A STUDY OF AN ORBITAL MAINTENANCE AND MATERIAL TRANSFER SHUTTLE

Abstract

A conceptual study of an orbital maintenance and material transfer shuttle is presented. The shuttle is a one-man vehicle used for transporting personnel and materials between other orbiting vehicles and for performing maintenance and repair on space stations or unmanned satellites. The application of the shuttle to existing and proposed space systems is examined and found to be feasible and economically advantageous. The trade-offs between range, duration, propulsion and on-board power systems are presented and design values selected. A simple guidance technique using a short-range radar is formulated. Results of simulated maintenance experiments conducted with a worker in a pressure suit are reported and integrated into the shuttle design.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 01, 1964
Accession Number
AD0438517

Entities

People

  • Ray Goodall

Organizations

  • Lockheed Martin

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Biomedical
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Apogees
  • Artificial Satellites
  • Control Systems
  • Coordinate Systems
  • Detectors
  • Geometry
  • Guidance
  • Maintenance
  • Maintenance Equipment
  • Manned Spacecraft
  • Measurement
  • Navigation
  • Propulsion Systems
  • Space Stations
  • Space Systems
  • Spacecraft
  • Spacecraft Orbits

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Logistics and Supply Chain Management.
  • Space Exploration and Orbital Mechanics.
  • Systems Analysis and Design

Technology Areas

  • Autonomy
  • Space