A Simulation Capability for Future Space Flight

The limited number of laboratories which can simulate operations in space provide a critical engineering resource. Among these the Martin Marietta Space Operations Simulator Laboratory in Denver provides resources for real-time piloted flight and other human/machine simulations. Its facilities include a 6 degree-of-freedom (DOF), man-rated carriage with a 3 DOF target gimbal, which is computer driven to simulate flight in space. This system can simulate astronaut freeflight, or the relative motion of any two bodies in space. Other resources include a manipulator arm, a neutral bouyancy tank, a Shuttle Orbiter aft flight deck mockup, and a large screen flight simulator. Recently developed is computer generated imagery for low cost space simulation, with 3-body motion, flexible body dynamics, and simulated handling of payloads at the Space Station. Advanced pilot consoles are used to control simulations and for control-display experiments. New resources are being developed.