The loss on re-entry of the space shuttle Columbia on February 1, 2003, from launch damage to the reinforced carbon composite (RCC) wing leading edge has led NASA to require capabilities for shuttle on-orbit inspection and repair. NRL's Beam Physics Branch became involved with efforts to develop repair technologies for RCC materials through their expertise in microwave materials processing and microwave systems design and fabrication. Microwave sources are well suited for curing repair materials in the space environment because of their high electrical efficiency and ability to couple energy into repair materials volumetrically to provide rapid, localized heating. Alternative methods (heat lamp or a conductive heating blanket) were unsuitable because of inefficient surface heating with the heat lamp or difficulty in positioning the blanket in microgravity to obtain proper heating of the repair area without damaging the repair surface. The NRL team's investigation of onorbit microwave curing of shuttle repair materials was carried out in collaboration with scientists at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC), Huntsville, AL, and astronaut James F. Reilly II.


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    Space shuttle orbit maneuvering engine

    Pauckert, R. P. | NTRS | 1975


    Space Shuttle Orbit Maneuvering Engine

    R. P. Pauckert | NTIS | 1975



    Space Shuttle on-orbit proximity operations

    ALEXANDER, R. / CHIU, P. | AIAA | 1982


    Space Shuttle on-orbit flight control system

    NAKANO, M. / WILLMS, R. | AIAA | 1982