Location
Howard Johnson Plaza-Hotel, Atlantis/ Discovery Rooms
Start Date
25-4-1990 2:00 PM
End Date
25-4-1990 5:00 PM
Description
The Space Station currently is being designed to maximize crew safety through fault tolerance, safehaven provisions, and crew delivery and return using the Space Transportation System (STS). Studies have identified the need for assured crew return capability through a space-based "lifeboat" that is always available for use in contingencies encompassing (1) medical emergencies, (2) Space Station failures, and (3) interruption of STS services. This paper reviews major mission, operational, and system requirements and the process for evaluating a range of practical vehicle and operational options. It describes flight and ground system design concepts and the major trade studies being performed to select the best end-to-end system that will provide a basis for design and development. Flight vehicles include capsules with ballistic and low lift/drag characteristics and lifting body aerodynamic-shaped designs. Ground systems emphasize the use of existing resources.
Paper Session II-A - Space Station Assured Crew Return Vehicle (ACRV) System and Operational Considerations
Howard Johnson Plaza-Hotel, Atlantis/ Discovery Rooms
The Space Station currently is being designed to maximize crew safety through fault tolerance, safehaven provisions, and crew delivery and return using the Space Transportation System (STS). Studies have identified the need for assured crew return capability through a space-based "lifeboat" that is always available for use in contingencies encompassing (1) medical emergencies, (2) Space Station failures, and (3) interruption of STS services. This paper reviews major mission, operational, and system requirements and the process for evaluating a range of practical vehicle and operational options. It describes flight and ground system design concepts and the major trade studies being performed to select the best end-to-end system that will provide a basis for design and development. Flight vehicles include capsules with ballistic and low lift/drag characteristics and lifting body aerodynamic-shaped designs. Ground systems emphasize the use of existing resources.
Comments
Space Station
Session Chairman: John Cox, Director, Program Utilization and Operations for the Space Station Program, NASA
Session Organizer: Nancy Lorenz, McDonnell Douglas Space Systems Company, Florida