Automatic Fastening of Space Vehicle Subassemblies

Space launch vehicles offer some unique challenges to automatic riveting. In most cases the assemblies are only used once and have one chance to perform. This requires a high degree of reliability for each assembly. The equipment used must be capable of producing high quality fastener installations. The automatic riveting machine used at the Harlingen Facility of Martin-Marietta Aeronautics Group meets this challenge.

This paper describes the equipment, tooling, and controller used to automatically fasten the subassemblies of the Payload Fairing (lower cone and cylinder), Interstage Adapter and Thrust Cylinder of the Atlas/Centaur space vehicle. It will discuss the unique features of the automatic riveting machine and the tooling required to fasten the individual subassemblies. It will discuss the tooling requirements for the individual subassemblies and their part positioner requirements.