Location
Howard Johnson Plaza-Hotel, Columbia/ Enterprise Rooms
Start Date
24-4-1996 3:00 PM
End Date
24-4-1996 5:00 PM
Description
Space station assembly was demonstrated, albeit on a smaller scale, on STS-74. This experience provided confidence in the ISS Flight 2A assembly method, in which Node 1 will be attached to the Orbiter Docking System (ODS) via SRMS-assisted (Shuttle Remote Manipulator System) docking; then the FGB will be attached to Node 1 in a similar fashion. For the Space Shuttle STS-74 mission, a means of attaching the passive Docking Module (DM) to the ODS was required. The SRMS was used to position and hold the DM above the ODS, while the downfiring Reaction Control System (RCS) thrusters were used to effect the docking. This type of operation had never been attempted with the SRMS before, so a comprehensive dynamic analysis of this operation was performed. A non real-time flex dynamics simulation program was developed to provide the capture statistics, structural loads, and dynamics for this operation. An automated Monte-Carlo approach was used to cover the envelope of expected initial docking conditions. The study showed that the STS-74 DM could be reliably installed on the ODS via SRMS-assisted docking and that the resulting structural loads were acceptable. Post-flight comparisons of the simulation vs. flight data showed that the simulation provided an accurate representation of the system.
Paper Session II-B - STS-74 SRMS- Assisted Docking of Docking Module Demonstrates ISS Assembly Technique
Howard Johnson Plaza-Hotel, Columbia/ Enterprise Rooms
Space station assembly was demonstrated, albeit on a smaller scale, on STS-74. This experience provided confidence in the ISS Flight 2A assembly method, in which Node 1 will be attached to the Orbiter Docking System (ODS) via SRMS-assisted (Shuttle Remote Manipulator System) docking; then the FGB will be attached to Node 1 in a similar fashion. For the Space Shuttle STS-74 mission, a means of attaching the passive Docking Module (DM) to the ODS was required. The SRMS was used to position and hold the DM above the ODS, while the downfiring Reaction Control System (RCS) thrusters were used to effect the docking. This type of operation had never been attempted with the SRMS before, so a comprehensive dynamic analysis of this operation was performed. A non real-time flex dynamics simulation program was developed to provide the capture statistics, structural loads, and dynamics for this operation. An automated Monte-Carlo approach was used to cover the envelope of expected initial docking conditions. The study showed that the STS-74 DM could be reliably installed on the ODS via SRMS-assisted docking and that the resulting structural loads were acceptable. Post-flight comparisons of the simulation vs. flight data showed that the simulation provided an accurate representation of the system.
Comments
Space Station/ MIR Report
Session Chairman: Bill Bates, Chief of Staff, ISSA, NASA, Johnson Space Center
Session Organizer: Vanessa Stromer