DESIGN AND OPERATION OF A SPACE RENDEZVOUS SIMULATOR.
Abstract
A one degree- of-freedom rendezvous simulator was designed and constructed to simulate a 2500-foot rendezvous to determine an astronaut's ability to make a tolerable impact upon a spacecraft when the astronaut is propelled from a first spacecraft by a self-contained, six degree-of-freedom Astronaut Maneuvering Unit (AMU). Conducted in a 270foot, light-tight photometric tunnel, each run comprised two portions: (1) one with an illuminated target appropriately increasing in size to give the effect of motion while subject and target remained stationary, and (2) the second with the target full size while a light-weight cart carried the target along the tunnel tracks to produce actual motion. Test results from 30 human subjects revealed that AMU's 20pound retrothrust would be more than adequate to decelerate from the test closing velocities to a tolerable impact. Autokinetic effects causing the appearance of false target movement and other effects, such as those which might result from a stellar background and a subject's having two or more angular degrees of freedom, prompted recommendations for provisions to be incorporated in a future test facility. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 01, 1964
- Accession Number
- AD0609748
Entities
People
- Robert A. Schmall
- Thomas J. Wittmann