Space station orbit selection
Abstract
Architecture and operations with respect to a permanent manned space facility are being studied, and basic modules of such a space station could be in orbit by 1992. A manned space station in low-earth orbit (LEO) represents a transportation node between the Space Shuttle and orbital transfer vehicles which together comprise a total space transportation system. The present investigation has the objective to examine the trades between performance and operational requirements of a space transportation system which affect space station orbit selection. Factors influencing the trades and selection process include launch vehicle and orbital transfer vehicle (OTV) delivery performance, vehicle launch frequency and windows, station drag characteristics, drag-makeup propulsion, and minimum orbital lifetime requirements.
- Publication:
-
Journal of the Astronautical Sciences
- Pub Date:
- December 1984
- Bibcode:
- 1984JAnSc..32..377T
- Keywords:
-
- Manned Space Flight;
- Orbit Calculation;
- Space Rendezvous;
- Space Stations;
- Space Transportation System;
- Transfer Orbits;
- Earth Orbits;
- Orbit Transfer Vehicles;
- Orbital Lifetime;
- Space Shuttle Orbiters;
- Trajectory Optimization;
- Astrodynamics