Linking the Space Shuttle and Space Stations (eBook)

Early Docking Technologies from Concept to Implementation

David J. Shayler (Autor)

eBook Download: PDF

2017 | 1st ed. 2017
XX, 248 Seiten
Springer International Publishing (Verlag)
978-3-319-49769-3 (ISBN)

Infos

How could the newly authorized space shuttle help in the U.S. quest to build a large research station in Earth orbit? As a means of transporting goods, the shuttle could help supply the parts to the station. But how would the two entitles be physically linked?

Docking technologies had to constantly evolve as the designs of the early space stations changed. It was hoped the shuttle would make missions to the Russian Salyut and American Skylab stations, but these

were postponed until the Mir station became available, while plans for getting a new U. S. space station underway were stalled.

In Linking the Space Shuttle and Space Stations, the author delves into the rich history of the Space Shuttle and its connection to these early space stations, culminating in the nine missions to dock the shuttle to

Mir. By 1998, after nearly three decades of planning and operations, shuttle missions to Mir had resulted in:

• A proven system to link up the space shuttle to a space station

• Equipment and hands-on experience in handling tons of materials

• An infrastructure to support space station assembly and resupply

Each of these played a pivotal role in developing the skills and procedures crucial to the creation of the later, much larger and far more complex International Space Station, as described in the companion

volume Assembling and Supplying the ISS: The Space Shuttle Fulfills Its Mission.

Dave Shayler has been following the shuttle operational story for over 30 years and in particular aspects of its relationship with space stations. He has presented numerous papers on the topic and has authored series of articles published by the BIS in support of this outreach program and research. This work includes:

• 1991: The proposed USSR Salyut and US Shuttle Docking Mission circa 1981 (paper presented at the BIS Soviet Technical Forum 1991; paper published in JBIS 1991)
• 2000: American flights to Mir (Space shuttle) (published in BIS publication History of Mir; paper presented at BIS Soviet Technical Forum)
• 2002: NASA Shuttle missions to ISS (1998-2002) (published in BIS publication From Imagination to Reality: the ISS Volume 1)
• 2005: NASA Shuttle missions to ISS (2002-2005) (published in the BIS publication From Imagination to Reality: the ISS Volume 2)
• Unpublished: NASA Shuttle missions to ISS (2005-2011)

He joined the BIS in January 1976 and has participated in numerous activities, programs and projects including chairing meetings, working on committees and contributing to society publications. Dozens of his articles have appeared in BIS publications since 1977. He created Astro Info Service in October 1982 to focus his space writing and research, with lectures and educational outreach activities. Early publications included the periodicals ORBITER (on the Shuttle) and ZENIT (on Soviet activities), and a growing range of biographies on the world's space explorers. In 1990 he co-created the Midland Spaceflight Society and acts as its chairman. His first books were published in 1987 by Ian Allen and Salamander Books and since then over 20 titles have been authored including 13 titles in the Praxis Space Library between 2000 and 2009. He has also contributed to U. S. books and collections on human spaceflight including the three editions of Macmillan's Who's Who in Space edited by Michael Cassutt. In 2008 his authorised biography on Skylab astronaut Jerry Carr was published after 20 years' research. Personal research has been conducted at NASA JSC in Houston and at KSC in Florida, as well as at Rice and Clear Lake Universities and NARA archives in Texas. His research has also allowed him to complete a fascinating and informative visit to Russia in 2003 visiting the Cosmonaut Training Center and other facilities around Moscow.

Inhalt

Contents 5
Preface 8
Acknowledgements 11
Foreword 14
Dedication 17
Prologue 18
1: The Space Shuttle and the Space Station 20
A PLAN FOR THE FUTURE 20
A Platform to Work From 21
THE AGE (AND AGING) OF APOLLO 22
The Stark Reality 24
A Space Transportation System 24
BUILDING A MODULAR SPACE STATION 27
Twin Manipulators 27
Establishing an Economic Orbital Installation 28
2: Shuttle and Salyut: A Lost Opportunity 29
THE PROPOSED SHUTTLE-SALYUT DOCKING MISSION 29
Apollo Soyuz 31
The Salyut Era 34
THE ‘ORIGINAL’ INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION 36
US Concerns Raised 37
The May 1977 Agreement 39
NASA’s Tentative Expectations 40
Hopes for the Future? 40
The November 1977 Meeting 41
Next Steps 43
A SOVIET SPACELAB? 43
NASA’s Organization of the Shuttle-Salyut Study Activity 44
THE DEMISE OF SHUTTLE-SALYUT 44
A Congressional Review in 1982 46
A RETURN TO SKYLAB? 48
Leaving the Keys Under the Mat 48
Marshall’s Skylab-Shuttle Plans 49
Shuttle-Skylab Phase-II 49
Shuttle-Skylab Phase-III 50
Teleoperator Retrieval System 51
Abandoning Skylab 52
Notes 53
3: The Price of Freedom 55
NASA’s “all-electric flying machine” 1981–1986 55
SHUTTLE SUPPORTS SPACE STATION FREEDOM 1984–1992 56
A Fifth Orbiter? 60
Modifying the Orbiter to Support Space Station Freedom 60
Within the Confines 64
Large Platform Assembler – An Orbiter Mounted Configuration 65
Shuttle Design Considerations in the Development of Large Space Structures 66
AN INDUSTRIAL SPACE FACILITY 69
FROM A CONCEPT TO A REAL PROGRAM 70
Summary 71
Notes 72
4: Putting it All Together 73
FLIGHT PLANNING 73
The Jigsaw Puzzle of Flight Planning 75
PROCESSING THE HARDWARE 77
KSC Launch Directors 77
Cogs in the Wheel 77
PREPARING TO FLY 77
Processing the Orbiters 79
Vehicle Assembly Building 83
CHESS ON A LARGE SCALE 86
LAUNCH PAD TO SPACE 89
Roll Out 89
Launch Complex 39 91
The Roll Backs 97
LAUNCH DATE FLUIDITY 98
Postponements, Scrubs and Delays: Shuttle-Mir, 1994–1998 98
READY TO GO 100
Notes 100
5: The Human Element 101
RE-LEARNING OLD SKILLS 101
SHUTTLE CREW TRAINING 102
Crew Designations 102
A Team Effort 104
Shuttle Training: A Brief Overview 106
International Training 108
Support Roles 109
SHUTTLE-MIR CREWING 109
The Early Assignments 109
First Cosmonauts and Astronauts Named 111
Director Of Operations in Russia 114
First Docking Crew 115
A Return to Mir 116
Extending Shuttle-Mir 118
Wendy Lawrence 119
The Final Crews for Mir 120
The Final Mir Assignments 122
BY THE NUMBERS 123
Shuttle-Mir 123
Notes 124
6: Getting There 125
FROM PAD TO ORBIT 125
Preparing for Orbital Operations 125
GROUND CONTROL 127
Director of Operations in Russia 127
Mission Control Houston, Shuttle-Mir 128
THE SHUTTLE RENDEZVOUS PROFILE 130
Skills Based on History 130
DEVELOPMENT OF SHUTTLE RENDEZVOUS 131
On Board Systems 133
The Way to Go 134
Putting Theory into Practice 135
SHUTTLE DOCKING PROSPECTS AND CAPABILITY 138
Methods of Approach 138
Docking Approaches 139
Plume Control 139
SNIP or SNOOPy? 139
The Corridor 139
ORBITER DOCKING SYSTEM 139
Rockwell’s Docking Modes 140
Phase C Docking Concepts 140
Shuttle at Mir 141
SHUTTLE DOCKING PROFILE 142
Preparation 144
Docking 144
What if a Docking had Failed? 146
Operational Experiences 146
Plume Protection 148
EXPERIENCES RECALLED 150
Comparing the Target 152
Notes 153
7: Shuttle-Mir 1994–1998 155
A Cosmonaut on Shuttle, an Astronaut on Mir 156
THE SHUTTLE-MIR JOINT US-RUSSIAN MISSIONS 157
Shuttle-Mir Summary 165
LESSONS FROM SHUTTLE-MIR 167
Notes 170
8: The Docked Phase 171
WELCOME ABOARD 171
RMS ACTIVITIES DURING SHUTTLE-MIR 172
STS-74 RMS Activities 173
ASVS Checkout 174
STS-91 RMS Activities 176
SHUTTLE-BASED EVA AT MIR 177
STS-76 EVA at Mir 178
STS-86 EVA at Mir 180
EXPERIMENTS AND OUTREACH 181
Ongoing Research 181
Notes 187
9: Crew Transfers and Loadmasters 188
THE CARRIERS 189
Pressurized Modules 190
Unpressurized Carriers 194
THE STOWAGE FACILITIES 195
Maintaining the Center of Mass 201
A MOVING EXPERIENCE 202
Plan Against Reality 202
Working with Spacehab 207
Notes 210
10: Getting Back 211
LEAVING 211
Off to the Movies 213
UNDOCKING THE SHUTTLE 214
Fly-Around Maneuver 215
Undocking from Mir 216
Those Precious Final Orbits 216
RECUMBENT SEATING 217
Landing Day Minus One 219
COMING HOME 220
SUMMARY 226
Notes 227
Closing Comments 228
Afterword 231
Abbreviations 233
Appendix 1: Shuttle-Mir Crewmembers 1994–1998 237
Appendix 2: Space Shuttle/Space Station Freedom Assembly Manifests 1986–1993 239
STS Space Shuttle Payload Flight Assignments, October 3, 1986 239
Payload Flight Assignments: NASA Mixed Fleet, October 22, 1987 240
Industrial Space Facility (ISF) 240
Space Station (SS) 240
Payload Flight Assignments: NASA Mixed Fleet, March 1988 241
Industrial Space Facility (ISF) 241
Space Station (SS) 242
Payload Flight Assignments: NASA Mixed Fleet, January 1989 242
Industrial Space Facility (ISF) 242
Space Station (SS) 243
Payload Flight Assignments: NASA Mixed Fleet, June 1989 243
Industrial Space Facility (ISF) 243
Space Station Freedom (SSF) Phase-I 244
Payload Flight Assignments: NASA Mixed Fleet, January 1990 244
Industrial Space Facility (ISF) 244
Space Station Freedom 245
Payload Flight Assignments: NASA Mixed Fleet, December 1990 246
Industrial Space Facility (ISF) 246
Space Station Freedom 246
Payload Flight Assignments: NASA Mixed Fleet, February 1991 247
Industrial Space Facility (ISF) 247
Space Station Freedom 247
Payload Flight Assignments: NASA Mixed Fleet, August 1991 248
Industrial Space Facility (ISF) 248
Space Station Freedom 248
Payload Flight Assignments: NASA Mixed Fleet, January 1992 249
Industrial Space Facility (ISF) 249
Space Station Freedom 249
Payload Flight Assignments: NASA Mixed Fleet, April 1993 250
Industrial Space Facility (ISF) 250
Space Station Freedom 250
Bibliography 252
Interviews 252
Periodicals 253
Newspapers 253
NASA Publications 253
Media Publications 254
British Interplanetary Society Books and Articles 254
Springer-Praxis Series in Space Exploration 254
Other Books 255
About the Author 256
Other Works by the Author 258
Index 260

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 27.6.2017
• Reihe/Serie: Space Exploration
• Reihe/Serie: Space Exploration
• Reihe/Serie: Springer Praxis Books
• Reihe/Serie: Springer Praxis Books
• Zusatzinfo: XX, 248 p. 122 illus., 107 illus. in color.
• Verlagsort: Cham
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Sachbuch/Ratgeber ► Natur / Technik ► Technik
• Themenwelt: Geisteswissenschaften ► Geschichte ► Regional- / Ländergeschichte
• Themenwelt: Naturwissenschaften ► Physik / Astronomie ► Astronomie / Astrophysik
• Themenwelt: Technik ► Luft- / Raumfahrttechnik
• Schlagworte: Apollo Soyuz Test Project • Constructing a Space Station • International Space Station • Joint manned space programs • Reusable Space Vehicles • Skylab Space Station • Space Shuttle Mir Dockings • Space Station Freedom
• ISBN-10: 3-319-49769-3 / 3319497693
• ISBN-13: 978-3-319-49769-3 / 9783319497693