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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 505 records · Page 28

IUS/TUG orbital operations and mission support study. Volume 3: Space tug operations

A study was conducted to develop space tug operational concepts and baseline operations plan, and to provide cost estimates for space tug operations. Background data and study results are presented along with a transition phase analysis (the transition from interim upper state to tug operations). A summary is given of the tug operational and interface requirements with emphasis on the on-orbit checkout requirements, external interface operational requirements, safety requirements, and system operational interface requirements. Other topics discussed include reference missions baselined for the tug and details for the mission functional flows and timelines derived for the tug mission, tug subsystems, tug on-orbit operations prior to the tug first burn, spacecraft deployment and retrieval by the tug, operations centers, mission planning, potential problem areas, and cost data.

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Apollo experience report: Engineering and analysis mission support

The tasks performed by the team of specialists that evaluated hardware performance during prelaunch checkout and in-flight operation are discussed. The organizational structure, operational procedures, and interfaces as well as the facilities and software required to perform these tasks are discussed. The scope of the service performed by the team and the evaluation philosophy are described. Summaries of problems and their resolution are included as appendixes.

Fricke, R. W., Jr.↗

Space tug avionics definition study. Volume 3: Avionics baseline configuration definition

The baseline avionics systems for the space tug is comprised of a central digital computer that integrates the functions of all of the tug's subsystems by means of a redundant digital data bus. The major subsystems of the avionics system are: data management; communications; guidance, navigation, and control; rendezvous and docking; electrical power; and instrumentation. The baseline avionics system for the space tug resulting from system and subsystem trade studies is defined. Tug interfaces with the spacecraft, orbiter and the ground, and the baseline philosophy and configuration for onboard checkout of the tug are included. Baseline configurations, functional and operational features, component details and characteristics, and the supporting software are included in the subsystem descriptions.

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A leading edge heating array and a flat surface heating array - operation, maintenance and repair manual

A general description of the leading edge/flat surface heating array is presented along with its components, assembly instructions, installation instructions, operation procedures, maintenance instructions, repair procedures, schematics, spare parts lists, engineering drawings of the array, and functional acceptance test log sheets. The proper replacement of components, correct torque values, step-by-step maintenance instructions, and pretest checkouts are described.

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Shuttle ground turnaround operations

It is pointed out that a Shuttle turnaround of two weeks will require new innovative and creative ideas for ground operations. The approach selected implements proven techniques and reduces system level checkout as performance confidence is achieved. Details of operational turnaround are discussed, giving attention also to external tank processing, solid rocket booster (SRB) processing, the SRB recovery concept, and payload processing.

Buckley, R. H.↗

Repair of major system elements on Skylab

In-flight maintenance, as conceived and pre-planned for the Skylab Mission, was limited to simple scheduled and unscheduled replacement tasks and minor contingency repairs. Failures during the mission dictated complicated and sophisticated repairs to major systems so that the mission could continue. These repairs include the release of a large structure that failed to deploy, the assembly and deployment of large mechanical devices, the installation and checkout of precision electronic equipment, troubleshooting and repair of precision electromechanical equipment and tapping into and recharging a cooling system. The Skylab experience proves conclusively that crewmen can, with adequate training, make major system repairs in space using standard or special tools.

Pace, R. E., Jr.↗

Postflight Evaluation of Atlas-Centaur AC-5 (Launched 2 March 1965)

The Atlas-Centaur AC-5 vehicle was launched from ETR Complex 36A on March 2., 1965 at 8:25.04 a.m. EST. Within about 1 second after launch the thrust of the Atlas booster engine decayed rapidly; the vehicle settled back on the launch pad and was quickly destroyed by fire and explosion. Considerable damage was sustained by the launch complex and its associated equipment. Loss of booster engine thrust was due to fuel depletion at the turbopump inlets, which is attributed to closure of the fuel prevalve or the staging valve. To preclude the recurrence of either of these fuel valving malfunctions, the following corrective action has been taken: The remote control actuator has been replaced by manual operation of the Atlas fuel prevalve; the internal passage dimensions in the staging valve have been increased to lessen the hydraulic load on the valve poppet. In addition to the Atlas fuel system malfunction, a failure in the power control circuitry of the Centaur guidance computer resulted in partial removal of power at umbilical ejection. To prevent such a guidance system failure on future flights some redundant circuitry has been eliminated and more rigorous checkout procedures have been adopted. No further anomalies were discovered in the telemetered data prior to the Atlas booster thrust decay. A prime objective of the AC-5 flight was to place a dynamic model of the Surveyor spacecraft in a simulated lunar transfer trajectory. An important facet of this problem is the demonstration of a launch-on-time capability in accordance with the proper Earth-moon relation. The window opening time was established at 8:25 a.m. EST; thus the actual launch occurred within 4 seconds of the planned time.

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Apollo experience report: Guidance and control systems. Lunar module stabilization and control system

A brief functional description of the Apollo lunar module stabilization and control subsystem is presented. Subsystem requirements definition, design, development, test results, and flight experiences are discussed. Detailed discussions are presented of problems encountered and the resulting corrective actions taken during the course of assembly-level testing, integrated vehicle checkout and test, and mission operations. Although the main experiences described are problem oriented, the subsystem has performed satisfactorily in flight.

Shelton, D. H.↗

HELIOS dual swept frequency radiometer

The HELIOS dual swept frequency radiometer, used in conjunction with a dipole antenna, was designed to measure electromagnetic radiation in space. An engineering prototype was fabricated and tested on the HELIOS spacecraft. Two prototypes and two flight units were fabricated and three of the four units were integrated into the HELIOS spacecraft. Two sets of ground support equipment were provided for checkout of the radiometer.

White, J. R.↗

Marking LANDSAT images with small mirror reflectors

Uniquely identifiable artificial landmarks were generated in LANDSAT imagery by making use of specular solar reflection from small, easily transportable mirrors. The results are impressive in well-registered color composite enlargements, where the mirror returns appear as bright white spots. The signatures are unique enough that returns can be readily located in the computer compatible tape records either manually or by machine search. As embodied in experiments to date, the system is entirely passive. Mirrors must be carefully positioned prior to each satellite pass, but the required angle calculations are simple enough to be made on a hand calculator and the required input data are easily available. Possible applications of the technique include providing site identification and geodetic control in remote regions of the earth, enhancement of small targets such as offshore oil derricks, providing atmospheric transmission data coincident with other LANDSAT experiments, and providing a nearly perfect optical point source for overall system checkout.

Evans, W. E.↗

Shuttle payload interface verification equipment study. Volume 1: Executive summary

A preliminary design analysis of a stand alone payload integration device (IVE) is provided that is capable of verifying payload compatibility in form, fit and function with the shuttle orbiter prior to on-line payload/orbiter operations. The IVE is a high fidelity replica of the orbiter payload accommodations capable of supporting payload functional checkout and mission simulation. A top level payload integration analysis developed detailed functional flow block diagrams of the payload integration process for the broad spectrum of P/L's and identified degree of orbiter data required by the payload user and potential applications of the IVE.

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Command decoder system

The production and testing of hardware design for use in evaluating shuttle instrumentation, data processing, and ground checkout operations are described. Changes incorporated to make improvements as a result of system testing are included.

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Expansion and improvements of the FORMA system for response and load analysis. Volume 1: Programming manual

Techniques are presented for the solution of structural dynamic systems on an electronic digital computer using FORMA (FORTRAN Matrix Analysis). FORMA is a library of subroutines coded in FORTRAN 4 for the efficient solution of structural dynamics problems. These subroutines are in the form of building blocks that can be put together to solve a large variety of structural dynamics problems. The obvious advantage of the building block approach is that programming and checkout time are limited to that required for putting the blocks together in the proper order.

Wohlen, R. L.↗

Experiment definition phase shuttle laboratory. LDRL-10.6 experiment

The work completed on the experiment definition phase of the shuttle laboratory LDRL 10.6 micrometers experiment from 27 September 1975 to 26 January 1976 was reported. This work included progress in the following areas: (1) optomechanical system: completion of detail drawings, completion of the beryllium subassembly, fabrication, checking, and weighing of approximately 95% of the detailed parts, dry film lubrication of the bearings and gears, and initiation of assembly of the gimbals; (2) optics: update of the detailed optical layout, receipt of nine mirrors and the pre-expander; (3) miscellaneous: delivery of draft material for the final report, completion of optical testing of the 10.6 micrometers receiver, and receipt, assembly, and checkout of NASA test console.

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Tracking subsystem test requirements survey

A survey of the test and checkout requirements of the tracking portion of the communications and tracking subsystem was performed to evaluate adequacy of planned tests and test requirement documents. Emphasis is placed on identifying test completeness, duplications, and omissions. Items that may save time, aid in testing, and present a more complete integrated test program are also noted. The results of this survey are summarized.

Orr, D. H.↗

Tug avionics system overview

The recently defined Tug avionics system takes maximum advantage of projected technology advances to attain: low system weight; power system capacity essentially independent of mission duration; sensors for rendezvous, docking, and navigation update; all attitude communications; onboard checkout and redundancy management; and modular fault tolerant computer control. The requirements, selection trades, and configurations are discussed for the major subsystems: data management, guidance navigation and control, communications, rendezvous and docking, and electrical power. The integrated avionics system and the interfaces with the payload, Shuttle and ground are described.

Raaberg, M. T.↗

Tug rendezvous and docking with a spacecraft - A remote manned approach

The development and use of a visual simulator for remote-manned rendezvous and docking utilizing frame-by-frame, slow-scan, low-light-level TV (LLLTV) was conceived and initiated in mid-1974. The effort was limited to modification, checkout, and validation of simulator hardware specific to this task, to the development of simulation (digital computer) software, and technical support to several rendezvous and docking simulation studies. Analysis and simulation has shown that LLLTV, such as would be required for satellite inspection, could provide a suitable acquisition sensor for a remote manned rendezvous/docking subsystem. A manned, remote simulation has demonstrated its feasibility during the terminal rendezvous and docking phases. Should this approach prove fully adequate in subsequent detailed simulation studies and tests, an order-of-magnitude cost savings can be obtained for early rendezvous and docking operations.

Hurley, M. J.↗

Large Space Telescope - Orbital crew EV maintenance operations

The paper shows that orbital EV maintenance by the crew has a tremendous impact on several areas of the program, including operations, Shuttle interfaces, support equipment rendezvous and berthing, checkout and verification, levels of servicing achievable, logistics and spares and scientific instruments in order to permit changeout and possible future refurbishment. To achieve on-orbit EV maintenance, such challenges as designing for suited-astronaut access to all subsystem equipment elements, minimization for contamination, handling of extremely sensitive instruments, development of translation techniques, and use of existing GFE and hardware must be faced early in the preliminary design and operations analysis phases. All studies to date indicate that on-orbit EV manned maintenance of the LST (Large Space Telescope) is not only feasible but can be designed to be readily within the capability of the EV functioning astronaut. Both 1-g and neutral buoyancy man-in-the-loop simulations further support this point.

Fisher, H. T.↗