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EVA Equipment for Satellite Service The Space Congress® Proceedings 1981 (18th) The Year of the Shuttle Apr 1st, 8:00 AM EVA Equipment for Satellite Service Harrison R. Griswold Richard C. Wilde Follow this and additional works at: https://commons.erau.edu/space-congress-proceedings Scholarly Commons Citation Griswold, Harrison R. and Wilde, Richard C., "EVA Equipment for Satellite Service" (1981). The Space Congress® Proceedings. 1. https://commons.erau.edu/space-congress-proceedings/proceedings-1981-18th/session-5/1 This Event is brought to you for free and open access by the Conferences at Scholarly Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in The Space Congress® Proceedings by an authorized administrator of Scholarly Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. EVA EQUIPMENT FOR SATELLITE SERVICE Harrison R. Griswold Richard C. Wilde ABSTRACT Requirements are projected for performing orbital satellite service. Emphasis is on defining the role of Extravehicular Activity (EVA) required to support this future space activity. Specific EVA service techniques and equipment are concepted, building on initial baseline service capability supported by the Shuttle Orbiter, Remote Manipulator System, Extravehicular Mobility Unit, and Manned Maneuvering Unit. New EVA concepts discussed are compatible with current and near-term satellites, projected evolution of the Space Transpor­ tation System, and anticipated future space construction requirements. INTRODUCTION SATELLITE SERVICE The Space Transportation System (STS) is a Satellite service is a generic term for STS eveloping national resource that will open a new orbital operations associated with satellite pay- ra of space exploration, utilization and research, loads. Satellite operations can be partitioned into lew STS capability will provide a cost effective three categories of orbital work activity: leans for payload delivery to and retrieval from larth orbit. In addition, STS will provide a maneu- Deployment - Operations involving delivery of Shuttle erable space habitat from which new spectrum of Orbiter satellite payloads to earth orbit, including mportant manned space research and v/ork activity can reboost of satellites back to prescribed operational e supported. In view of the world's growing depen- orbits. lence on the use of space, particularly the use of atellites for communications, monitoring weather Service - Operations associated with resupply, md earth resources, navigation, surveillance and refurbishment, and repair of satellites. Examples stronomy, plans are being made to dedicate a sub- include inspection, photography, lens cleaning, film tanttal portion of future STS activity to deploy- or module replacement, propellant refueling, leak ient, ^service, and retrieval of earth orbiting detection and repair, and antenna replacement. atellites. This STS satellite related space activity s the subject of this paper. Retrieval - Operations associated with returning When STS becomes operational, it will offer a free-flying space objects to the Shuttle Orbiter, 'aseline work capability in space capitalizing on stabilization of spinning or tumbling space objects, stronaut dexterity and adaptive decision-making and satellite-to-Orbiter docking. Objects to be apabilities. In STS activity associated with retrieved include debris and satellites, recovered atellite payloads the role of astronauts in per- either for return-to-earth or service at the Orbiter. r orming Extravehicular Activity (EVA) is expected to e fundamental to practical achievement of mission Currently operational satellites are not de­ ibjectives. As future NASA planning increases signed for orbital service because in-flight satel­ TS capabilities to support a wider range of space lite servicing has not been available. Satellite ctivity, a trend of increasing EVA use is foreseen. system design philosophy to date has been to dictate In this paper, requirements are projected for a stringent requirements for high reliability to lear-term satellite service capability and for an satisfy long mission life requirements. When STS svolved mature service capability, needed for satel- becomes operational, many satellites in low earth ites designed for increased orbital serviceability. orbit (LEO) will be revisitable. This revisit :mphasis is placed on defining the role of EVA in •rbital satellite service. New EVA service tech- capability will offer the satellite designer new iques and support equipment are discussed which will latitude for systems design. It is recognized, how­ xpand service capability. ever, that orbital satellite serviceability will incur certain design, fabrication, and operational costs, a penalty which must be traded against potential savings realized via relaxed systems re­ liability and extended satellite program life. Already, the Space Telescope and Long Duration Ex­ posure Facility, representing next-generation 5-60 TABLE 1. DESIGN REQUIREMENTS FOR SATELLITE SERVICEABILITY satellites, are designed for orbital service. With future development of reusable Space-Tugs and Tele- • Mechanical Loads operators for transferring satellites between LEO and geosynchronous earth orbit (GEO), virtually all earth • Safe Surfaces & Edges orbiting satellites will become candidates for LEO service. • Accessable Maintenance Areas To exploit Orbiter revisit capability, service provision has to be designed into the satellite. • Replaceable Subsystem Modules Projected satellite serviceability design considera­ Payload Instrumentation tions are summarized in Table 1. For example, satel­ Attitude Control & Propulsion lite structure and appendages must be capable of Power withstanding force, torque, and impact loads incurred Data Processing & Telemetry during normal deployment, service, and retrieval activities. Satellite configuration should provide • Fluid Subsystems easy crew access to maintenance areas and be designed Refuelling to minimize risk of damage to the Shuttle Orbiter Safety Venting and Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU), the astronaut Fluid Isolation space suit system. Replaceable subsystem modules Fail-Safe Pressure Vessels should be easy to remove and install, employing standard disconnects, fittings, and fasteners. • Diagnosis & Checkout Capability Anticipated work sites on satellites should include mounts for crewman rigid work restraints. Remote • Standard Interfaces Manipulator System (RMS) docking adapters should be Safety Interlocks included on satellites. Subsystems should include Diagnostic & Checkout Connector safety interlocks for deactivation during service, Disconnects, Fittings & Fasteners and should be of fail-safe design to protect crew- RMS & FSS Adapters members against injury. Capability for computer Crewmember Restraints & Handholds diagnosis and checkout of subsystems should to be provided in the satellite design. TABLE 2. MATURE SATELLITE SERVICE CAPABILITY TASKS Satellite Subsystems § liLim Service Tasks if7f • Manual & Hand-Tool Operations Remove & install panels, covers & shields • • • • • • • • • • inspect & photograph • • • • • • Clean & refurbish surfaces • » • • Remove & install samples or modular components • • • • * • Disconnect & connect electrical connectors • • • « « Disconnect & connect fluid interfaces • • • » Repair electrical harness & connectors • • • • • Repair leaking fluid lines & fittings • • • Repair structural damage • Assemble & install appendages • • • • • Specialized Service Equipment Operations Diagnose, checkout & calibrate • • • • • Measure fluid quantities • • Detect fluid leakage • • Purge & refill fluid subsystems • • 5-61 Maintenance is expected to be restricted to with release effected by a spring actuator mechanism. module replacement and limited repair of non-modular The FSS platform may include provision to impart spin items owing to limitations on EVA astronaut ability to spin-stabilized satellites. Following release, to perform intricate manual tasks. In addition, a thruster activation would propel the satellite to the premium will be placed on maintenance time where only prescribed operational orbit. a fraction of nominal seven-day Shuttle mission time Contingencies could alter the normal deployment will be available for work activity. Table 2 lists sequence. For example, a satellite solar panel could service tasks for satellite subsystems and major com­ fail to self-deploy, requiring use of the RMS for ponents that appear practical to perform in-orbit. panel release. EVA would serve as an additional con­ This satellite characterization and service task tingency backup. EVA might also be required to identification was derived by studying a sample support inspection, evaluation of anomalies, and population of current and near-term satellites. In repair activities prior to or following release of defining the service tasks of Table 2, the following the satellite. Fig. 1 depicts an EVA astronaut were assumed: engaged in a deployment contingency operation. The (1) Satellite serviceability provision exists, astronaut is anchored by foot restraints attached to (2) Satellite has been retrieved and restrained the NASA-concept Manned Remote Work Station (MRWS) at the Orbiter or is orbiting with stable platform mounted to the end of the RMS.MRWS is dynamics, being considered as a near-term capability improve­ (3) EVA astronaut has propulsion capability to ment for STS. The satellite is shown supported on reach remote satellites and transport the FSS platform, which was installed in the Orbiter equipment/supplies, and payload bay before the satellite during pre-flight
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