Acoustics Inside the Space Shuttle Orbiter and the International Space Station

The acoustics environment in enclosed habitable space vehicles and modules is important to mission safety, crew health, and efficient operations. Noise is unwanted sound that can interfere with crew communications and sleep, creating habitability concerns, hearing loss, or other health issues. This paper discusses the acoustic environment and the noise control efforts in the Space Shuttle Orbiter and the International Space Station, and the lessons learned from these efforts. Included is the need to apply the design discipline of acoustics early in the design process, to establish reasonable acoustic limits and “design them into” vehicles/modules, and to apply noise control to ensure that limits are met. Program management needs to be supportive of these efforts.