A space platform for a wide variety of missions prior to Columbus space station availability is proposed. It can be launched as spare capacity or as main payload on different launchers into a variety of orbits, where it circles for a limited time and then a subset or the whole reenters in a controlled way for recovery on ground. The general configuration is composed of two separable elements: an expendable part, the bus, and a reentry vehicle (REV). Maximum diameter for the bus is 2 m to have an easy and feasible accommodation on a wide variety of launchers. The REV is dimensioned to be able to provide a payload dedicated volume greater than 0.2 cum and the global mass of the platform is not greater than 1500 kg. The BUS is conceived for two alternatives: a battery powered baseline for a ten-day mission, and an option with solar arrays for a 1-month mission. Subsystems are: structure, thermal control, electrical power, attitude control, data handling, communication, and mechanisms. The REV is composed of separable units: a propulsion module and a reentry capsule. The subsystem list is similar to the bus with propulsion and recovery systems added.
Interim Flight Opportunity (IFO). Volume 1: Executive Summary
1987
65 pages
Report
Keine Angabe
Englisch