code files are common to both operating systems. The fourth source code file (utilspif.I) contains all of the system-dependent PASCAL code for the USU. A fifth file of source code written in C is required to interface utilspif.I with the HP-UX I/O package. The Pascal 3.0 compiler directives and the driver source code for a unit rest program and counterparts for the HP-UX 5.0 operating system are given. The major portion of the unit test program source code is common to both operating systems. Unit test results from the Pascal 3.0 operating system and results from the HP-UX operating system are given.

Wilson, S. W.

Orbital flight simulation utility software unit specifications

The HP PASCAL source code contained in pages 6 through 104 was developed for the Mission Planning and Analysis Division (MPAD) and takes the place of detailed flow charts defining the specifications for a Utility Software Unit designed to support orbital flight simulators such as MANHANDLE and GREAS (General Research and Engineering Analysis Simulator). Besides providing basic input/output, mathematical, vector, matrix, quaternion, and statistical routines for such simulators, one of the primary functions of the Utility Software Unit is to isolate all system-dependent code in one well-defined compartment, thereby facilitating transportation of the simulations from one computer to another. Directives to the PASCAL compilers of the HP-9000 Series 200 PASCAL 3.0 operating system and the HP-9000 Series 500 HP-UX 5.0 operations systems are also provided.

Wilson, S. W.

Development and implementation of Shuttle/IUS proximity operations flight design software

The High Fidelity Relative Motion Program (HFRMP), a trajectory/attitude numerical integration program, was developed and implemented on the MPAD HP-9825A desk top computer systems. A solar and a lunar ephemeris is included in the HFRMP along with models of the oblate Earth, a rotating atmosphere, the orbiter's OMS/RCS/DAP system, orbiter vents, rotor dynamics, and upper stage propulsion systems. Although designed primarily for the analysis of proximity operations, it is useful in other areas such as attitude/stability analysis, propulsive consumables estimation, and trajector perturbation studies. An unique identification was assigned to each of the various configurations of the HFRMP that were developed to test new techniques and algorithms are briefly described. These include the HFRMP Versions 03H, 03M, 03T, 03U, and 05D. Development of orbiter/upper stage separation techniques including flight design support for the TDRS-A and Galileo deployment flights and design of standard maneuver sequences is discussed. Also, the development and implementation of the Euler angle conversion program is briefly addressed.

Wilson, S. W.

Shuttle program standard maneuver sequences for orbiter/upper-stage separation SSUS-A, SSUS-D, and IUS

Descriptions of standard post-ejection maneuver sequences for the deployment of IUS, SSUS-A, and SSUS-D upper stages from the space shuttle orbiter are presented. The sequences were designed to satisfy requirements for limiting the damage inflicted on the orbiter by upper-stage exhaust particles, subject to a further requirement for minimizing the impingement of orbiter thruster plumes on the deployed payload. In all cases it was assumed that the orbital maneuvering system engines would be used to apply the orbiter's major separation velocity increment.

Wilson, S. W.

Detailed description of the HP-9825A HFRMP trajectory processor (TRAJ)

The computer code for the trajectory processor of the HP-9825A High Fidelity Relative Motion Program is described in detail. The processor is a 12-degrees-of-freedom trajectory integrator which can be used to generate digital and graphical data describing the relative motion of the Space Shuttle Orbiter and a free-flying cylindrical payload. Coding standards and flow charts are given and the computational logic is discussed.

Kindall, S. M.

Engineering description of the OMS/RCS/DAP modes used in the HP-9825A High Fidelity Relative Motion Program (HFRMP)

Simplified mathematical models are reported for the space shuttle's Orbital Maneuvering System (OMS), Reaction Control System (RCS), and on-orbit Digital Autopilot (DAP) that have been incorporated in the High-Fidelity Relative Motion Program (HFRMP) for the HP-9825A desk-top calculator. Comparisons were made between data generated by the HFRMP and by the Space Shuttle Functional Simulator (SSFS), which models the cited shuttle systems in much greater detail. These data include propellant requirements for representative translational maneuvers, rotational maneuvers, and attitude maintenance options. Also included are data relating to on-orbit trajectory deviations induced by RCS translational cross coupling. Potential close-range stationkeeping problems that are suggested by HFRMP simulations of 80 millisecond (as opposed to 40 millisecond) DAP cycle effects are described. The principal function of the HFRMP is to serve as a flight design tool in the area of proximity operations.

Wilson, S. W.

Concepts and requirements for shuttle/payload orbital operations of the space transportation system

The results of studies and software development activities are summarized. Technical reports and memoranda are presented in a graphical history of contract activities and the expenditure of engineering manhours. Major topics and activities are: (1) flight phase standardization; (2) flight profile standardization; (3) maneuver targeting for solid rocket motors; (4) relative motion and RCS (Reaction Control System) jet flowfield plotting programs; (5) on-orbit aerodynamic models; (6) terminal approach strategy for payload retrieval/docking; (7) proximity navigation; and (8) desk-top flight simulator for proximity operations. A list of recommendations is also presented.

Wilson, S. W.

Preliminary design of an Orbiter/IUS separation sequence

An orbiter/IUS separation sequence to satisfy the assumed requirements of Shuttle Flight 8 was defined for the purpose of gaining an insight into the flight design software requirements. The key to economical and effective flight design for orbiter/IUS proximity operations is considered to be the capability for rapid and accurate generation of graphical displays that will facilitate not only decision making on the part of the designer, but also lucid documentation of rationale and the resulting design features. The data indicate that (1) an OMS burn is required to attain the necessary velocity without subjecting the IUS and its payload to undue plume impingement, and (2) a departure trajectory that places the orbiter above and behind the IUS at SRM ignition time is preferred over the alternative which would place it below and ahead.

Wilson, S. W.

HP-9825A calculator programs for plotting orbiter RCS jet dynamic pressure contours

Computer programs which generate displays of the dynamic pressure fields generated by orbiter RCS thruster firings are described. The programs can be used to generate dynamic contours for an isolated RCS jet and to superimpose the plume contours for specific jets or jet clusters on front and side views of the orbiter profile.

Wilson, S. W.

Utilization of solid-propellant upper stages in STS payload orbital operations

The main purpose of this report is to discuss techniques of trajectory design, maneuver execution, and stage loading that are compatible with the use of SRM's (solid rocket motors) which, once ignited, must burn to propellant depletion. It is anticipated that some shuttle payloads will use non-IUS (interim upper stage) solid propellant kick stages; therefore this subject is also pertinent to shuttle flights other than those involving the use of the IUS. The SRM utilization techniques can be divided into two major categories: (1) those in which the stage performance is adjusted to match the velocity increment magnitude requirements of a preselected trajectory, and (2) those in which the trajectory is designed to match the velocity increment magnitude capability of the stage(s).

Wilson, S. W.

A suggested classification system for standard on-orbit shuttle flight phases

The definition of standard flight segments of phases, representing flight profile components which can be combined in various sequences to satisfy particular objectives, is a necessity for simplifying operational procedures and for minimizing the cost of flight planning, software development, and training. The critical elements are (1) a greater variety of generic segment types that may be incorporated into a given flight profile, (2) a greater variability of the order in which segments may be combined to construct a particular flight profile, and (3) a greater variation of detail within a given generic segment type. All of these variations arise basically from shuttle payload characteristics. They are manifested in a number of ways, including changes in the shuttle configuration from one flight to another.

Wilson, S. W.