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At least 289 records · Page 16

Skylab checkout and launch operations at KSC

Checkout and launch operations for the four Skylab flights, plus checkout for a fifth vehicle on rescue status during the last mission, were complex and demanding. Preparations began well before the launch of the last Apollo moon mission in December 1972, and had to be performed without interference with the ongoing program. Three major new flight modules were used in Skylab, each of which imposed specific requirements on Kennedy Space Center. A major facilities modification program resulted in the ability to launch the three Saturn IB Skylab vehicles from Saturn V facilities. This provided large cost savings, but imposed the usual problems caused by first-time use of a new system.

Moser, R. E.↗

Contamination from Skylab as determined from the solar coronagraph data

The white light solar coronagraph was one of the scientific telescopes flown on Skylab to study the sun. It studied the sun's atmosphere located from 0.5 to 5.0 solar radii above the sun's limb. Such a telescope is so sensitive to contamination around the spacecraft that it caused a major contamination abatement program to be initiated at the conception of Skylab. The coronagraph's data is analyzed showing the successfulness of that abatement program.

Mcguire, J. P.↗

Cluster man/system design requirements and verification

Discussion of the procedures employed for determining the man/system requirements that guided Skylab design, and review of the techniques used for implementing the man/system design verification. The foremost lesson learned from the design need anticipation and design verification experience is the necessity to allow for human capabilities of in-flight maintenance and repair. It is now known that the entire program was salvaged by a series of unplanned maintenance and repair events which were implemented in spite of poor design provisions for maintenance.

Orbital workers↗

An overview of NASA's Space Station program

NASA space station program, discussing relationship between space stations, Skylab and space shuttle, electric power generation, habitability, safety and communications networks

Lohman, R. L.↗

Effects of weightlessness on astronauts - A summary.

This paper reviews the adaptive changes observed in the United States astronauts during flight programs to this date. A series of postulates are offered as to what is happening in these adaptive events. A hypothesis is proposed as to the interrelationship of events observed in the body systems and functions involved. The importance of undertaking an extensive life sciences program, including an on-orbit phase of study as well as pre- and post-flight studies is discussed. Finally, the role the Skylab flight plays in the United States Space Program in achieving the future requirements for more extensive life sciences data is summarized.

White, S. C.↗

Cost analysis of water recovery systems

Cost and performance data from Gemini, Skylab, and other aerospace and biotechnology programs were analyzed to identify major cost elements required to establish cost estimating relationships for advanced life support subsystems for long range planning in support of earth orbital programs. Cost analysis are presented for five leading water reclamation systems; (1) RITE waste management-water system;(2) reverse osmosis system;(3) multifiltration system;(4) vapor compression system; and(5) closed air evaporation system with electrolytic pretreatment.

Yakut, M. M.↗

Personal hygienic concerns in long term space flight

Data from numerous experiments and hardware inventories were scanned for Skylab personal hygiene use. A computer program was formulated for predicting the degree of man's involvement with personal hygiene needs. A tabulation was kept for such events as water intake, frequency of urination and defecation, accidents or events requiring clean-up, methods of clean-up, microbiological environment and shower water contamination.

Source record↗

Cost analysis of water recovery systems

A methodology was developed to predict the relevant contributions of the more intangible cost elements encountered in the development of flight-qualified hardware based on an extrapolation of past hardware development experience. Major items of costs within water recovery systems were identified and related to physical and/or performance criteria. Cost and performance data from Gemini, Skylab, and other aerospace and biotechnology programs were analyzed to identify major cost elements required to establish cost estimating relationships for advanced water recovery systems. The results of the study are expected to assist NASA in long-range planning and allocation of resources in a cost effective manner in support of earth orbital programs. This report deals with the cost analysis of the five leading water reclamation systems, namely: (1) RITE waste management-water system, (2) reverse osmosis system, (3) multifiltration system, (4) vapor compression system, and (5) closed air evaporation system with electrolytic pretreatment.

Yakut, M. M.↗

Urban and regional land use analysis: CARETS and census cities experiment package

The author has identified the following significant results. Successful tentative calibration permits computer programs to be written to convert Skylab thermal tapes into line-printed graymaps showing actual surface radiation temperature distributions at the time of imaging. The calibrations will be further checked when atmospheric soundings are available. Success of Skylab calibration suggests that satellite are feasible platforms for thermal scanning and provide a much broader geographical field of view than is possible with airborne platforms.

Alexander, R.↗

Space Shuttle - A new era in transportation

After a brief historical review of the economics of expendable-booster, commercial-payload operations to date, and a description of the Space Shuttle system's design, operational capabilities, and mission profile, the payload flight assignments, materials processing experiments, and Spacelab I material science experiment are detailed. Among the Materials Processing in Space (MPS) fields for investigation are crystal growth from vapor and solution, the production of magnetic composites and metal foams, laser host glasses and metallic glasses, non-buoyancy-driven convections, unidirectional solidification of eutectics, and the solidification of immiscible alloys. Emphasis is put on the long-term, commercial usefulness of such studies, with attention to historical precedents such as the Skylab, Apollo and Apollo-Soyuz programs.

Dunbar, B. J.↗

Living and working in space. A history of Skylab

The history of Skylab is examined with emphasis on program development from previous Apollo missions, modifications to spacecraft, onboard experiments, and flight crew training. A listing of the missions and an evaluation of results are included with a brief description of the workshop's reentry.

Compton, W. D.↗

Space Station power system issues

Issues governing the selection of power systems for long-term manned Space Stations intended solely for earth orbital missions are covered briefly, drawing on trade study results from both in-house and contracted studies that have been conducted over nearly two decades. An involvement, from the Program Development Office at MSFC, with current Space Station concepts began in late 1982 with the NASA-wide Systems Definition Working Group and continued throughout 1984 in support of various planning activities. The premise for this discussion is that, within the confines of the current Space Station concept, there is good reason to consider photovoltaic power systems to be a venerable technology option for both the initial 75 kW and 300 kW (or much greater) growth stations. The issue of large physical size required by photovoltaic power systems is presented considering mass, atmospheric drag, launch packaging and power transmission voltage as being possible practicality limitations. The validity of searching for a cross-over point necessitating the introduction of solar thermal or nuclear power system options as enabling technologies is considered with reference to programs ranging from the 4.8 kW Skylab to the 9.5 gW Space Power Satellite.

Giudici, R. J.↗

Aerial Video Imaging

When Michael Henry wanted to start an aerial video service, he turned to Johnson Space Center for assistance. Two NASA engineers - one had designed and developed TV systems in Apollo, Skylab, Apollo- Soyuz and Space Shuttle programs - designed a wing-mounted fiberglass camera pod. Camera head and angles are adjustable, and the pod is shaped to reduce vibration. The controls are located so a solo pilot can operate the system. A microprocessor displays latitude, longitude, and bearing, and a GPS receiver provides position data for possible legal references. The service has been successfully utilized by railroads, oil companies, real estate companies, etc.

Source record↗

Ninety day mission report for Skylab experiment T025

The problems encountered in the observing programs using the airlock coronagraph (T025) are reported for the atmospheric scattering program, Kohoutek photography, and the spacecraft contamination analysis. The impact of the difficulties on the results is discussed.

Schuerman, D. W.↗

U.S. Spacesuit Knowledge Capture Accomplishments in Fiscal Years 2012 and 2013

The NASA U.S. Spacesuit Knowledge Capture (KC) program has existed since the beginning of 2008. The program was designed to augment engineers and other technical team members with historical spacesuit information to add to their understanding of the spacesuit, its evolution, its limitations, and its capabilities. Over 40 seminars have captured spacesuit history and knowledge over the last six years of the program's existence. Subject matter experts have provided lectures and some were interviewed to help bring the spacesuit to life so that lessons learned will never be lost. As well, the program concentrated in reaching out to the public and industry by making the recorded events part of the public domain through the NASA technical library through YouTube media. The U.S. Spacesuit KC topics have included lessons learned from some of the most prominent spacesuit experts and spacesuit users including current and former astronauts. The events have enriched the spacesuit legacy knowledge from Gemini, Apollo, Skylab, Space Shuttle and International Space Station Programs. As well, expert engineers and scientists have shared their challenges and successes to be remembered. Based on evidence by the thousands of people who have viewed the recordings online, the last few years have been some of the most successful years of the KC program's life with numerous digital recordings and public releases. This paper reviews the events accomplished and archived over Fiscal Years 2012 and 2013 and highlights a few of the most memorable ones. This paper also communicates ways to access the events that are available internally on the NASA domain as well as those released on the public domain.

Chullen, Cinda↗