Support of the Boeing IUS in the Orbiter payload bay

An account is given of the design evolution of the Space Shuttle Orbiter's Airborne Support Equipment (ASE) system supporting the Inertial Upper Stage (IUS) rocket in the Orbiter's payload bay. It is hoped that much can be learned by other design teams concerned with systems sharing similar constraints and requirements, such as limited spacecraft strength, restowability for Orbiter return flight, and the strength of the IUS's Kevlar rocket case. The selection approach and the major design developments of the chosen system are discussed.