A Proposed Design for an Interim Space Rescue Ferry Vehicle.
Abstract
This investigation proposed a method of connecting the Personnel Rescue Enclosure to the Manned Maneuvering Unit using a modified flight-qualified hardware item the Apogee Kick Motor Capture Device. The resulting configuration is an immediately available but non-optimum vehicle for transferring stranded astronauts housed within Personnel Rescue Enclosures from a rotating stranded spacecraft to a nearby rescue spacecraft. The flying qualities of this Interim Rescue Vehicle (IRV) were simulated using an existing NASA spaceflight simulation computer program. The results showed that the Manned Maneuvering Unit's control system was capable of limiting uncommanded IRV rotations to within the control law deadbands during all simulated maneuvers and in all control modes except during transverse translations in the Backup control mode. The IRV's increased mass and increased center-of-mass/center-of-thrust offset significantly degraded acceleration capability and specific propellant consumption. Plume impingement however was found to be of minor importance. The Satellite Stabilization mode was found to have significant rotational-to-translational coupling which made it undesirable for IRV use. Finally procedures were outlined for using the IRV in an orbiter-to-orbiter rescue scenario. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 1985
- Accession Number
- ADA164039
Entities
People
- James D. Halsell Jr
Organizations
- Air Force Institute of Technology