Paper Session IV-B - Shuttle-C Engineering Development and Operations
Special Topics
Session Chairman: Don Capone, Donald J. Capone Consulting Services, Inc., Cocoa Beach, FL
Session Organizer: Ned Wagnon, Engineering Development Directorage, NASA KSC
Description
The Shuttle-C is a cargo vehicle derived from the Space Shuttle to provide the Space Transportation System (STS) with heavy-lift capability: This early system enhancement can deliver 100,000 to 150,000 pounds of payload to low earth orbit from the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) launch complex within 4 years of authority to proceed.
This paper reviews the derivation of the Shuttle-C from the STS, their commonality and similarities, and planned enhancements. A full-scale engineering development unit (EDU) for early Shuttle-C mockup and systems installation has been completed and will be converted to a functional test bed later this year. Wind tunnel tests are under way at Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC). Other major development tests include structural static and vibration.
Shuttle-C will be integrated with Shuttle processing at KSC in the same facilities. To support the planned operational launch rate of 14 Shuttles and 3 Shuttle-C's a year, additional capability will be provided as the program matures. The facility activation and initial Shuttle-C flow plans are included in the paper.
Paper Session IV-B - Shuttle-C Engineering Development and Operations
The Shuttle-C is a cargo vehicle derived from the Space Shuttle to provide the Space Transportation System (STS) with heavy-lift capability: This early system enhancement can deliver 100,000 to 150,000 pounds of payload to low earth orbit from the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) launch complex within 4 years of authority to proceed.
This paper reviews the derivation of the Shuttle-C from the STS, their commonality and similarities, and planned enhancements. A full-scale engineering development unit (EDU) for early Shuttle-C mockup and systems installation has been completed and will be converted to a functional test bed later this year. Wind tunnel tests are under way at Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC). Other major development tests include structural static and vibration.
Shuttle-C will be integrated with Shuttle processing at KSC in the same facilities. To support the planned operational launch rate of 14 Shuttles and 3 Shuttle-C's a year, additional capability will be provided as the program matures. The facility activation and initial Shuttle-C flow plans are included in the paper.
