Presenter Information

Walter C. Nelson

Start Date

4-1987 8:00 AM

Description

A variety of rendezvous maneuvers are examined between space stations in geocentric orbits at altitudes ranging between 200 kilometers and geosynchronous altitude. Minimum times to complete rendezvous are studied for purposes of expediting crew patient transfer to an orhiting Medical ·sase Station (MBS). Stabilization of trauma and definitive care can be provided on the MBS for serious medical/surgical problems occurring during the course of space operations on some Space Station (SS) with less medical care capability remote from the MBS. The MBS to which the crew patient is to be transferred is assumed to incorporate the most advanced medical care capabilities in space. In the continuing exploration of space this MBS is regarded as a major element of a base station from which other satellite space stations will be operating. The rendezvous maneuvers examined are also applicable to healthy crew transfers and unmanned transfers between space stations in the year 2000 era when multiple space stations are planned to be operating, although with these types of transfers a minimum time constraint may not be applicable.

The vehicle to be used for crew patient tranfers to the MBS will he referred to in this paper as a Space Ambulance Vehicle (SAV). The SAV is assumed to utilize two velocity impulses to complete rendezvous maneuvers between a SS and the MBS - one accelerating impulse when departing the SS and a second decelerating impulse prior to docking with the MBS. The velocity increments required for a SAV to execute a wide class of coplanar orbit transfers are examined between earth stations in orbits extending' to geosynchronous altitude. In general these impulse velocity increments will combine the propulsion requirements associated with coplanar orbit transfers and propulsion requirements associated with orbit plane changes accompanying most rendezvous maneuvers.

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Apr 1st, 8:00 AM

Orbit Design for a Space Ambulance Vehicle

A variety of rendezvous maneuvers are examined between space stations in geocentric orbits at altitudes ranging between 200 kilometers and geosynchronous altitude. Minimum times to complete rendezvous are studied for purposes of expediting crew patient transfer to an orhiting Medical ·sase Station (MBS). Stabilization of trauma and definitive care can be provided on the MBS for serious medical/surgical problems occurring during the course of space operations on some Space Station (SS) with less medical care capability remote from the MBS. The MBS to which the crew patient is to be transferred is assumed to incorporate the most advanced medical care capabilities in space. In the continuing exploration of space this MBS is regarded as a major element of a base station from which other satellite space stations will be operating. The rendezvous maneuvers examined are also applicable to healthy crew transfers and unmanned transfers between space stations in the year 2000 era when multiple space stations are planned to be operating, although with these types of transfers a minimum time constraint may not be applicable.

The vehicle to be used for crew patient tranfers to the MBS will he referred to in this paper as a Space Ambulance Vehicle (SAV). The SAV is assumed to utilize two velocity impulses to complete rendezvous maneuvers between a SS and the MBS - one accelerating impulse when departing the SS and a second decelerating impulse prior to docking with the MBS. The velocity increments required for a SAV to execute a wide class of coplanar orbit transfers are examined between earth stations in orbits extending' to geosynchronous altitude. In general these impulse velocity increments will combine the propulsion requirements associated with coplanar orbit transfers and propulsion requirements associated with orbit plane changes accompanying most rendezvous maneuvers.

 

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