Skylab profiles
Skylab program organization and management, system design, operations and equipment
Belew, L. F.↗
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Qualification test unit slide stainer (Beckman P/N 673753)
Specifications for a slide stainer unit for the Skylab program are presented. The qualification test slide stainer was designed to be a self-contained system capable of performing an eight-step Gram stain of microorganisms and a Wright's stain of blood smears.
Bernier, P. S.↗
The Skylab communications system.
Skylab is an experimental manned space station which will be operated by three astronauts intermittently over eight months in 1973. It will be in a 235 nautical mile, 50 degree inclination orbit. The communication system includes an onboard audio distribution hard-line network with 13 stations; a teleprinter for recording messages from the ground; telemetry, voice and television links; an onboard video distribution network. The radio frequencies system also includes radiometer and scatterometer earth-scanning sensors operating at 13.9 GHz and 1.4 GHz. The overall Skylab Program is discussed briefly and the communications system is described in more detail.
Disher, J. H.↗
Electroshock protection circuit
Circuit was developed to prevent accidental shock through electrodes used to test subjects as part of Skylab program. This circuit is placed between electrical apparatus and electrode that is attached to patient's body. Thus, patient is effectively protected from dangerous electrical shock that might be caused by failure in electrical apparatus.
Heskett, H.↗
Interdisciplinary applications and interpretations of remotely sensed data
An interdisciplinary approach to use remote sensor for the inventory of natural resources is discussed. The areas under investigation are land use, determination of pollution sources and damage, and analysis of geologic structure and terrain. The geographical area of primary interest is the Susquehanna River Basin. Descriptions of the data obtained by aerial cameras, multiband cameras, optical mechanical scanners, and radar are included. The Earth Resources Technology Satellite and Skylab program are examined. Interpretations of spacecraft data to show specific areas of interest are developed.
Peterson, G. W.↗
Electron/proton spectrometer certification documentation analyses
A compilation of analyses generated during the development of the electron-proton spectrometer for the Skylab program is presented. The data documents the analyses required by the electron-proton spectrometer verification plan. The verification plan was generated to satisfy the ancillary hardware requirements of the Apollo Applications program. The certification of the spectrometer requires that various tests, inspections, and analyses be documented, approved, and accepted by reliability and quality control personnel of the spectrometer development program.
Gleeson, P.↗
Multivariable control theory applied to hierarchial attitude control for planetary spacecraft
Multivariable control theory is applied to the design of a hierarchial attitude control system for the CARD space vehicle. The system selected uses reaction control jets (RCJ) and control moment gyros (CMG). The RCJ system uses linear signal mixing and a no-fire region similar to that used on the Skylab program; the y-axis and z-axis systems which are coupled use a sum and difference feedback scheme. The CMG system uses the optimum steering law and the same feedback signals as the RCJ system. When both systems are active the design is such that the torques from each system are never in opposition. A state-space analysis was made of the CMG system to determine the general structure of the input matrices (steering law) and feedback matrices that will decouple the axes. It is shown that the optimum steering law and proportional-plus-rate feedback are special cases. A derivation of the disturbing torques on the space vehicle due to the motion of the on-board television camera is presented. A procedure for computing an upper bound on these torques (given the system parameters) is included.
Boland, J. S., III↗
Scientific involvement in Skylab by the Space Sciences Laboratory of the Marshall Space Flight Center
The involvement of the Marshall Space Flight Center's Space Sciences Laboratory in the Skylab program from the early feasibility studies through the analysis and publication of flight scientific and technical results is described. This includes mission operations support, the Apollo telescope mount, materials science/manufacturing in space, optical contamination, environmental and thermal criteria, and several corollary measurements and experiments.
Winkler, C. E.↗
Skylab experiments. Volume 2: Remote sensing of earth resources
This volume covers the broad area of earth resources in which Skylab experiments will be performed. A brief description of the Skylab program, its objectives, and vehicles is included. Section 1 introduces the concept and historical significance of remote sensing, and discusses the major scientific considerations involved in remotely sensing the earth's resources. Sections 2 through 6 provide a description of the individual earth resource sensors and experiments to be performed. Each description includes a discussion of the experiment background and scientific objectives, the equipment involved, and a discussion of significant experiment performance areas.
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Advanced ground support checkout systems.
The experience gained with the acceptance checkout equipment for spacecraft, which was used for checkout on the Apollo and Skylab Programs, is discussed in this paper and related to advanced ground systems for the Space Shuttle Program. The basic capabilities of the checkout system are outlined, goals for future checkout systems are discussed, and the unified test equipment system is described.
Osgood, D. R.↗
Spacelab Phase B study environmental control system component handbook
Descriptions are given of candidate components for the Phase B Study of the Spacelab environmental control system. Most of the hardware was defined for the baseline ECS design concept. A low cost design approach was followed, with most of the components being selected from the Apollo and Skylab Programs.
Burns, R. A.↗
Skylab experiments. Volume 6: Mechanics
Skylab program activities are presented in a form adapted to instruction of high school students. The overall goals of the program are discussed. The specific accomplishments of the mechanics investigations are described. The subjects involved are as follows: (1) evaluation of mobility aids, (2) mass measurement devices, and (3) space guidance crew/vehicle disturbances.
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Vehicle misalignment prediction and vehicle/experiment pointing compatibility assessment
A technique for predicting vehicle misalignment, the relationship of vehicle misalignment to the total vehicle/experiment integration effort, and the methodology used in performing a vehicle/experiment pointing compatibility assessment, are presented. The technique is demonstrated in detail by describing how it was used on the Skylab Program.
Hoverkamp, J. D.↗
MSFC Skylab lessons learned
Key lessons learned during the Skylab Program that could have impact on on-going and future programs are presented. They present early and sometimes subjective opinions; however, they give insights into key areas of concern. These experiences from a complex space program management and space flight serve as an early assessment to provide the most advantage to programs underway. References to other more detailed reports are provided.
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Materials processing in zero gravity
Manufacturing processes which are expected to show drastic changes in a space environment due to the absence of earth gravity are classified according to (1) buoyancy and thermal convection sensitive processes and (2) processes where molecular forces like cohesion and adhesion remain as the relatively strongest and hence controlling factors. Some specific process demonstration experiments carried out during the Apollo 14 mission and in the Skylab program are described. These include chemical separation by electrophoresis, the M551 metals melting experiment, the M552 exothermic brazing experiment, the M553 sphere forming experiment, the M554 composite casting experiment, and the M555 gallium arsenide crystal growth experiment.
Wuenscher, H. F.↗
The beta distribution - A statistical model for world cloud cover
A statistical distribution representing worldwide cloud cover is obtained as a basis for an empirical global cloud cover model incorporating some 29 regions of the globe which are of interest to NASA's Skylab Program. A total of 160 representative empirical cloud cover distributions were investigated with the conclusion that the beta probability distribution is an adequate model for world cloud cover.
Falls, L. W.↗
Development of a Korotkov sound processor for automatic identification of auscultatory events. I - Specification of preprocessing bandpass filters
Frequency bands that best discriminate the Korotkov sounds at systole and at diastole from the sounds immediately preceding these events are defined. Korotkov sound data were recorded from five normotensive subjects during orthostatic stress (lower body negative pressure) and bicycle ergometry. A spectral analysis of the seven Korotkov sounds centered about the systolic and diastolic auscultatory events revealed that a maximum increase in amplitude at the systolic transition occurred in the 18-26-Hz band, while a maximum decrease in amplitude at the diastolic transition occurred in the 40-60-Hz band. These findings were remarkably consistent across subjects and test conditions. These passbands are included in the design specifications for an automatic blood pressure measuring system used in conjuction with medical experiments during NASA's Skylab program.
Golden, D. P., Jr.↗
America's future in space
The accomplishments of space technology are briefly reviewed, giving attention to the revolution in communication produced by relay satellites, advances in meteorology due to weather satellites, the exploration of the moon, and the Skylab Program. A new approach to space exploration will be provided by the Space Shuttle. Spacelab offers a wide variety of mission choices to the international scientific community. The study of plasma physics will provide information useful for the development of fusion reactors. The science of astronomy will be advanced by the High Energy Astronomy Observatory and a large space telescope.
Petrone, R. A.↗