Space rescue system definition (system performance analysis and trades)
Abstract
This paper addresses key technical issues involved in the system definition of the Assured Crew Return Vehicle (ACRV). The perspective on these issues is that of a prospective ACRV contractor, performing system analysis and trade studies. The objective of these analyses and trade studies is to develop the recovery vehicle system concept and top level requirements. The starting point for this work is the definition of the set of design missions for the ACRV. This set of missions encompasses three classes of contingency/emergency (crew illness/injury, space station catastrophe/failure, transportation element catastrophe/failure). The need is to provide a system to return Space Station crew to Earth quickly (less than 24 hours) in response to randomly occurring contingency events over an extended period of time (30 years of planned Space Station life). The main topics addressed and characterized in this paper include the following: Key Recovery (Rescue) Site Access Considerations; Rescue Site Locations and Distribution; Vehicle Cross Range vs Site Access; On-orbit Loiter Capability and Vehicle Design; and Water vs. Land Recovery.
- Publication:
-
NASA STI/Recon Technical Report A
- Pub Date:
- 1992
- Bibcode:
- 1992STIA...9588022H
- Keywords:
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- Aerospace Safety;
- Emergencies;
- Manned Spacecraft;
- Rescue Operations;
- Return To Earth Space Flight;
- Space Station Freedom;
- Recovery Zones;
- Spacecraft Design;
- Spacecraft Recovery;
- Space Transportation