US Space Station Research Articles

Seed Science and Technology. Volume 50, Supplement (2022)

It was an honour to be asked to provide an Editorial for the special 50th issue of Seed Science and Technology (SST). This special issue is a landmark for SST and ISTA. The 50th volume also means almost 50 years of seed research has been captured in the different volumes of SST with the first hard copy volume being issued in 1973. This was the same year that the supersonic airliner Concorde made its first non-stop trans-Atlantic crossing, the Sydney Opera house was opened and the first US space station (SkyLab) was launched.

Some Ill Considered Comments on the Protein Structure Initiative

Some Ill Considered Comments on the Protein Structure Initiative

Canada's space program, 1958–1989: A program without an agency

Canada's space program began in 1958 with the work that led to the launch of Canada's first satellite, Alouette 1, in 1962. In 1967, two major reports on Canadian space research efforts called for a Canadian Space Agency (CSA). The Canadian government declined to set up an agency but chose instead in 1969 to establish an interdepartmental committee to coordinate Canada's space efforts. The CSA finally began operations on March 1, 1989. This paper will look at government documents, reports and statements about Canadian space efforts during this time to trace the efforts to establish a CSA. This paper will also examine the creation of the Interdepartmental Committee on Space in 1969. In the 1960s and 1970s, the Canadian government focused on satellites as a communications tool and as a means of encouraging high technology industry in Canada. After joining the US space shuttle program in the 1970s, Canada was invited in the 1980s to send astronauts into space and take part in the US space station program. Although the committee structure was awkward and inconvenient, Canada's space efforts during that time saw a high degree of political and economic success.

US space station research in a coma, NASA contemplates pulling the plug

US space station research in a coma, NASA contemplates pulling the plug

Lessons learned from Mir—a payload perspective

Among the principal objectives of the Phase 1 NASA/Mir program were for the United States to gain experience working with an international partner, to gain working experience in long-duration space flight, and to gain working experience in planning for and executing research on a long-duration space platform. The Phase 1 program was to provide the US early experience prior to the construction and operation of the International Space Station (Phase 2 and 3). While it can be argued that Mir and ISS are different platforms and that programmatically Phase 1 and ISS are organized differently, it is also clear that many aspects of operating a long-duration research program are platform independent. This can be demonstrated by a review of lessons learned from Skylab, a US space station program of the mid-1970s, many of which were again “learned” on Mir and are being “learned” on ISS. Among these are optimum crew training strategies, on-orbit crew operations, ground support, medical operations and crew psychological support, and safety certification processes.

NASA space station chief resigns

washington Wilbur Trafton, the official in charge of the US space station and space shuttle programmes, announced his resignation last week after less than two years in the post.

Space Tribology in Japan

This paper traces research and development in the field of lubrication technology for various mechanical elements. Japan is now in the process of developing the Japanese experimental module (JEM), one component of the US Space Station. This paper therefore emphasizes results relating to mechanical elements that will appear in JEM mechanisms. Methods of lubricating ball-bearings, sliding bearings, ball screws and gears for space use are described and some test results are given.

News and views

In a recent poll commissioned by Rockwell, sponsors of opinion polls on the US civilian space programme for the last 16 years, an increasing percentage of Americans was shown to support the US space station.

Aerospace and military

The author presents an overview of aerospace and military technology developments in 1993. He describes how the industry is still reeling from defense and aerospace cutbacks as well as from several space failures. Bright spots were the success of the DC-X demonstration vehicle and the joining of the US and Russian space station programs.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>

Liquid lubrication in space

Long-term reliable operational requirements of aerospace mechanisms have, with a few exceptions, furthered the state of the art in tribology. Space mission durations in the early 1960s were generally six months to a year. The proposed US Space Station scheduled to be launched in the 1990s must be continuously usable over a 10 to 20 year period. For mission lengths of over a year, liquid lubrication systems are used. In general, most spacecraft or satellites complete their operational lives without a lubrication-related failure. The application of these liquid lubricants in the space environment presents unique challenges. This article reviews the state of the art of liquid lubrication in space as well as its problems and solutions.

US Space Station needs another redesign

US Space Station needs another redesign

Cryogenic techniques for large superconducting magnets in space

A large superconducting magnet is proposed for use in a particle astrophysics experiment, ASTROMAG, which is to be mounted on the US Space Station. This experiment will have a two-coil superconducting magnet with coils which are 1.3 to 1.7 m in diameter. The two-coil magnet will have zero net magnetic dipole moment. The field 15 m from the magnet will approach earth's field in low earth orbit. The issue of high T c superconductor will be discussed in the paper. The reasons for using conventional niobium-titanium superconductor cooled with superfluid helium will be presented. Since the purpose of the magnet is to do particle astrophysics, the superconducting coils must be located close to the charged particle detectors. The trade-off between the particle physics possible and the cryogenic insulation around the coils is discussed. As a result, the ASTROMAG magnet coils will be operated outside the superfluid helium storage tank. The fountain effect pumping system which will be used to cool the coil is described in the report. Two methods for extending the operating life of the superfluid helium dewar are discussed. These include: (1) operation with a third shield cooled to 90 K with a sterling cycle cryocooler and (2) a hybrid cryogenic system where there are three hydrogen-cooled shields and cryostat support heat intercept points. Both methods will extend the ASTROMAG cryogenic operating life from 2 years to almost 4 years.

Avionics for manned spacecraft

The author describes the avionic equipment for manned spacecraft, past, present, and future. He treats the four classic avionic systems-crew interface, flight control, navigation, and communication-and adds a fifth called subsystem management which refers to the monitoring and reconfiguration of equipment when faults occur. He starts by describing the functions of spacecraft avionics in general. He then discusses what he considers to have been the first manned spacecraft, the X-15. He continues with the early US and Soviet spacecraft (including their space stations), the US shuttle, and the European Spacelab. He concludes with projections for the avionics in future manned spacecraft, such as the US Space Station, a lunar base, and planetary explorers.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>

Reducing the risks of using Ada onboard the Space Station

The Ada programming language was chosen by NASA as the primary computer programming language for the development of new software for the US Space Station. Ada was selected based on the results of investigations coordinated through Johnson Space Center (JSC) and that resulted in the identification of a set of problems and risks associated with using software developed in Ada. Some of the specific solutions to problems identified through these investigations are described. Three areas in which Ada's use poses risks are discussed: real-time process control; the testing and verification of flight software for man-rated systems; and software error detection, identification, and recovery required in safety-critical systems. >

Use of heads-up displays, speech recognition, and speech synthesis in controlling a remotely piloted space vehicle

Experiments are reported in which heads-up displays and voice input/output were implemented on an experimental pilot console. These displays and controls were developed interactively during the simulation of remotely piloted space vehicles (RPSVs) and US Space Station operations. Demonstrated and evaluated were seven heads-up reticle displays, two heads-up data displays, selection of displays by voice command, use of voice command to call for range and rate data, and the voice annunciation of alarms. The simulation laboratory architecture is described. >

Politics and finance delay US space station

Politics and finance delay US space station

The two-coil toroid magnet, an option for ASTROMAG

The ASTROMAG particle astrophysics experiment for the US space station requires a magnetic field in order to determine the energy and momentum of charged particles of various momenta. A second concept for generating magnetic field for ASTROMAG is presented. This magnet configuration consists of two D-shaped coils which form a two-coil toroid. The two coils are located within a paddle connected to a spherical helium tank. The physics detectors would be located on either side of the flat paddle. The particles travel toward the tank in a direction approximately parallel to the paddle surface. A description is given of the two-coil toroid, the magnet cryostat, and the helium II cryogenic system, which keeps the magnet cold for up to two years without refilling.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>

Going for the long term: Increased automation in spacecraft power systems to lengthen the duration of voyages is being developed

A description is given of the AMPS (autonomously managed power system) program, which is developing a photovoltaic-based power system suitable for long-term space missions, particularly the US Space Station. The AMPS test facility is discussed, and the role of artificial intelligence is examined.

International harmony on plans for the US space station

International harmony on plans for the US space station

Slimmer US space station, same planetary probes

Slimmer US space station, same planetary probes