Pointing requirements for space station science
It appears that man's next evolutionary step in spaceflight will involve his permanent presence in space with a station in earth orbit. For the purpose of discussing pointing requirements for science and applications studies, a space station with certain characteristics is considered, taking into account a low earth orbit station. It is assumed that the space station will be a system with a permanently manned core facility for conducting science, applications, and technical activities in space. Certain problems can best be solved by utilizing platforms or associated free flying spacecraft which would be part of the space station system, but not part of the space station core. Four classes of pointing requirements are defined, including those which can be satisfied by directly using the space station core, two classes which can be satisfied by gimbal systems, and finally a class which can be satisfied by making use of associated free flying spacecraft or platforms.