Report of the Committee on a Commercially Developed Space Facility (1989) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:
ASSESSMENT OF THE NEED FOR A CDSF
ASSESSMENT OF THE NEED FOR A CDSF
Pages 47-56
The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.
From page 47... ...
To evaluate properly the need for a CDSF or for any additional flight capabilities beyond existing and planned facilities, it was necessary to examine the current national program in microgravity sciences and to investigate the scientific and commercial potentials of microgravity research. In recent years there has been an abundance of literature to the effect that flight opportunities were insufficient and that U.S.
|
From page 48... ...
activities in microgravity research by significant budgetary increases and by planning more flight opportunities aboard Shuttle-based facilities. Indeed, roughly 18 Shuttle equivalent missions for materials and life sciences microgravity research are tentatively manifested by NASA for the period prior to FY 1995.
|
From page 49... ...
If a free-flying platform is only periodically tended by humans, its environment will probably display a lower gravitational level and contain fewer disturbances than either the Shuttle or the Space Station with their attendant human activity and periodic thruster firings. Also, the low-frequency, or quasi-static, components of the acceleration vector, which play the major role in affecting many types of microgravity experiments, are themselves sensitive to the platform's orbital parameters, flight path, and vehicular orientation.
|
From page 50... ...
Thus, there is likely to be some loss or slippage of microgravity research opportunities during this period unless some presently manifested payloads, for example from the Department of Defense, do not materialize. The committee believes that, barring a drastic reduction in flight rates from the planned 13 or 14 missions per year shown in the current manifest for 1993-1994, the microgravity research community should have adequate flight opportunities to carry on a meaningful research activity.
|
From page 51... ...
. Terrestrial automation and robotics is generally sufficient for remote monitoring, reconfiguration, and simple modification and repair of microgravity experiments provided that: • A&R and telescience specialists and microgravity researchers communicate and work together to a greater degree than in the past, • microgravity experiments are designed to accommodate A&R and telescience, and • prelaunch checkout also includes systematic trials with A&R and telescience to observe normal phenomena, detect failures, and make modifications and repairs.
|
From page 52... ...
In addition, as noted above, the budget for microgravity experimentation would have to be considerably enhanced to provide equipment for experiments along with automation for a free-flyer. ECONOMIC AND COMMERCIAL CONSIDERATIONS Based on historical experience, the broadened comprehension generated by innovative research ultimately will have commercial consequences.
|
From page 53... ...
human-tended free-flyer in the period prior to the Space Station to meet microgravity research or manufacturing requirements. Anticipated microgravity experimental activities requiring a human presence can be adequately conducted using current Shuttle-based facilities during the 1992-1997 time period, assuming reasonably reliable access to space.
|
From page 54... ...
A more extensive delay that would jeopardize expected advances in microgravity sciences would warrant a reconsideration of the need for a CDSF or other free-flyer. The committee notes, however, that a human-tended free-flyer is not an adequate long-term substitute for particular microgravity research capabilities (e.g., continuous manned interaction, high available user power)
|
From page 55... ...
Indeed, plans already exist for a Space Station Man-Tended Free-Flyer to be developed by the European Space Agency. The committee's analysis indicates that having greatly enhanced access to space up to five years earlier than the Space Station is anticipated actually would add little toward speeding space commercialization based on exploitation of the microgravity environment.
|
Key Terms
This material may be derived from roughly machine-read images, and so is provided only to facilitate research.
More
information on Chapter Skim is available.