Navigation and pointing timeline development for an autonomous free-flying Shuttle payload
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Lambros, S. D.↗
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Microgravity science and applications projects and payloads
An overview of work conducted by the Microgravity Science and Applications Division of NASA is presented. The goals of the program are the development and implementation of a reduced-gravity research, science and applications program, exploitation of space for human benefits, and the application of reduced gravity research for the development of advanced technologies. Space research of fluid dynamics and mass transport phenomena is discussed and the facilities available for reduced gravity experiments are presented. A program for improving communication with the science and applications communities and the potential use of the Space Station for microgravity research are also examined.
Crouch, R. K.↗
NASA Office of Space Sciences and Applications study on Space Station attached payload pointing
A study has been conducted to determine the articulated-pointing requirements of a suite of instruments carried by the NASA Space Station, and define a pointing system architecture accomodating those requirements. It is found that these pointing requirements are sufficiently exacting, and the Space Station's disturbance environment sufficiently severe, to preclude the successful use of a conventional gimbal-pointing system; a gimbaled system incorporating an isolation stage is judged capable of furnishing the requisite levels of pointing performance.
Laskin, R. A.↗
The transportation of fine arts materials aboard the space shuttle Columbia. GAS payload No. 481: Vertical horizons
The Vertical Horizons experiment represents an initial investigation into the transportation of fine arts materials aboard a space shuttle. Within the confines of a GAS canister, artist quality fine arts materials were packaged and exposed to the rigors of space flight in an attempt to identify adverse effects.
Kurtz, Ellery↗
Dypas: A dynamic payload scheduler for shuttle missions
Decision and analysis systems have had broad and very practical application areas in the human decision making process. These software systems range from the help sections in simple accounting packages, to the more complex computer configuration programs. Dypas is a decision and analysis system that aids prelaunch shutlle scheduling, and has added functionality to aid the rescheduling done in flight. Dypas is written in Common Lisp on a Symbolics Lisp machine. Dypas differs from other scheduling programs in that it can draw its knowledge from different rule bases and apply them to different rule interpretation schemes. The system has been coded with Flavors, an object oriented extension to Common Lisp on the Symbolics hardware. This allows implementation of objects (experiments) to better match the problem definition, and allows a more coherent solution space to be developed. Dypas was originally developed to test a programmer's aptitude toward Common Lisp and the Symbolics software environment. Since then the system has grown into a large software effort with several programmers and researchers thrown into the effort. Dypas is currently using two expert systems and three inferencing procedures to generate a many object schedule. The paper will review the abilities of Dypas and comment on its functionality.
Davis, Stephen↗
A knowledge-based decision support system for payload scheduling
This paper presents the development of a prototype Knowledge-based Decision Support System, currently under development, for scheduling payloads/experiments on space station missions. The DSS is being built on Symbolics, a Lisp machine, using KEE, a commercial knowledge engineering tool.
Tyagi, Rajesh↗
A Normal Incidence X-ray Telescope (NIXT) sounding rocket payload
Work on the High Resolution X-ray (HRX) Detector Program is described. In the laboratory and flight programs, multiple copies of a general purpose set of electronics which control the camera, signal processing and data acquisition, were constructed. A typical system consists of a phosphor convertor, image intensifier, a fiber optics coupler, a charge coupled device (CCD) readout, and a set of camera, signal processing and memory electronics. An initial rocket detector prototype camera was tested in flight and performed perfectly. An advanced prototype detector system was incorporated on another rocket flight, in which a high resolution heterojunction vidicon tube was used as the readout device for the H(alpha) telescope. The camera electronics for this tube were built in-house and included in the flight electronics. Performance of this detector system was 100 percent satisfactory. The laboratory X-ray system for operation on the ground is also described.
Golub, Leon↗
EOS integrated payload articulation and identification system
This paper describes an autonomous control concept for pointing and articulation of science instruments on the EOS NASA/NOAA platforms intended to be operational by the late 1990s. Key features of this concept include advanced control adaptation and tuning strategies which provide performance robustness over a wide range of system uncertainties and mission time criticality. System identification-control modification paradigms are synthesized to form an adaptation continuum over this extended regime of autonomous operations.
Mettler, Edward↗
U.S. Laboratory Module - Its capabilities and accommodations to support user payloads
The U.S. Laboratory Module of the Space Station is discussed, focusing on user accommodations. The configuration and subsystems capabilities of the module are described, including the power, thermal, environmental control, and data management subsystems, the vacuum system, process materials management, and laboratory support equipment. The experimental facilities included in the laboratory are listed. The experiment operations planned for the laboratory are examined and compared with the experimental activities in other manned space laboratories.
Powell, Luther E.↗
Engineering tethered payloads for magnetic and plasma observations in low orbit
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Webster, William J., Jr.↗
Delta II secondary payload opportunities for tether demonstration experiments
The possibility of using the Delta II launch vehicle for tether demonstration experiments is discussed. The Small Expendable-tether Deployment System (SEDS) mission scenario is outlined and the process of integrating the SEDS with the Delta II is examined. Emphasis is given to the selection of a mounting position and the determination of the services which the second stage would provide the deployer. Other potential experiments using the Delta II are considered, including studies of tether dynamics, an atmospheric probe, and a plasma interaction experiment.
Carvey, J. M.↗
Manipulation strategies for massive space payloads
Control for the bracing strategy is being examined. It was concluded earlier that trajectory planning must be improved to best achieve the bracing motion. Very interesting results were achieved which enable the inverse dynamics of flexible arms to be calculated for linearized motion in a more efficient manner than previously published. The desired motion of the end point beginning at t=0 and ending at t=t sub f is used to calculate the required torque at the joint. The solution is separated into a causal function that is zero for t is less than 0 and an accusal function which is zero for t is greater than t sub f. A number of alternative end point trajectories were explored in terms of the peak torque required, the amount of anticipatory action, and other issues. The single link case is the immediate subject and an experimental verification of that case is being performed. Modeling with experimental verification of closed chain dynamics continues. Modeling effort has pointed out inaccuracies that result from the choice of numerical techniques used to incorporate the closed chain constraints when modeling our experimental prototype RALF (Robotic Arm Large and Flexible). Results were compared to TREETOPS, a multi body code. The experimental verification work is suggesting new ways to make comparisons with systems having structural linearity and joint and geometric nonlinearity. The generation of inertial forces was studied with a small arm that will damp the large arm's vibration.
Book, Wayne J.↗
ATDRS payload technology research and development
Four technology development tasks were chosen to reduce (or at least better understand) the technology risks associated with proposed approaches to Advanced Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (ATDRS). The four tasks relate to a Tri-Band Antenna feed system, a Digital Beamforming System for the S Band Multiple Access System (SMA), an SMA Phased Array Antenna, and a Configuration Thermal/Mechanical Analysis task. The objective, approach, and status of each are discussed.
Anzic, G.↗
Optimal payload rate limit algorithm for zero-G manipulators
An algorithm for continuously computing safe maximum relative velocities for two bodies joined by a manipulator is discussed. The maximum velocities are such that if the brakes are applied at that instant, the ensuing travel between the bodies will be less than or equal to a predetermined amount. An improvement in the way this limit is computed for space manipulators is shown. The new method is explained, test cases are posed, and the results of these tests are displayed and discussed.
Ross, M. L.↗
The supermodule - A design departure from the Shuttle payload paradigm
An effort has been made to formulate a novel approach to the construction of manned orbital facilities, in the context of a long-term launch strategy. The pressurized volume component of a manned platform is the point of departure, and an integrated vehicle designated the 'Supermodule' is defined which replaces analogous Space Station Freedom pressurized volume components. A launch sequence encompassing one Supermodule, one Shuttle Orbiter, and three Shuttle-Derived Vehicle cargo launchers, could reduce the number of launches needed to build a Space Station of the size of Freedom from 20 to merely five.
Murbach, Marcus S.↗
Redistribution of particulates on a payload during flight ascent
The dislodgement, venting, and redeposition of particles on a surface caused by the vibroacoustic, gravitational, and aerodynamic forces are estimated and the resulting areal obscurations of the surface are calculated. The data on particle redistribution estimated to occur during a Shuttle launch are employed to estimate the obscuration of a spacecraft's star tracker, as it is carried into orbit by the Shuttle. The approach used for that calculation is generalized so that it can be employed for other applications where either the Shuttle or an Expendable Launch Vehicle (ELV) is employed for launch. Approaches for evaluating particle redistribution for other applications and for general use are indicated.
Scialdone, John J.↗
The ultra high resolution XUV spectroheliograph: An attached payload for the Space Station Freedom
The principle goal of the ultra high resolution XUV spectroheliograph (UHRXS) is to improve the ability to identify and understand the fundamental physical processes that shape the structure and dynamics of the solar chromosphere and corona. The ability of the UHRXS imaging telescope and spectrographs to resolve fine scale structures over a broad wavelength (and hence temperature) range is critical to this mission. The scientific objectives and instrumental capabilities of the UHRXS investigation are reviewed before proceeding to a discussion of the expected performance of the UHRXS observatory.
Walker, Arthur B. C., Jr.↗
Evolving the SP-100 reactor in order to boost large payloads to GEO and to low lunar orbit via nuclear-electric propulsion
In striving to reduce exploration cost and exploration risks, a crucial aspect of the plans is program continuity, i.e., the continuing application of a given technology over a long period so that experience will accumulate from extended testing here on Earth and from a diversity of applications in space. An integrated view needs to be formed of the missions SEI will carry out, near term as well as far, and of the ways in which these missions can mutually support one another. Near term programs should be so constituted as to provide for the long term missions both the enabling technologies and the accumulation of experience they need. In achieving this, missions in Earth orbit should both evolve and show the technologies crucial to long term missions on the lunar surface, and the program for the lunar labs should evolve and show the enabling technologies for exploration of the surface of Mars and for flights of human beings to Mars and return. In the near term, the program for the Space Station should be directed and funded to develop and demonstrate the solar Brayton power plant that will be most useful as the power generator for the SP-100 nuclear reactor.
English, Robert E.↗